Josh Hoover leads TCU’s offensive outburst in weather-delayed rout of Cincinnati

TCU running back Jeremy Payne rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, paving the way for a 45-23 home win for the Horned Frogs over Cincinnati.

The Horned Frogs finished with 544 total yards, holding the ball for nearly 38 minutes and limiting the Bearcats to just 115 rushing yards.

Cincinnati entered the month of November 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big 12. The loss Saturday was the team's fourth straight to end the season.

With 7:58 remaining in the first quarter and TCU (8-4, 5-4 Big 12) leading 7-0, the game entered a weather delay with lightning and heavy rain in the Fort Worth area. The rain delay lasted one hour and 33 minutes.

When the game resumed, it didn't take long for the Horned Frogs to make big splashes offensively. The Horned Frogs scored 21 points in the first quarter, their most points in the first quarter in three years. Quarterback Josh Hoover threw three touchdowns in the first quarter, completing six-of-seven passes for 153 yards.

The Bearcats (7-5, 5-4 Big 12) also came out of the rain delay swinging for big plays. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby completed his first 14 passes for 169 yards, with two of his completions going for touchdowns to keep the Bearcats within striking distance.

But a turnover on downs and a muffed punt by the Bearcats contributed to TCU accumulating 302 total yards of offense in the first half and a 31-17 halftime lead. The 31 first-half points were the most allowed by the Bearcats since 2019.

The Bearcats also couldn't convert in the red zone late in the second quarter, having to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Stephen Rusnak. Sorsby missed four of his next six throws to close out the first half.

After being sacked just four times through Cincinnati's first 11 games, Sorsby was sacked three times by the Horned Frogs' defense Saturday. Sorsby finished 23-of-33 for 282 yards and three touchdowns.

Hoover was efficient and prolific for TCU, finishing 19-of-22 for 306 yards and four touchdowns. His fourth touchdown pass came early in the third quarter when he found Joseph Manjack IV for a 42-yard reception. Manjack fumbled the ball at the two-yard line, but Jordan Dwyer recovered the ball in the end zone for a TCU score to extend the Horned Frogs' lead to 38-17.

Payne closed out the game's scoring with a 51-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

--Field Level Media