In a thrilling Saturday night at Dallas’ North Texas venue, West Virginia rallied to a 24-20 victory over Texas Christian University (TCU). The Mountaineers, now 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big 12, earned their first win of the season against a conference rival on the road.
Hawkins shines in his home‑state debut
Mike Hawkins Jr., a native of Frisco, Texas, was the decisive factor. He rushed for two touchdowns — a 2‑yard plunge and a 36‑yard sprint — and threw a 13‑yard touchdown pass to running back Cam Cook with 11:28 left, sealing the win. Hawkins entered the game leading the nation with 14 rushing touchdowns, and his performance underscored his impact for the Mountaineers.
“Seeing our defense step up after a tough season brought joy to the whole team,” Hawkins said after the game. “It was a great feeling overall.”
TCU’s late‑game misstep
TCU, now 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference, drove the length of the field for a potential go‑ahead score. Quarterback Jaden Craig was hit by defender David Afogho as he attempted to pass, fumbling the ball at the West Virginia 14‑yard line. West Virginia safety Ben Cutter recovered with 34 seconds remaining, preserving the lead.
Craig, who completed 33 of 47 passes for 372 yards, later reflected, “I held onto the ball too long on that pivotal play. You’ve got to get rid of it, especially in a two‑minute situation.”
Defensive turnaround for the Mountaineers
West Virginia’s defense, long criticized for allowing big plays, forced a crucial turnover in the red zone and stopped TCU on downs at the West Virginia 20‑yard line in the fourth quarter. The Horned Frogs also missed a 43‑yard field goal earlier in the game.
“The biggest thing for us right now is an inability to finish on offense,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “We shot ourselves in the foot.”
Statistical notes
The game ended a West Virginia streak of four straight contests where both teams combined for 1,000 yards of offense — the longest such streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision since 2020. The Mountaineers were held to 125 yards in the first half, ultimately outgained 484‑272.
Local ties and future outlook
Both Hawkins and Cook have deep Texas roots. Hawkins grew up playing high school football in Frisco and turned down a scholarship from TCU, while Cook attended high school in Round Rock and previously played for TCU before transferring to West Virginia.
Looking ahead, West Virginia will be idle next Saturday before facing three ranked opponents in its final four games, starting with No. 8 Texas Tech on Nov. 7. TCU hosts Kansas on Saturday.
Original reporting: Richardson, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
