Bryson Washington runs all over the Frogs

After all, these teams know all too well what it’s like to be in a tight contest with TCU.

Bears running back Bryson Washington rushed for a career-high 196 yards and four touchdowns, Isaiah Hankins kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired and Baylor steamrolled the Horned Frogs 37-34 on Saturday night at McLane Stadium. “

Washington’s four touchdowns were the most for a Bear since Richard Reese threw three touchdowns in a 45-17 win over Texas Tech on Oct. 29, 2022, in Lubbock. Washington fell one TD short of the Baylor single-game record set by Jonathan Golden (2002) and Terrence Ganaway (2011).

And Hankins’ 33-yard field goal with zeros on the clock was another wild finish between the programs in Texas’ oldest football rivalry, a streak that began in 1899 and spanned 120 games.

The Bears’ last five wins over TCU, dating back to Sept. 2, 2011, were one-score thrillers, with the last three coming in the final seconds.

Yes, that includes the 10-year-old Baylor fans ages 61-58 who will always remember. And those guys who were a part of that victory 10 years ago were there to watch the Bears knock out another game-winner over the Frogs.

It was just two years ago when TCU stunned Baylor fans with its game-winning field goal as time expired.

And it happened at the same stadium.

Aside from the fire drill-like chaos, Hankins’ kick on Saturday matched Griffin Kell’s 40-yard field goal on Nov. 19, 2022. Sure, Kell’s boot saved the Frogs’ undefeated season and helped them reach the College Football Playoff, but Hankins still gave Baylor fans something to smile about.

“I mean, it’s so important,” Hankins said in a postgame interview on ESPN2. “This is my fourth year and this is my first time beating them while at Baylor. This means a lot. This is a really big event.”

Bears linebacker Keaton Thomas said he knew Hankins could handle it.

“As soon as we went down for the first time (after 4th-and-9), I knew the game was over,” Thomas said. “I have 100% confidence in my guy and I knew he was going to throw a punch, so I was already excited to jump around.”

Baylor head coach Dave Aranda made the decision that even someone playing a video game might not have the courage to do it. Facing a 4th-and-9 at the TCU 44-yard line, the Bears offense lined up ready to attack.

Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes called a timeout before Baylor intercepted the ball, trying to anticipate what Aranda had planned.

Bears cornerback Sawyer Robertson and the offense came right back, intercepted the ball, and Robertson found tight end Michael Trigg over the middle for a 15-yard gain. Baylor managed to gain 13 more yards before Hankins’ game-winning punt.

“We weren’t quite sure what they were going to do,” Dykes said of his decision to call a timeout before calling fourth down. “I thought they might try to bait us into an offside position to try and get a shorter field for the kicker.

“You have to give them credit. They showed a good game.”

Aranda said he had no hesitation in going through with it.

“These things are always difficult because I could have been here, I think I’ve been here before and they didn’t go very well and there’s a whole group of people who are going the other way,” Aranda said.

Baylor honored its eight-member 2024 Sports Hall of Fame class during Saturday’s game on the field.

The group, not all of whom were able to attend, was also honored at Friday’s banquet. They were honored separately from the 2013 and 2014 Big 12 Championship teams that drove past Baylor’s line before the game.

The Hall of Fame class was honored by Baylor women’s basketball greats Brittney Greiner and Odyssey Sims. Griner, a standout 6-8 post player, fended off attempts by opposing players who somehow made their way past the menacing Sims on the perimeter.

The national championship-winning duo played together from 2010 to 2013, Griner’s senior year as Sims was a year younger.

Other class members included Whitney Canyon Reichenstein from softball, Ronnie Allen from track and field, baseball player Michael Griffin, soccer player Mark Cochran, men’s basketball player Ekpe Udo and Nina Secerbegovic from women’s tennis.

From Griner’s shooting to Secerbegovic’s three seasons as a member of Team America’s singles team, it doesn’t take much research to find out just how talented these Bears were.