Saturday’s TCU-Kansas matchup in Lawrence was one of the biggest and most anticipated Week 6 matchups. The Jayhawks are ranked, ESPN’s College GameDay was there, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self offered a jab at Kentucky’s John Calipari.
It was an exciting day for the Jayhawks, which led to a thrilling game that included Kansas backup quarterback Jason Bean replacing an injured Jalon Daniels and came down to the very end with the Horned Frogs walking away with a 38-31 win.
But it was’t without controversy.
With less than two minutes left in the game, No. 17 TCU took a seven-point lead, leaving the No. 19 Jayhawks about 90 seconds to march up the field and try to tie or win the game. But on what could have been a potentially game-winning drive, officials missed arguably two penalties against the Horned Frogs.
Kansas’ last drive began on its own 47-yard line, and on 3rd-and-10 on TCU’s 35, Bean connected with running back Devin Neal for a one-yard gain before Neal went down. Horned Frogs linebacker Marcel Brooks tackled Neal, but it looked an awful lot like a horse-collar penalty should have been called.
Should there have been a penalty? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/T67M1PrJoa
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 8, 2022
The refs seemingly had nothing to say about this questionable play, but fans in Lawrence could clearly be heard chanting, “bulls***!” So, fourth down Kansas.
With the clock winding down, Bean and co. had about 40 second to grab another first down or score. Bean was eyeing wide receiver Lawrence Arnold, who appeared to be literally held up by TCU cornerback Josh Newton. It looked like Newton had his arms almost fully around Arnold while defending that pass, but again, nothing from the refs.
Kansas doesn't convert on the fourth down! pic.twitter.com/8EVVxNgotL
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 8, 2022
And that was that. TCU was able to take a knee after getting the ball back and handed Kansas its first loss of the season.