No. 3 TCU upsets No. 2 Michigan 51-45 in wild CFP semifinal

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — TCU’s wild trip has yet one more cease.

The Horned Frogs are headed to Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, about 10 miles from Hollywood, simply concerning the excellent place to finish a storybook season for essentially the most unbelievable Faculty Soccer Playoff group.

Max Duggan accounted for 4 touchdowns, TCU returned two interceptions for scores and the third-ranked Horned Frogs withstood a frenetic second-half surge by No. 2 Michigan to win the Fiesta Bowl semifinal 51-45 on Saturday night time.

TCU (13-1) will face both No. 1 Georgia or No. 4 Ohio State on Jan. 9 for the nationwide championship.

Coming off a shedding 2021 season and picked to complete seventh within the Huge 12 in Sonny Dykes’ first yr as coach, the Horned Frogs will now play for this system’s first nationwide championship since 1938.

“They simply performed actually robust soccer, hard-nosed soccer. Believed in one another, believed of their teammates, and simply discovered a strategy to overcome and persevere,” Dykes mentioned. “It’s sort of what we’ve executed all yr. We did it tonight. That’s who we’re.”

It took the Frogs a month to get ranked this season, and so they have been doubted virtually each step on the way in which their first playoff look.

“Sooner or later, you simply sort of give up listening to what everyone says,” Dykes mentioned.

Duggan and the Frogs will inevitably be underdogs within the title recreation — once more. That didn’t matter a lot towards Michigan (13-1) as they took it to the massive, dangerous Huge Ten champions and turned the Fiesta Bowl into circa-2010, Huge 12-style scorefest.

“We heard all week how they have been going to out-physical us,” TCU linebacker Dee Winters mentioned.

It was the highest-scoring Fiesta Bowl ever and the second highest-scoring CFP recreation behind Georgia’s 54-48 Rose Bowl victory towards Oklahoma on Jan. 1, 2018.

Possibly it was becoming.

TCU, the little non-public college from Forth Price, Texas, that was ignored of the Huge 12 when it first fashioned within the mid-Nineties, turned the primary group from the convention to win a CFP recreation and would be the first to play for a nationwide title since Texas in 2009.

This one was 34-16 after Winters’ 29-yard pick-6 with 2:46 left within the third quarter. The Hypnotoads, a nickname borrowed for the animated TV present “Futurama,” and their purple-clad followers have been drowning out the Michigan supporters at State Farm Stadium, sensing the dream was nonetheless alive.

After all, nothing comes straightforward for these Frogs. Throughout their unbeaten common season, they gained seven straight video games by 10 factors or fewer.

What adopted was 5 landing drives — with a TCU turnover tucked in between — every taking lower than a minute.

Duggan mentioned the Frogs’ next-play mentality helped them keep poised by way of the pandemonium.

“I feel that’s sort of our mindset, which helped us sort of struggle by way of among the momentum swings,” Duggan mentioned.

Roman Wilson’s 18-yard landing run on a reverse and a 2-point conversion pulled Michigan inside 41-38 with 14:13 left within the fourth quarter.

“The winner was soccer,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned.

Again got here the Frogs, unleashing their finest weapon. Future first-round draft choose Quentin Johnston took a brief crosser from Duggan and turned it up the sideline for a 76-yard rating that put the Frogs up 10.

Duggan threw for 225 yards and two interceptions and ran for 57. Johnston had six catches for 163 yards and Emari Demercado, choosing up the slack for an injured Kendre Miller, ran for 150. All of that towards a protection that ranked third within the nation coming in.

TCU lastly obtained a cease on Michigan’s subsequent possession and turned it right into a 33-yard discipline objective by Griffin Kell to go up 51-38 with 10:02 left.

After the Frogs and Wolverines mixed for 62 factors in 20 second-half minutes, the tempo was throttled again. Michigan minimize the result in six with 3:14 left on J.J. McCarthy’s 5-yard TD cross to Wilson.

McCarthy was spectacular at occasions with 343 yards passing, 52 speeding and three touchdowns. He additionally made two killer errors, tossing pick-6s in every half.

“Titanic effort. Phenomenal effort by J.J.,” Harbaugh mentioned.

TCU couldn’t ice it and Michigan obtained yet one more shot, ranging from its 25 with 52 seconds left — however couldn’t get a primary down.

Earlier than TCU might line up in victory formation, there was an officers’ evaluation for concentrating on on the Frogs. What was one other minute or so of drama in a season full of stress for TCU?

The play was clear. Duggan, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, took one final snap and a knee and the exhausted Frogs rushed the sphere and celebrated beneath cloud of purple and white confetti.

The Frogs hopped out to a 14-0 lead within the first quarter, with security Bud Clark making two of the most important performs of the sport. First, he chased down Michigan’s Donovan Edwards to forestall an extended landing on the very first play from scrimmage.

TCU then used a objective line stand — stymieing a Philly Particular-style fourth down play by Michigan — to maintain the Wolverines off the board.

On Michigan’s subsequent possession, Clark broke quick on a throw to the sideline by McCarthy and raced 41 yards with a pick-6 that put TCU up 7-0.

Duggan accomplished an extended landing drive with a 1-yard plunge with 2:27 left within the first quarter and the Frogs have been up 14-0 on touchdown-favorite Wolverines.

“There’s loads of issues that we might have executed higher,” mentioned McCarthy, the second-year quarterback. “However we’ll be again, and I promise that.”

THE TAKEAWAY

TCU: How the Frogs’ 3-3-5 protection, ostensibly constructed to counter unfold offenses with velocity, held up towards Michigan’s energy was the most important Xs and Os query coming into the Fiesta Bowl.

The reply: Fairly good for a half. TCU had three sacks — all by Dylan Horton — amongst six tackles for loss within the first half because the Frogs took a 21-6 lead.

Michigan: Harbaugh’s Wolverines put up a greater displaying of their second straight CFP semifinal look, however will lament the missed alternatives. Their first three first-and-goal conditions produced three factors, together with a fumble on the objective line.

Michigan fell to 1-6 in bowl video games beneath Harbaugh.

“Advised my group: ’You don’t give up. You don’t hand over,” he mentioned. “Actually happy with the struggle.”

UP NEXT

TCU: The Frogs are a mixed 1-9-1 all-time towards Georgia and Ohio State.

Michigan: The Wolverines open subsequent season within the Huge Home towards East Carolina.

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Comply with Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and hear at http://www.appodcasts.com

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