FORT WORTH, TX — Baylor gave TCU everything it could handle, but the Horned Frogs delivered when it mattered most, scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute to escape with a 34-31 victory at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

The win kept TCU undefeated in conference play at 7-0 and firmly in the hunt for both the Big 12 Championship Game and a College Football Playoff berth. Meanwhile, Kansas and West Virginia, both 6-1 in conference play, remain close behind in the standings.

For Baylor, the loss effectively ends any realistic hopes of reaching the conference championship game, leaving the Bears to focus on securing the best bowl destination possible.

Things looked bleak early for Baylor. The Bears fell behind 17-0 after linebacker Steven Williams-Owens stepped in front of a Walker White pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown with 6:29 remaining in the first half.

To their credit, the Bears responded with resilience. White settled down and threw two touchdown passes during a 21-0 Baylor run that turned a blowout into a battle.

TCU eventually regained the lead in the fourth quarter, going ahead 27-24 before Baylor answered with one of its biggest plays of the season. Facing 4th-and-goal, White found tight end Joey Olson alone in the right side of the end zone for his third touchdown pass of the game, giving the Bears a 31-27 advantage with 2:53 remaining.

Unfortunately for Baylor, there was too much time left on the clock.

The Horned Frogs marched 75 yards in nine plays, capped by a 5-yard touchdown run from Terrell Washington Jr.that restored TCU’s lead at 34-31 with less than a minute to play.

Baylor got the ball back with 42 seconds remaining but failed to threaten as the clock expired.

Freshman quarterback Matthew Cormier managed the TCU offense efficiently, throwing for 255 yards while being intercepted twice. The Horned Frogs leaned heavily on their rushing attack, which produced three touchdowns, including two by Washington Jr.

Williams-Owens spearheaded the defensive effort with 14 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and the momentum-shifting pick-six.

White finished with 312 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Dawson Pendergrass provided balance with 106 rushing yards and a touchdown on just nine carries.