TCU closes the year strong with blowout win over Louisiana in New Mexico Bowl

Despite not landing in an upper-tier bowl the program expected, TCU came out energized in a dominating 34-3 win over Louisiana on Saturday in the New Mexico Bowl.

Any worries of a potential letdown were quickly erased in the first half as the Horned Frogs scored on their opening four possessions to take a 20-0 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The Ragin’ Cajuns still had a glimmer of hope remaining for an upset after finally forcing TCU to punt on the Horned Frogs’ fifth possession. However, TCU’s defense came up with a big play as Cam Smith intercepted a pass that was deflected by fellow safety Abe Camara.

Four plays later, Josh Hoover set the single-season passing record when he found JP Richardson for a 20-yard touchdown that increased TCU’s lead to 27-0 before halftime.

The Horned Frogs cruised the rest of the way as a number of younger players were able to get reps in the second half. TCU closed the year with a 6-1 record in its final seven games, a 9-4 overall record. The Horned Frogs should enter 2025 as one of the preseason favorites in the Big 12.

Historic Hoover

It didn’t take long for Hoover to etch his name into the TCU history books as he became the all-time leader for passing yards in a single season during the New Mexico Bowl. Hoover leapfrogged Max Duggan to move up to the second on the list in the first quarter when he went 7-of-8 on TCU’s first drive, which ended with a touchdown pass to D.J. Rogers as the Horned Frogs took an early 7-0 lead.

Hoover passed Boykin in the second quarter just before halftime. Facing a 4th-and-2 at the Louisiana 20-yard line, Hoover found JP Richardson in the flat for a short gain and then Richardson made multiple defenders miss for a 20-yard touchdown that put TCU ahead 27-0. It was an all around stellar performance by Hoover, who threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns in the first half against the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Hoover added another touchdown in the third quarter as he hooked up with Blake Nowell for a 20-yard score to make it 34-0. Hoover finished the day 20-of-32 for 252 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.

He finished the season with 3,949 passing yards, the most in Horned Frogs history.

Replacing Bech and Williams

TCU played without its two best receivers, Savion Williams and Jack Bech, against the Ragin’ Cajuns, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell thanks to the performance of Eric McAlister. The chemistry between McAlister and Hoover was strong as the Boise State transfer had six receptions for 64 yards on TCU’s first two drives.

McAlister showed why he was one of the best receivers in the Mountain West last season as the Louisiana secondary struggled to contain him. Hoover saw the mismatch and kept feeding McAlister including on a highlight play on a key fourth down. Facing 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line, Hoover dropped back to pass, but the Louisiana’s pass rush began to close in. He bought enough time scrambling before eventually finding a leaping McAlister in the end zone to move TCU ahead 14-0 in the first quarter.

McAlister finished with eight receptions for 87 yards. Drake Dabney also stepped up as the tight end had a season-high 73 yards.

QB1 not enough

Louisiana got a boost with Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year Ben Wooldridge got the green light to play in the New Mexico Bowl. However, his return wasn’t enough to deter TCU from having one of its best defensive performances of the year. The defense pitched a shutout in the first half as the Ragin’ Cajuns were held to just 68 yards.

Wooldridge started the game with a nice 25-yard completion, but he struggled the rest of the way as the Horned Frogs limited him to just 3-of-10 passing in the first half and his interception was a crippling mistake.

TCU held Wooldridge to just 7-of-20 passing and 61 yards. The Ragin’ Cajuns didn’t score until midway through the third quarter.

Up next

The Horned Frogs now will wade through the transfer portal season. say goodbye to a few potential NFL draft picks and circle the calendar for Aug. 30, 2025, the season-opener at North Carolina and against the Tar Heels’ new head coach, Bill Belichick.