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STILLWATER, Okla. -- TCU, for all its recent road success, had never won a Big 12 Conference game in the state of Oklahoma. The No. 16-ranked Horned Frogs picked an opportune time for a breakthrough Saturday, upsetting No. 6 Oklahoma State 44-31 before a sellout crowd of 56,790 at Boone Pickens Stadium.
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TCU used a balanced offense and took advantage of four Cowboys turnovers, three by quarterback Mason Rudolph, who saw his Heisman Trophy candidacy likely took a hit.
Horned Frogs running back Darius Anderson rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns, including a 42-yard scoring romp to clinch the outcome with 2:37 remaining. TCU quarterback Kenny Hill played efficiently, completing 22 of 33 passes for 228 yards with a touchdown.
Rudolph, who entered the game as one of the nation's top-rated quarterbacks, finished 22 of 41 for 398 yards with two TDs, but lost a fumble and tossed two interceptions.
The Horned Frogs improved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12. Oklahoma State dropped to 3-1 and 0-1.
A double-digit underdog,TCU trailed only briefly before taking control in the second quarter, claiming a major road win that puts last year's disappointing 6-7 season behind them.
The Cowboys had been 34-7 at home since 2011, with four of those losses coming against Oklahoma and Texas. TCU's 30-14 road record since 2009 -- with seven wins over Top 25 squads -- ranked No. 3 nationally. But the Horned Frogs had never won a conference in the state of Oklahoma.
Now they have, and a big one.
Usually, time of possession isn't a relevant statistic when it comes to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys score and score fast.
Saturday, however, it was telling in a first half dominated by TCU.
The Horned Frogs controlled the ball and the clock, owning a 21:11 to 8:49 advantage in time of possession and a 20-10 edge on the scoreboard.
TCU used more time in marching to field goals on its first two possessions -- 9:54 -- than the Cowboys were allowed through two quarters.
True to form, Oklahoma State's one first-half touchdown was a quick strike, with Rudolph hitting wideout James Washington for an 86-yard scoring pass, completing a two-play, 30-second drive, as the Cowboys led 7-6.
But the Horned Frogs surged back ahead.
First, Anderson romped 28 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-7. Then, Hill found wide receiver John Diarse for a 9-yard scoring pass, pushing the lead to 20-7.
Oklahoma State's one extended drive, lasting 11 plays, resulted only in a 29-yard Matt Ammendola field goal that cut the lead to 20-10.
NOTES: Oklahoma State found itself facing adversity for the first time this season, playing the game without three starters: OL Zach Crabtree (toe) and Larry Williams (ankle) and WR Chris Lacy (shoulder). The biggest blow long-term is Williams, who is lost for the season after suffering a broken ankle in practice during the week. Crabtree and Lacy will return. ... TCU was without starting RB Kyle Hicks, out with an undisclosed injury. ... The Horned Frogs had scored a touchdown on their first drive of each game this season, while the Cowboys hadn't allowed a first-quarter point. So, something had to give Saturday. It was the Oklahoma State defense, surrendering two first-quarter field goals.
