No. 3 TCU toppled No. 2 Michigan 51-45 for the biggest upset in College Football Playoff history and one of the most exhilarating semifinal games the format has seen since it made its debut in 2014. The Horned Frogs were eight-point underdogs at kickoff of the 2022 Fiesta Bowl, but the same DNA that helped them overcome more than a handful of second-half deficits during the regular season has the Frogs now sitting 6-1 in one-score games after eliminating the previously undefeated Wolverines.
Saturday’s first CFP semifinal was not only the highest-scoring Fiesta Bowl (dating back to 1971), it featured the highest-scoring quarter in CFP history (44 points, third quarter) and stands as the highest-scoring playoff game through regulation.
TCU led by as many as 18 points in the first half and took a 21-6 lead into halftime before that third quarter for the ages. Michigan not only reached the end zone for the first time all game, it tacked on two more touchdowns and a field goal during a 15-minute showing that, in a vacuum, would have suggested the Big Ten champions were making their move at one of the biggest comebacks in playoff history.
But at nearly every turn, TCU had a response.
When Michigan cut its deficit to 21-16, TCU first marched down the field in about 2 minutes to score a lead-extending touchdown. Then it intercepted UM quarterback J.J. McCarthy for its second pick six of the game. McCarthy got off the mat and led led two touchdown drives in the final 3 minutes of the third quarter, but another TCU touchdown came in between.
Michigan even cut its deficit to 41-38 — the closest it would come all game — early in the fourth quarter before the Horned Frogs came right back with 10 unanswered points to pad their lead further. The first of those two scores, a 76-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to Quentin Johnston, gave TCU a 48-38 lead that appeared to be the nail in the coffin.
Of course, it was not the final twist in the game. Michigan used field position from a key defensive stop to set up McCarthy and the offense for a 56-yard touchdown drive, cutting TCU’s lead to 51-45 with 3:18 to play. However, TCU was able to pick a first down and bleed enough clock to limit Michigan’s chances at stealing the win in the final minute.
CBS Sports will update this story with more takeaways and things to know about TCU’s epic win.
