GLENDALE, Ariz. — Behind Max Duggan's four touchdowns and two interceptions returned for scores, the third-ranked TCU Horned Frogs withstood a furious second-half comeback by the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines to win the College Football Playoff semifinal 51-45 on Saturday night in the Fiesta Bowl.
The scorefest became the highest-scoring Fiesta Bowl ever and six points shy of tying highest-scoring playoff game, which was Georgia’s 54-48 Rose Bowl victory against Oklahoma on Jan. 1, 2018.
Max Duggan threw for 225 yards and two interceptions and ran for 57. Quentin Johnston had six receptions for 163 yards and Emari Demercado ran for 150, as the Horned Frogs offense had their way against the third ranked defense in the nation.
The Frogs appeared to have the game well in hand after Dee Winters' 29-yard pick-6 with 2:46 left in the third quarter to give TCU a 34-16 lead.
But no lead has been safe in many of these bowl games this season and this game would be no different.
The packed crowd at State Farm Stadium would witness a sequence of five touchdown drives — including a TCU turnover — in the span of three and a half minutes.
What followed was five touchdown drives — with a TCU turnover tucked in between — each taking less than a minute.
When Roman Wilson scored on an 18-yard touchdown run off a reverse and JJ McCarthy completed the 2-point conversion pass, Michigan had closed the gap to 41-38 with 14:13 left in the fourth quarter.
But back came the Frogs, as Johnston caught Duggan's pass on a short crossing pattern, the speedy receiver turned up the sideline and scampered 76-yards to put the Frogs back up by 10.
TCU finally managed to stop Michigan on its next possession and added a 33-yard field goal by Griffin Kell to extend their lead to 51-38 with 10:02 left.
Michigan would score one more time as Roman Wilson would haul in a 5-yard touchdown pass from McCarthy to cut the lead to 51-45 with 3:18.
The Wolverines (13-1) would get the ball back with little time remaining, but would turn the ball over on downs and give TCU the improbable win.
The win keeps alive a dream season for the Horned Frogs, who were picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 in Sonny Dykes' first season as head coach.
Dykes, a former assistant coach under the late Mike Leach, assistant has his TCU team playing for the program's first national championship since 1938.
TCU (13-1) will face the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 9 for the national championship at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Georgia rallied to beat Ohio State 42-41 in their semifinal game.
TCU 14 7 20 10 = 51
Michigan 0 6 24 15 = 45
First Quarter TCU—Bud Clark 41 yard interception return (Griffin Kell kick), 9:22. TCU—Max Duggan 1 run (Griffin Kell kick), 2:27. Second Quarter UM—Jake Moody 42 field goal, 13:46. TCU—Taye Barber 6 pass from Max Duggan (Griffin Kell kick), 4:56. UM—Jake Moody 59 field Goal, 0:00. Third Quarter UM—Jake Moody 21 field goal, 9:29. UM—Ronnie Bell 34 pass from J.J. McCarthy (Jake Moody kick), 6:32. TCU—Emari Demercado 1 run (Griffin Kell kick), 4:25. TCU—Dee Winters 29 yard interception return (run failed), 2:52. UM—J.J. McCarthy 20 run (run failed), 1:47. TCU—Max Duggan 1 run (Griffin Kell kick), 0:49. UM—Kalel Mullings 1 run (J.J. McCarthy run), 0:03. Fourth Quarter UM—Roman Wilson 18 run (J.J. McCarthy to Ronnie Bell), 14:13. TCU—Quentin Johnston 76 pass from Max Duggan (Griffin Kell kick), 13:07. TCU—Griffin Kell 33 field goal, 10:02. UM—Roman Wilson 5 pass from J.J. McCarthy (Jake Moody kick), 3:18.
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