FORT WORTH, Texas — TCU’s season opener turned into a defensive battle Saturday as North Carolina held the Horned Frogs to 10 points in a 15-10 victory.
The loss snapped several impressive scoring streaks for TCU, including a run of 30 consecutive nonconference regular-season games in which the Horned Frogs scored at least 28 points. That streak ranked second among FBS teams over the past 45 seasons.
TCU also saw its streak of scoring at least 30 points in its season opener end at 10 consecutive years.
Despite the offensive struggles, the Horned Frogs extended one of the longest scoring streaks in college football history. TCU scored a point for the 421st consecutive game, keeping its streak second nationally behind Florida’s NCAA-record 473-game run.
The 10-point output was TCU’s lowest since a 41-3 loss to Kansas State on Oct. 21, 2023.
North Carolina’s defense consistently kept the Horned Frogs from finding any offensive rhythm, while TCU’s defense provided opportunities to stay within striking distance.
Linebacker Max Carroll delivered one of the defensive highlights of the afternoon, becoming the first TCU player since at least 1995 to record multiple fumble recoveries in the same game. Carroll also finished with a career-high nine tackles.
TCU defensive tackle Ansel Din-Mbuh recorded two sacks, the most of his career, while defensive end John Schobel picked up the first sack of his career.
North Carolina also added a safety in the second half, marking the first safety scored by a TCU opponent since Texas did so on Oct. 3, 2020.
The Horned Frogs did manage a few individual milestones despite the loss.
Running back Jon Denman scored the fourth touchdown of his career. TCU receiver Kari Ashley recorded the first reception of his career, while Jeremy Scott also hauled in his first catch as a Horned Frog.
Running back Jeremy Payne continued to be a productive option on the ground. Dating back to the 2024 season, TCU has now had two games in which a running back eclipsed 135 rushing yards, with Payne accounting for both performances — including his 174-yard effort against Cincinnati in 2025.
For TCU, however, the bigger story was an offense that never found the consistency needed to overcome North Carolina’s defensive pressure.
The Horned Frogs will look to regroup quickly as they continue their 2026 season with an opportunity to put Saturday’s offensive struggles behind them.
