TCU trailed three times — including 24-17 in the fourth quarter — before sophomore QB Casey Pachall led back-to-back scoring drives, capped by a 42-yard touchdown pass to Skye Dawson with 4:26 left. It was the fourth time in five years the Poinsettia Bowl had been decided by 10 points or less.
The game swung on chaos as much as talent: a botched TCU punt return that Louisiana Tech recovered and converted into a tying touchdown, a pick-six-setup interception, and a 61-yard TD strike that gave the Bulldogs their third lead. TCU’s offense finally wore Louisiana Tech down late, controlling the ball for over 12 minutes in the fourth quarter alone. Dawson took Offensive MVP.