How many bowl games have been featured in a book? Even casual football fans football fans remember this one.
Ten years ago the Horned Frogs orchestrated one of the most unforgettable comebacks in NCAA bowl history. On January 2, 2016, TCU, ranked #11, faced #15 Oregon in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome. What began as a nightmare for the Frogs turned into a miracle that still echoes through college football lore.
Now a decade later, TCU is returning to San Antonio, giving fans a chance to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of that epic showdown.
A Night That Began in Despair
Oregon dominated from the opening whistle, building a commanding 31-0 lead at halftime. The Horned Frogs, missing their star quarterback Trevone Boykin due to a suspension just days before the game, appeared outmatched. Into the breach stepped Bram Kohlhausen, a backup quarterback making his first career start. Emotionally and mentally unprepared, Bram feared the worst after a scoreless first half.
“I thought I was going to get benched,” Kohlhausen remembered. “I was sitting there waiting for one of the coaches to come tell me, ‘You’re done.’”
Bram also carried a deeper weight. Just weeks before the Valero Alamo Bowl his father, Bill, passed away from melanoma. The loss was raw and heavy but Bram kept showing up for his team because he knew his dad would have wanted him to. At halftime, Coach Gary Patterson reminded Bram that if anyone could help him now it would be his dad watching from above.
Going into the third quarter, TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson changed his shirt but not his quarterback. Bram went on to orchestrate the largest comeback in TCU bowl history, tying the NCAA record for largest bowl-game comeback. By the end of the night he had thrown for 351 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 45 yards and two scores, and earned Valero Alamo Bowl Offensive MVP honors.
Quarter-By-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Oregon Strikes Early
Oregon set the tone immediately with three sharp, fast scoring drives. At 9:29, Vernon Adams Jr. found Darren Carrington on a 37-yard pass that capped an 8-play, 81-yard drive and energized the Oregon crowd inside the Alamodome. Minutes later at 5:12, Royce Freeman powered through the middle for a 4-yard touchdown, finishing another efficient 8-play, 79-yard march. The Ducks closed the quarter with a third score at 0:27 when Freeman punched in a 5-yard run that wrapped up a 7-play, 84-yard possession. TCU entered the break trailing 21 to 0 and searching for answers.
Second Quarter: Ducks Extend the Lead
Oregon continued to control the pace. At 13:30, Tony Brooks-James sprinted in for a 5-yard touchdown to complete a quick 3-play, 62-yard series. The Ducks added one more score with 0:32 left in the half when Aidan Schneider connected on a 47-yard field goal. Oregon’s 31 to 0 halftime lead was the largest deficit a team had ever faced at the Valero Alamo Bowl, and the Horned Frogs headed to the locker room needing a spark.
Third Quarter: TCU Begins the Climb
TCU responded with a strong opening drive to start the second half. At 10:52, Jaden Oberkrom put the Frogs on the board with a 24-yard field goal after a steady 10-play, 69-yard series that finally generated rhythm on offense. Momentum continued to build. At 4:18, Bram Kohlhausen connected with Jaelan Austin for a 26-yard touchdown that brought the TCU sideline to life. The Frogs added another score with 0:36 left in the quarter when Kohlhausen kept the ball for a 2-yard rushing touchdown to finish a short-field 7-play, 16-yard drive. TCU had cut the deficit to 31 to 17 and the energy in the stadium had clearly shifted.
Fourth Quarter: All Tied Up
TCU kept its push alive early in the fourth. At 7:45, Oberkrom made a 34-yard field goal to finish an 11-play, 76-yard drive. The Frogs followed with another long drive at 3:32 that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run from Aaron Green. Shaun Nixon then connected with Buck Jones for a successful two point conversion that brought the score to 31 to 28 and sent the TCU fan section into full roar. With the game on the line, TCU drove again in the final minutes and tied the game at 31 to 31 on a 22-yard Oberkrom field goal with 0:19 on the clock. Overtime was required to settle it.
First Overtime
TCU struck first. Kohlhausen found Emanuel Porter in the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to finish a 4-play, 25-yard drive. Oregon answered on its possession as Freeman crossed the goal line from 1 yard out to even the score at 38 to 38. This marked the first time the the Valero Alamo Bowl has gone into more than one extra period.
Second Overtime
Aidan Schneider briefly put Oregon ahead with a 44-yard field goal after a series that lost yardage. TCU responded with a 46-yard Oberkrom field goal that kept the Frogs alive and knotted the score at 41 to 41.
Third Overtime
TCU broke through on its third overtime possession. Kohlhausen scrambled into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown, finishing a crisp 3-play, 25-yard sequence that gave the Frogs a 47 to 41 lead. The two point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, setting up one final Oregon chance. The TCU defense held firm, stopping the Ducks on fourth down and securing a comeback victory that remains the largest in Valero Alamo Bowl history.
Heroes in Purple
The night’s triumph was more than a comeback on the scoreboard. Bram Kohlhausen’s performance elevated him to legend. His poise under pressure inspired teammates and fans.
Running back Aaron Green, in his final game in his hometown of San Antonio, rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown. Coach Gary Patterson’s calm leadership guided the team through the impossible.
“It’s just one of those teams,” Patterson said. “They just never quit.”
The Frogs’ 11-2 finish was a testament to perseverance, teamwork, and overcoming adversity.
National Recognition and Legacy
The 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl captivated 7.4 million viewers, making it the fourth most-watched Valero Alamo Bowl in history. CBS Sports described it as “an absolutely amazing game,” while Campus Insiders called it the best bowl game of the season, declaring, “This is why you watch bowl games.” SB Nation ranked it the #2 game of the 2015-16 season.
A decade later, the memories remain vivid. The comeback has been immortalized in the book Remember the Alamo Bowl by sports journalist Jim Reeves, chronicling Bram Kohlhausen’s personal journey and the historic game itself. Bram reflected on the night with humility and pride:
“This will be one I’ll tell my grandkids about. I honestly just dedicate this one to Trevone [Boykin]. He was the one who showed me how to play like I did that night.”
Former TCU equipment manager Clint Foster has brought the story to life with a feature documentary that captures the 31-point comeback and the indomitable Texas spirit at its core. Foster masterfully intertwines TCU’s historic rally, the story of the Texas Revolution, and Bram Kohlhausen’s extraordinary recovery following his 2023 accident, featuring appearances from Kohlhausen, Gary Patterson, Trevone Boykin, Denzel Johnson, and other key figures from the team. The documentary, titled Remember the Alamo Bowl, won Best Texas Feature at the Panther City Film Festival and can be viewed on YouTube.
Now, as TCU returns to San Antonio this season, fans have a chance to relive the magic that happened a decade ago. The 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl was more than just a game. It was a testament to heart, grit, and the spirit of the Horned Frogs.
Whether you were there in 2015 or watched from home, the comeback remains a shining example of why college football captivates millions. And this year, the city of San Antonio will once again remember the team that refused to quit, ten years after the night Bram Kohlhausen and the Horned Frogs etched their names into history.