Tag: TCU Horned Frogs

Sep 28, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) hands off to running back Cam Cook (4) against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Houston hoping to snap scoring drought at TCU

Posted on | by Field Level Media

TCU looks to build on its best performance of the year when it hosts reeling Houston on Friday evening in a Big 12 Conference clash in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Horned Frogs (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) head home after a rousing 38-27 win at Kansas on Saturday that snapped a two-game losing skid. Josh Hoover passed for 356 yards and three TDs with 10 of his completions hauled in by Jack Bech for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

J.P. Richardson’s 89-yard score on a punt return late in the third quarter put TCU in the lead for good.

“Our guys just got tougher — tougher and grittier,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “Sometimes teams that lose two games in a row don’t react that way. It says a lot about our players — who they are, their character, the way they work.”

Hoover has thrown for at least two scores in eight consecutive games while Bech’s 10 catches in the win over Kansas were a career high. Bech has had 100-plus yards in four of five games this season.

The Cougars (1-4, 0-2) head north after a 20-0 loss at home to then-No. 18 Iowa State on Saturday. The defeat was Houston’s second straight and followed on the heels of a 34-0 setback in Cincinnati on Sept. 21. It’s the first time the Cougars have been shut out in consecutive games since 1994.

Houston rotated quarterbacks throughout the game, with Donovan Smith (8 of 12 for 71 yards and an interception) and Zeon Chriss (1 of 4 for 1 yard and a pick) each seeing significant playing time but amassing only a combined 72 yards through the air.

“We’re looking for a guy to step up and be ‘the guy,’” Houston coach Willie Fritz said. “We’re giving two players the opportunity. If one guy shows it, then he will be the guy. Until that happens, we’re probably going to keep rotating.”

The Cougars rank last in scoring offense among the 134 teams in FBS, producing a total of 52 points, an average of 10.4 per contest. Thirty-three of those points came in a Sept. 14 win over Rice.

The Horned Frogs have swept the last nine meetings with Houston, including a 36-13 victory in Houston in 2023 that evened the all-time series at 13-13.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes shakes hands with Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold after a game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Host Kansas, TCU clash in critical early conference game

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Kansas and TCU both really need a win when they meet in Saturday’s conference game in Kansas City.

The loser drops to 0-2 in the 16-team Big 12 and would have to stack wins in the second half of their schedule to ensure postseason bowl eligibility.

With Kansas’ home stadium under construction, the teams are playing at Arrowhead Stadium. It’s the first time since 2011 the Jayhawks will play at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

“They’re in a spot kind of like we are,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “It’s tough to win on the road in this conference. There are a lot of close games.”

Last week, the Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1 Big 12) blew an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead in a 32-28 loss at West Virginia. Devin Neal rushed for 110 yards, the fourth straight game he’s surpassed the century mark, and had a touchdown, Jalon Daniels passed for 184 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

TCU coach Sonny Dykes said the Horned Frogs need to control the Jayhawks’ running game and force third-and-long situations.

“I would run the ball until we stop them,” Dykes said. “And they are very good at doing it. I’ve never seen a team run the ball as well as they do in third and medium.”

Kansas has a three-game losing streak and in each game had had a fourth-quarter lead. All three losses were by one score and Leipold said the Jayhawks have to improve their four-minute offense and make plays as time drips from the clock.

“We haven’t played our best football at the time it is needed,” Leipold said. “There’s moments when we’ve played good football, but there are times, especially late in the game where we need to be at our best and we are not.”

The Horned Frogs (2-2, 0-1) lost the Iron Skillet last week, their annual trophy game with SMU, 66-42. The Mustangs held a 17-0 first-quarter lead and Josh Hoover, who was 28-for-43 passing for 396 yards, three passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and two interceptions, was forced to try and throw TCU back into the game.

Jack Bech leads the Big 12 with 516 receiving yards and had eight catches for 166 yards and two TDs against SMU.

“This will be the best quarterback and receiving corps we’ve gone up against,” Leipold said.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs running back Trey Sanders (2) runs through the SMU Mustangs defensive line during the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Rivals TCU, SMU square off for Iron Skillet

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Longtime rivals and neighbors TCU and SMU will look to get back on the winning track when they meet Saturday afternoon in Dallas in the Battle for the Iron Skillet.

The schools, separated by 40 miles in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, will play for the 103rd time. TCU owns a 53-42-7 edge and has captured 13 of the past 16 contests, including the last two.

Both teams come into the game after home losses, with the Mustangs falling to BYU 18-15 on Sept. 7 and the Horned Frogs succumbing to UCF, 35-34, on Sept. 14 in their Big 12 Conference opener.

SMU (2-1) won its first two games before stumbling against BYU. The Mustangs managed just 261 yards of total offense in the loss and never reached the end zone, relying on Collin Rogers’ five field goals for all their points.

Kevin Jennings passed for 140 yards with an interception for the Mustangs. Starting quarterback Preston Stone played just three series and passed for 4 yards while being sacked three times. Jennings will start on Saturday.

“This game is important to a lot of people but when it kicks off, it’s another game,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “Fortunately, it’s our fourth game and it’s an opportunity for us go and play good football. We’re gonna go out compete and try to play our best game of the year.”

The Horned Frogs (2-1) led 28-7 over UCF early in the third quarter but could not stem a rousing comeback from the visiting Knights. UCF took the lead for good on a TD pass with 36 seconds to play, allowing TCU a final chance. But Kyle Lemmerman’s 58-yard field-goal attempt drifted wide right.

Josh Hoover passed for 402 yards and four TDs against UCF, with Jack Beck catching nine passes for a career-high 200 yards and a touchdown.

TCU coach Sonny Dykes said the first half of the loss was the best his team has played all year.

“We didn’t finish the game out, and I’m disappointed, but we will learn from that,” Dykes said. “That game doesn’t define who we are and who we are going to be. We have to look ahead and be at our best against SMU.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

TCU looks to contain UCF star RJ Harvey in Big 12 opener

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Running back RJ Harvey leads UCF into hostile territory on Saturday night when the Knights take on TCU in Fort Worth, Texas.

Through two games, Harvey is second in the nation in rushing touchdowns (six) and eighth in rushing yards (268).

UCF (2-0) also leads the Big 12 in scoring with 51 points a game heading into the conference opener for both teams.

This will be the first meeting of the two schools. In fact, it’s the first time TCU has played any school from Florida since 1992. The Horned Frogs (2-0) are coming off their first shutout since 2017 after beating LIU 45-0 last week.

“Overall, this is a good challenge for our team. We’re really looking forward to playing these guys,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn. “Real impressed with their quarterback, he can really throw it, but he can also make plays with his feet.”

TCU quarterback Josh Hoover took over the starting job midway through the 2023 season. He has thrown for 620 yards and four scores this season. Cam Cook has 139 rushing yards in two games.

“I thought our guys played clean and well in the first half,” said Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes after the LIU win. “It’s really difficult to get a shutout in college football.”

Johnny Hodges leads the Horned Frogs defense with 16 tackles. Namdi Obiazor has 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss.

UCF went 1-4 in Big 12 road games last season. This is an early test for both teams looking to make a statement in the conference.

“Their head coach is one of the best in the country,” Malzahn said. “This is a big test for us. And we’re looking forward to seeing where we’re at on the road for the first conference game. We’ll see what happens at the end with how everything unfolds conference-wise, but I think this is one of the more talented teams in our conference, just big picture-wise, and we have to go on the road to their place.”

UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson, a former starter at Arkansas, has thrown for 333 yards and two scores.

–Field Level Media

Jul 9, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes speaks to the media during the Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

TCU chasing sunnier outlook in Dykes’ reconnection with Stanford

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TCU coach Sonny Dykes takes another swing at Stanford in the season opener for both teams on Friday night in Palo Alto, Calif., a team he failed to knock out in four seasons at Cal.

The Cardinal are also going for a first in this edition of Friday night lights: a home win. Stanford was 0-7 at home in 2023, coach Troy Taylor’s first season.

“They’re really well-coached, I’ve known Sonny Dykes for a long time,” Taylor said. “They’re going to have great, challenging schemes. They know how to do it. There’s also the element of what they’re going to do a little bit different. We’ll be ready to roll.”

Stanford went 4-0 against Dykes from 2013-16, including a 50-point win in his first season guiding the Bears. Dykes was never within 14 points of Cal in the Big Game.

TCU finished runner-up for the national championship in Dykes’ first season in Fort Worth, but went 5-7 last season, failing to qualify for a bowl game.

Hopes for a rebound start with one of the top wide receivers in the Big 12 Conference.

Savion Williams led the Horned Frogs with 573 receiving yards last season.

“He showed me consistency, which hasn’t always been there in the past,” Dykes said. “I think everybody understands you have a uniquely talented guy, just from size and ability to make plays, and strength and speed. He did at times, but the great ones do it every day.”

Williams, who’s listed at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, thought about entering the NFL draft after last season, but knew he needed more experience.

“I just know I needed another year,” he said. “I felt like last year at the beginning of the season, I wasn’t getting as many targets as I needed, so I felt like me coming back would’ve been better.”

Josh Hoover will be throwing the ball to Williams and he’s shown he can produce big games. Hoover threw for more than 300 yards in his final four starts last season, including 412 yards in a 42-17 win against Baylor on Nov. 18.

Stanford begins its first season as a member of the ACC after finishing 3-9 in each of its last three seasons competing in the conference formerly known as the Pac-12.

The Cardinal still had not decided on a starting quarterback when they broke fall camp.

Ashton Daniels, Justin Lamson and freshman Elijah Brown are all vying for playing time behind center, and Taylor could end up using all three against TCU.

“Ashton’s a really good runner, had a really good camp,” said Taylor, who is also the quarterbacks coach. “Justin’s had a great fall camp, and Elijah’s had a fantastic camp, too. Competition in our program is going to be at every single position.

“We have three quarterbacks we feel really good about.”

Daniels passed for 2,247 yards and 11 touchdowns with eight interceptions as a first-year starter last season, completing 58.8 percent of his throws. He also rushed for 292 yards, second-most by a Pac-12 quarterback behind Lamson (334).

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) celebrates with running back Gavin Sawchuk (27) after a touchdown during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports

Dillon Gabriel passes No. 13 Oklahoma past TCU

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Dillon Gabriel threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns to lift No. 13 Oklahoma to a 69-45 win over TCU on Friday in Norman, Okla.

Gabriel moved into seventh place in NCAA career passing yards in the win, passing three players including former Sooners’ quarterback Baker Mayfield on the list.

Gabriel now has 14,865 career passing yards.

The Sooners’ 69 points were their most in a conference game since beating Texas A&M 77-0 in 2003.

Oklahoma (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) kept its hopes alive to make the Big 12 Championship Game by recording its third straight win.

Friday’s game was the Sooners’ final Big 12 regular-season game. They’ll move to the Southeastern Conference next season.

The loss leaves the Horned Frogs short of a bowl berth just one season after making the College Football Playoff title game.

TCU (5-7, 3-6) lost four of its last five games.

After being injured a week ago in a win at BYU, Gabriel’s status was up in the air in a short week.

But Gabriel showed little effects of the injury from the start.

He completed a 50-yard pass on the first drive to set up his own 8-yard touchdown run, then later in the first connected with Jayden Gibson for a 59-yard score.

His 53-yard touchdown to Brenen Thompson started a second-quarter onslaught for the Sooners, who scored 28 points in the quarter and shut down the Horned Frogs’ offense to take a 42-16 lead into the break.

But TCU didn’t go away, pulling within 14 in the third quarter.

Oklahoma finally put the game away in the fourth quarter, going up 62-38 on Gavin Sawchuk’s 9-yard touchdown run.

Sawchuk, who finished with 22 carries for 130 yards, scored three touchdowns for his first career multi-touchdown game.

Drake Stoops had 12 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Emani Bailey rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown for TCU while Josh Hoover threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns.

Oklahoma’s Billy Bowman returned an interception for a score for the second consecutive game, bringing back his pick of Hoover 45 yards for a score in the fourth quarter.

Bowman leads the Big 12 with six interceptions, returning three for touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Nov 11, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) in action during the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas Longhorns at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

TCU looks to get out of slump against skidding Baylor

Posted on | by Field Level Media

TCU looks to keep its flickering postseason aspirations alive on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Baylor in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Horned Frogs (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) were sitting pretty after seven games before a lopsided loss at Kansas State on Oct. 21 and close setbacks against Texas Tech and No. 7 Texas. Now, TCU needs to topple both the Bears (3-7, 2-5) in the newly dubbed “Bluebonnet Battle” and Oklahoma on Nov. 24 just to become bowl-eligible.

Josh Hoover threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns and Emani Bailey rushed for 98 yards and a score in the Horned Frogs’ 29-26 setback to the Longhorns last Saturday.

Starting linebacker Johnny Hodges re-injured his hand vs. the Red Raiders after initially sustaining the injury against Houston on Sept. 16.

“Johnny will be done for the season, unfortunately. I hate that for him,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said on Tuesday. “He tried to come back quickly and it just didn’t work out. Johnny is one of those kids that loves his teammates, loves his team, he loves playing football, and I know how disappointed he is to not be able to play the rest of the season.”

Sadly, Hodges isn’t alone. Dykes noted wideouts Dylan Wright (lower body) and Warren Thompson (undisclosed) will sit out the final two games.

Like TCU, Baylor enters Saturday’s clash on a three-game skid — however, bowl eligibility is not in play for the Bears. Baylor followed up setbacks to Iowa State and Houston by being on the business end of a 59-25 drubbing from Kansas State last Saturday.

Blake Shapen threw for a career-high four touchdowns — two to Dawson Pendergrass — in the loss to the Wildcats.

Baylor coach Dave Aranda is aware that the Horned Frogs play with a quicker tempo, and that in itself is going to present challenges for his club.

“We’re going into the world of tempo, so we have to be better,” Aranda said. “We’ve got to get it to where we’re lined up, our cleats are in the grass, where we’re in position to execute and play in all of it.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 14, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes walks the field before the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Brigham Young Cougars at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Expectations adjusted, TCU and Texas Tech set for matchup

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Preseason goals have been adjusted for TCU and Texas Tech heading into Thursday night’s Big 12 Conference showdown in Lubbock.

But that doesn’t mean there will be any less intensity when the rivals meet.

The visiting Horned Frogs (4-4, 2-3) have found life more treacherous this season compared with 2022, when a stretch of strong play blended with good fortune to vault the team into the national championship game.

For the Red Raiders (3-5, 2-3), a spate of injuries — especially at quarterback — and some close-call losses have punctured the chance to fulfill various preseason prognostications that pegged them as a conference sleeper.

Now the two proud programs will collide, each coming off a bye week and each eager to bounce back after tough-to-stomach losses.

On Oct. 21, TCU absorbed a 41-3 rout at Kansas State, and Texas Tech lost 27-14 at BYU in a game when the Red Raiders’ five turnovers derailed any chance of the team keeping pace with the Cougars.

Though he downplayed it, this will be the first trip back to Lubbock for TCU’s Sonny Dykes as a head coach at the school where his father, Spike Dykes, won 82 games from 1986-99.

“The thing you have to do is try to stay focused on and do your job,” said the younger Dykes, who was a prominent candidate when the Texas Tech job opened in 2021.

The man the school hired was Joey McGuire, who remains upbeat despite a disappointing campaign, due in large part to losing quarterbacks Tyler Shough and Behren Morton to injuries that thrust freshman Josh Hoover into the position in the past two games.

But Morton was back at practice during the open week and is expected to return against the Horned Frogs.

“It’s really going to help having a healthier, experienced quarterback,” McGuire said.

Texas Tech has relied this season on standout running back Tahj Brooks, who has rushed for 891 yards and six touchdowns.

The Horned Frogs will counter with Emani Bailey, who has 851 yards on the ground this season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Chandler Morris (4) hands the ball off to running back Emani Bailey (9) against the Houston Cougars in the first half at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

West Virginia seeking end to TCU’s Big 12 win streak

Posted on | by Field Level Media

TCU puts its 10-game winning streak in Big 12 regular-season play on the line Saturday when it hosts West Virginia in Fort Worth, Texas.

Speaking of winning streaks, both the Horned Frogs (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) and Mountaineers (3-1, 1-0) have responded to their respective season-opening setbacks with three straight victories.

Chandler Morris completed 24 of 33 passes for 265 yards and a career-best three touchdowns to lift TCU to a 34-17 victory over SMU last Saturday.

Tight end Jared Wiley recorded his first multi-touchdown performance of his career with a pair of scores in the first half.

Big 12 leading rusher Emani Bailey rolled up 126 yards and found the end zone.

“He’s physical, he’s tough, he catches the ball, he’s a good protector, he’s shifty,” Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes said of Bailey, who has totaled 483 rushing yards in four games.

“I love the way he finishes runs. I want to put the ball in his hands. When you have a guy like that, that’s a good thing.”

Bailey also found the end zone in his lone carry against the Mountaineers last season. He scored from 30 yards out in TCU’s 41-31 triumph in Morgantown, W. Va.

CJ Donaldson Jr. scored twice in that game and also found the end zone to pace the Mountaineers (3-1, 1-0) to a 20-13 win over Texas Tech last Saturday.

West Virginia coach Neal Brown, however, said Donaldson “has to play better” after the latter finished with just 48 yards rushing versus the Red Raiders.

Nicco Marchiol threw a touchdown pass in his first career start in place of the injured Garrett Greene, who is sidelined with a leg injury.

“This is a game we needed to win. This was the first opportunity to prove them wrong. We’re not 14th now,” said Brown, who was referencing the Big 12 preseason media poll that had his Mountaineers in last place.

Brown noted Greene was available to play last week but “did not warm up well.” He is questionable for Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs running back Trey Sanders (2) attempts to leap over SMU Mustangs safety Cale Sanders Jr. (22) during the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

TCU takes over in second half to finish off SMU

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Chandler Morris passed for 261 yards and three touchdowns, Emani Bailey ran for 126 yards and a score and TCU dominated the third quarter to defeat SMU 34-17 on Saturday afternoon at Fort Worth, Texas.

Morris hit on 23 of his 32 throws in leading the Horned Frogs (3-1) to their third straight victory after a season-opening loss at home to Colorado. Eleven players caught passes for TCU, which improved to 53-42-7 all-time over SMU in a 102-game series that began in 1915.

No future games are scheduled between the rivals, bringing a pause to the Battle for the Iron Skillet.

SMU (2-2) got 258 yards passing from Preston Stone and 73 yards and a TD rushing from Camar Wheaton the loss. The Mustangs committed two turnovers, both second-half interceptions by Stone.

The Mustangs opened the game with a 14-play, 69-yard drive that netted a 24-yard Collin Rogers field goal and a 3-0 lead. TCU answered with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Morris to Jared Wiley with 16 seconds to play in the first quarter to go up 7-3.

Morris and Wiley connected again for a 14-3 lead, this time on 2-yard pass at the end of a 10-play, 68-yard drive midway through the second quarter. SMU responded with a 1-yard TD run by Wheaton with 2: 54 remaining in the half to cash in a 75-yard drive and cut its deficit to 14-10.

The Horned Frogs began the third quarter with a 12-play, 58-yard march that culminated in a 35-yard field goal by Griffin Kell that pushed their lead to 17-10. Kell booted another, this one from 24 yards away, with 6:14 remaining in the quarter to make it 20-10.

Bailey then ripped off a 24-yard TD run with 1:54 to play in the third to take a commanding 27-10 lead. SMU cut into that advantage via a 1-yard touchdown run from Tyler Lavine with 1:47 remaining in the game before Morris hit Chase Curtis with a 36-yard TD throw with 1:18 left.

–Field Level Media