Tag: TCU

Dec 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels new head coach Bill Belichick at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

TCU, North Carolina to kick off 2026 in Ireland

Posted on | by Field Level Media

TCU and North Carolina will kick off the 2026 college football season in Dublin, Ireland.

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic will be held at Aviva Stadium on Aug. 29, 2026.

This will be the first overseas game for both schools.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for our program and we’re excited to represent the university and our fans on an international stage,” first-year Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick said.

The Horned Frogs will be the designated home team, as the game originally was scheduled for Sept. 5, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“This is more than just a football game. It’s an opportunity to advance TCU’s brand globally while having our student-athletes experience a unique educational opportunity and memory of a lifetime,” TCU athletic director Mike Buddie said.

Georgia Tech edged Florida State 24-21 in the 2024 Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, where the announced attendance was 47,998.

This season’s matchup in the Irish capital will see Iowa State take on Kansas State on Aug. 23.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Jack Bech (18) scores a touchdown during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Ex-Princeton WR Tiger Bech, 28, killed in New Orleans attack

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Former Princeton wide receiver Tiger Bech, the older brother of TCU standout Jack Bech, was one of at least 15 people killed in a mass truck attack in New Orleans early Wednesday.

Tiger Bech, 28, died after being transported to a New Orleans hospital with critical injuries suffered during the incident described by officials as a terrorist attack, according to the athletic director, Kim Broussard, of Bech’s high school alma mater, St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana.

A scholarship athlete, Tiger Bech earned All-Ivy League honors twice as a return specialist at Princeton, catching 53 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns over his career.

A 2021 graduate of Princeton, he was reportedly working as a trader at the New York brokerage firm Seaport Global.

His younger brother, Jack, declared for the 2025 NFL Draft in December after finishing his senior year at TCU with 62 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns. Jack Bech transferred to TCU for his final two years of eligibility after playing for LSU.

Jack Bech posted on X Wednesday, “Love you always brother ! You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.”

In the wake of the attack, the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed from Wednesday to Thursday, Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley announced Wednesday afternoon, citing public safety.

–Field Level Media

Oct 4, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars defensive back A.J. Haulcy (2) tackles TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Hauss Hejny (1) in the third quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Reports: Oklahoma State to add former TCU QB Hauss Hejny

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Former TCU quarterback Hauss Hejny has committed to join Oklahoma State out of the NCAA transfer portal, multiple media outlets reported Sunday.

Hejny will see a familiar face in new Cowboys offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, who previously was with the Horned Frogs in various roles. Meacham also served on Oklahoma State’s coaching staff from 2005-12.

Hejny did not attempt a pass while playing in four games this season. He carried the ball 15 times for 65 yards.

A four-star recruit out of Fort Worth (Texas) Aledo, Hejny will join redshirt junior Garret Rangel, redshirt sophomore Zane Flores and redshirt freshman Maealiuaki Smith as quarterbacks for the Cowboys next season.

The Cowboys were 3-9 (0-9 Big 12) in the 2024 season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws a pass before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Josh Hoover passes TCU to rout of Louisiana in New Mexico Bowl

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Josh Hoover completed a record-setting season by passing for 252 yards and four touchdowns and TCU defeated Louisiana 34-3 in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday in Albuquerque.

Hoover completed 20 of 32 passes and finished the season with 3,949 passing yards, 48 more than Trevone Boykin’s previous single-season school record. The Horned Frogs (9-4), who rolled to a 27-0 halftime lead and coasted, won their fourth straight game and for the sixth time in their last seven games.

Ben Wooldridge returned from a three-game absence due to a shoulder injury and completed 7 of 20 passes for 61 yards with an interception for the Ragin’ Cajuns (10-4), who lost their second consecutive game after a 31-3 defeat to Marshall in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game on Dec. 7 in Lafayette, La.

TCU outgained Louisiana 367 yards to 209 and finished with 257 passing yards compared to 95 for the Cajuns.

On the Frogs’ fourth offensive play of the third quarter, Hoover threw his fourth touchdown pass, a 20-yarder to Blake Nowell that expanded the lead to 34-0 at the end of the period.

Louisiana avoided a shutout when Kenneth Almendares kicked a 24-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

TCU received the opening kickoff and, 11 plays later, Hoover threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to DJ Rogers.

On the ensuing possession, Wooldridge drove the Cajuns to the Frogs 37, but Almendares’ 54-yard field-goal attempt hit the right upright and bounced away. It was just the third missed field goal in 30 attempts this season for the Lou Groza Award winner.

Hoover threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Eric McAlister on fourth down to increase the lead to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. McAlister was Hoover’s most frequent target, finishing with eight receptions for 87 yards.

Kyle Lemmermann kicked field goals from 45 and 22 yards and Hoover threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to JP Richardson on fourth-and-2 to expand the lead to 27-0 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws a pass before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Louisiana hopes to slow TCU’s Josh Hoover in New Mexico Bowl

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TCU played its best football during the second half of the regular season.

Louisiana played its worst game of the season in its most recent contest.

The Horned Frogs (8-4) will try to keep rolling and the Ragin’ Cajuns (10-3) will try to bounce back when they meet in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday afternoon in Albuquerque.

TCU won five of its past six games, including the last three.

“We were 3-3 and it didn’t look very good,” Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes said. “We didn’t play well and we had three games where we turned the ball over 12 times, which is almost unprecedented in the history of football. But we managed to get through it and survive it.”

TCU had lost three of four when it entered an open date in early October. Dykes and his staff used the time to get the players focused on how they could turn the season around. In the next game, the Horned Frogs won 13-7 at Utah, and their only loss the rest of the way came on a last-second tiebreaking field goal at Baylor.

“The players jumped on board and did everything we asked them to do,” Dykes said. “I think that showed a lot of character.”

The Horned Frogs eliminated the rash of turnovers and were plus-3 in turnover margin over their final six regular-season games.

Sophomore quarterback Josh Hoover ranks seventh nationally in passing yards (3,697). He is 1 yard behind Max Duggan for the second-highest single-season total in school history and needs 205 to break Trevone Boykin’s record of 3,901.

He has a 1,000-yard receiver in Jack Bech, an LSU transfer who is a native of Lafayette, La., where the Ragin’ Cajuns are located.

Louisiana’s only losses were to bowl-eligible teams. The Ragin’ Cajuns lost by eight points to Tulane in September and by two to South Alabama in November before being routed by Marshall 31-3 in the Sun Belt Conference championship game in Lafayette on Dec. 7.

“You always look forward to the next opportunity,” Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux said.

Desormeaux said the opportunity to face a team from a power conference should enable his team to forget the disappointment of the Marshall loss.

“It’s always a big deal for us,” he said. “If you can finish this season with a win against a team like TCU and finish with 11 wins, that puts you in a better starting spot next year.”

Desormeaux said starting quarterback Ben Wooldridge has a chance to play in the bowl game after missing the last three games because of a shoulder injury. His replacement, Chandler Fields, has completed 72.4 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and one interception.

No matter who is under center, Desormeaux knows he has “a real weapon” in kicker Kenneth Almendares, who won the Lou Groza Award. He made all but two of his 29 field-goal attempts, and the misses came from 53 and 60 yards. Almendares is 46-for-47 on extra points.

“Kenny has been phenomenal,” Desormeaux said. “Any time you get across (midfield), you know you’re not far away from getting some points on the board.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws a pass against the Arizona Wildcats in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Savion Williams, TCU have big first half, hold off Cincinnati

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Wide receiver Savion Williams rushed for a pair of touchdowns to lift TCU to a 20-13 victory over host Cincinnati on Saturday night.

Williams opened the scoring with a 2-yard scamper to the end zone just 3:42 into the game and later provided the Horned Frogs (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) with a 17-7 lead when he once again scored from 2 yards out with 7:34 to go in the second quarter.

A pair of first-half field goals from Kyle Lemmermann — a 27- and 35-yarder — allowed TCU to take a commanding 20-7 advantage into the break.

It wasn’t until the 5:15 mark of the fourth quarter that the Bearcats (5-7, 3-6) got any closer, doing so at the end of a 12-play, 94-yard drive. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby rushed for an 8-yard TD, but the point after was no good, leaving Cincinnati behind 20-13.

After eventually getting the ball back with one minute left in the game, the Bearcats managed to work their way to the TCU 40, where Sorsby let a deep ball fly that fell incomplete as the clock hit zeros.

Josh Hoover completed 18 of 35 passes for 212 yards and was picked off once as the Horned Frogs ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak. Hauss Hejny had 48 yards on eight carries to headline the rushing attack.

Sorsby was 21-for-34 passing for 160 yards and an interception. He also had 93 yards and the score on the ground on 12 touches.

Cincinnati rushed for 213 yards in all, getting 110 on 23 carries from Corey Kiner, who also found the end zone.

Kiner cut the Bearcats’ deficit to 10-7 with 11:12 remaining in the first half, punctuating a seven-play, 75-yard march with a 1-yard plunge over the goal line.

Despite losing, Cincinnati outgained the Horned Frogs 373-336.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) catches a pass against TCU Horned Frogs cornerback Jevon McIver Jr. (20) and safety Jamel Johnson (2) in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

TCU’s TD barrage breaks open tight game vs. Arizona

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Savion Williams rushed for two touchdowns and Josh Hoover threw for 252 yards as TCU pulled away from Arizona in the second half, winning 49-28 on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Horned Frogs (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions, starting late in the first half after the Wildcats (4-7, 2-6) pulled within 14-13.

Williams carried nine times for 80 yards, scoring on runs of 1 and 20 yards in the first half. Hoover completed 19 of 26 passes, with one touchdown and one interception, before being pulled midway through the fourth quarter when the Frogs were up by 21.

TCU took control after leading 21-13 at halftime, going up 35-13 on a 38-yard reception to JP Richardson midway through the third. Arizona kept its hopes alive, ending a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hunter on fourth down on the first play of the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion made it 35-21.

But the Horned Frogs responded with another TD drive, capped by a 6-yard run by Cam Cook for a 42-21 advantage. Arizona added a 70-yard fumble return touchdown with one minute to go for the game’s final score.

Tetairoa McMillan caught nine passes for 115 yards to become the Arizona career leader in receiving yardage with 3,355. He surpassed his receivers coach, Bobby Wade (3,351), at the top spot.

The Wildcats’ Noah Fifita completed 29 of 44 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, which happened on the game’s first snap. TCU promptly scored on a 4-yard run by Trent Battle, and Williams added a 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead.

But the Wildcats fought back, getting a 17-yard touchdown reception by Hunter and field goals of 53 and 43 yards from Tyler Loop to climb within 14-13 with 1:55 go before halftime.

That’s almost how the half ended, but the Horned Frogs converted third-and-18 on the ensuing drive and then gained 24 yards on third-and-25 to the Arizona 20. That set up a 20-yard run by Williams on fourth-and-1 with 13 seconds left for a 21-13 lead.

–Field Level Media

Nov 15, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (11) throws the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

TCU defense healthy just in time for air attack from Arizona

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TCU brings the best passing game in the Big 12 into Saturday’s matchup against Arizona in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Horned Frogs (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) rank sixth nationally with 329.6 passing yards per game, and they have some momentum, winning three of their past four games. Josh Hoover directs a big-play passing game, having completed 256 of 378 passes for 3,233 yards, with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Wide receiver Jack Bech has 982 receiving yards, with 16 catches going for at least 20 yards. He has nine touchdown catches.

Arizona (4-6, 2-5) ended a five-game losing streak Friday night with a 27-3 home win over Houston to keep alive its bowl hopes. But the Wildcats will have to pivot this week from playing against the worst passing team in the Big 12.

The Wildcats came up with three turnovers and four fourth-down stops against Houston, but they are playing without three key defenders due to season-ending injuries – defensive backs Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado, and linebacker Jacob Manu.

The Wildcats tweaked some things offensively last week, inserting Joey Capra as the new right tackle, increasing the use of five-receiver sets and relying more on quarterback Noah Fifita to deliver quick passes.

“We’ve been really diligent the last couple of weeks of putting him on the clock every play and giving him that feedback in practice in the moment,” coach Brent Brennan said of Fifita. “I think we were also a little more consistent up front. … The concept where the ball has to get out fast is what we’re trying to do.”

TCU coach Sonny Dykes said Tuesday that three defenders – linebacker Cooper McDonald, nose tackle Markis Deal and defensive lineman Hakeem Ajijolaiya – are expected to be available this week after missing one or multiple games.

The Frogs’ goal will be to slow down Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan (69 catches, 1,136 yards, 7 TDs).

“Right now, they have the leading receiver in college football,” Dykes said. “The guy’s putting up big numbers, Has a huge catch radius, can really run. He’s a big play waiting to happen, so it will be a big challenge for us.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears running back Bryson Washington (30) runs the ball for a 40 yard touchdown as TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark (21) gives chase during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Isaiah Hankins’ last-snap field goal lifts Baylor over TCU

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Isaiah Hankins booted a 33-yard field goal on the game’s final play and Bryson Washington ran for 196 yards and four touchdowns to lift Baylor past TCU 37-34 on Saturday in Big 12 Conference action in Waco, Texas.

Bryson Washington’s 13-yard run on the final drive got the Bears (5-4, 3-3 in Big 12) into chip-shot range after Baylor took over at their own 25-yard line with 1:55 to play. Sawyer Robertson had a 15-yard pass to Michael Trigg to convert a fourth down and nine to keep the winning drive alive and help the Bears win their third straight game.

Robertson passed for 242 yards in the victory as Baylor rushed for 257 yards.

Josh Hoover countered with 333 yards and two touchdowns through the air for TCU (5-4, 3-3 Big 12).

The Horned Frogs drew first blood, moving 95 yards in seven plays to an 8-yard Hoover-to-Jordyn Bailey TD pass at the 6:42 mark of the first quarter. Baylor tied the game when Washington ran eight yards into the end zone with 1:48 to play in the quarter.

Washington rolled away on a 40-yard touchdown run with 8:41 remaining in the first half to put the Bears on top 14-7.

But the rest of the half belonged to TCU, as Kyle Lemmermann booted a 46-yard field goal with 5:18 left before Hoover cashed in an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper with 50 seconds to play to push the Horned Frogs in front at 17-14 at the break.

Lemmermann added a 47-yard FG on TCU’s opening drive of the third quarter to expand the lead. But Baylor swung back, tying the game on a Dawson Pendergrass 1-yard rush with 5:09 remaining in the quarter.

The Horned Frogs went back in front on Savion Williams’ 6-yard scoring pass to Jack Bech with 23 seconds to play in the third. That score was quickly countered by Washington’s 35-yard touchdown run 57 seconds into the fourth that knotted the game at 27.

Washington’s fourth TD run — this one from a yard out with 4:54 left at the end of an 81-yard, 13 play march — put the Bears on top. TCU responded with Hoover’s touchdown pass to Bech with 1:55 remaining.

That set the stage for a final Baylor drive and Hankins’ decisive kick.

–Field Level Media

Texas Tech's defensive back Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (1) holds up the Saddle Trophy after the team's win against TCU, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Texas Tech, TCU clash to stay relevant in Big 12 race

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After its four-game winning streak was snapped last weekend, Texas Tech heads to TCU on Saturday to try to keep pace in the Big 12 race and win the Saddle Trophy for the second season in a row.

Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) suffered its first conference loss last Saturday in a 59-35 upset defeat to Baylor. In the loss, the Texas Tech defense was exposed as a unit that struggled to adjust.

“We’re bringing a blitz we don’t get, so we’re gap exchanging with the defensive tackle and the linebacker and defensive tackle doesn’t get there,” head coach Joey McGuire said. “It’s a broken record that you know whenever the ball bounces, we don’t have an edge player. We’re not gap sound and some of their plays in the second half, didn’t adjust well.”

Against Baylor, Texas Tech also gave up 144 yards after the catch, showing a side struggling to be in the right place and not making open-field tackles. Quarterback Spencer Robertson threw for a career-high five touchdowns.

TCU (4-3, 2-2) also has a quarterback that can hurt a defense in Josh Hoover. The Horned Frogs passer is fourth in the nation in passing yards (2,270) and was named to the Davey O’Brien midseason watch list for the nation’s best quarterback.

In a 13-7 victory over Utah on Saturday, Hoover threw for 263 yards and scored the only TCU touchdown on the ground with a 1-yard run. It was the third road win for TCU this season, a stark contrast to a 1-2 record at home.

“We know we haven’t played good at home,” cornerback LaMareon James said. “We owe it to the fans to play good.”

The Horned Frogs won four straight games against Texas Tech until last year’s 35-28 defeat in Lubbock, Texas. A win Saturday gets TCU closer to evening the rivalry’s record, with the Red Raiders holding a 33-30-3 advantage.

At stake is the Saddle Trophy, which dates to when TCU and Texas Tech both played in the Southwest Conference, which dissolved in 1996. The rivalry then was dubbed the West Texas Championship.

–Field Level Media