Sonny Dykes and his Horned Frogs were 8-11 overall and 4-8 in Big 12 play between the Fiesta Bowl win over Michigan on New Year’s Eve 2022 and the 11-point home loss to underdog Houston on Oct. 4 of last season. The defeat was the second home loss to an inferior conference opponent in three weeks.

The Cinderella run to the national championship game felt like a mirage. One of those blackout success stories like Frank the Tank in a debate competition against James Carville in “Old School”. Georgia turned the Horned Frogs back into a pumpkin and TCU slipped back to Earth with a 5-7 record in 2023, becoming the first program since Texas in 2010 to miss a bowl game a year removed from playing in a national championship game.

“We went from a five-win team in 2021 to a 13-win team our first year here in 2022 because of the roster,” Dykes said. “We had good players here and we were able to fill some gaps through the portal. We got our ass kicked the next year with our roster because seven guys left early for the NFL draft and that decimated our roster.”

Dykes believes the roster in Funky Town is the best he’s ever coached. He says the fact that TCU only took eight transfers is a sign of in-house development and a healthy roster. Quarterback Josh Hoover is back after finishing in the Top 10 of the FBS ranks in passing yards last year. The front-line guys on the roster include linebacker Namdi Obiazor, safety Bud Clar, defensive end Devean Deal, and wide receiver Eric McAlister.

But it isn’t just the stars in Fort Worth shining bright. Dykes says this is his best roster because of the depth. He’s always entered the season knowing 20 to 25 players on the roster aren’t able or ready to provide quality snaps on any given Saturday. He feels differently about the 2025 roster. The transfer portal allows for an easier filtration process as players further down the depth chart leave for more playing time elsewhere and TCU backfills those spots with quality recruits and select transfers.

“I don’t think there is a guy on our roster who can’t play for us on Saturday,” Dykes said. “There are a couple of projects, sure, but those guys could play situationally for us this season. This is a deep team. A talented team. That doesn’t always guarantee success, though.”

TCU was talented last year, too. More talented than UCF and Houston, for certain. Poor execution and a terrible turnover margin held the Horned Frogs back in the first half of the season. They were minus-10 in turnover margin after six games. They lost the turnover margin by four in losses to SMU and Houston. An open week between Houston and a trip to Utah allowed the Frogs to regroup and refocus.

“I just said, ‘guys, let’s stop beating ourselves and see if anyone else can beat us,” Dykes said. “We were plus-four in the turnover margin in our final seven games and we won six of those. The one loss was by three points on the road. Turns out, we were pretty good when we weren’t turning the ball over and forcing a few on defense.”

TCU is betting on continuity in a sport of change. The Frogs didn’t splash in the portal. Instead, they signed the top recruiting class in the Big 12. Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles is heading into his third year calling the offense. Andy Avalos is in Year 2 as a defensive coordinator. TCU returns 60% of its production from last year, which is 49th most in the FBS per ESPN.

“This conference is crazy and any team can win 10 or lose 10 games, but we like where we’re at with our roster and staff,” Dykes said. “This group has big goals.” 

DCTF Take

The Horned Frogs won six of their last seven last season behind the consistent arm of Josh Hoover and an improving defense. Hoover is back, albeit surrounded by a new cast of wide receivers after losing Jack Bech, JP Richardson, and Savion Williams to the NFL. Finding a run game to provide balance is a top priority for a TCU squad hoping to take some pressure off Hoover’s right arm. Linebacker Namdi Obiazor and safety Bud Clark return to lead a defense that must improve against the run in Year 2 under coordinator Andy Avalos. It’s an important Year 4 for Sonny Dykes.

 

Offensive Breakdown

Quarterback Josh Hoover headlines an offense engineered by third-year play caller Kendal Briles. Hoover (3,949 passing yards, 27 TDs, 11 INTs) was seventh in the FBS in passing yards and Top 20 nationally in most statistical categories through the air.

Hoover missed last spring to injury and entered 2022 as the backup. This is the first time Briles has Hoover healthy through an offseason and the duo believe it’ll help TCU start strong in 2025 compared to the 3-3 beginning to 2024.

“Those reps are a big deal with the guys we brought in and I can already tell the difference with our comfortability,” Hoover said in the spring. “Last year, we started to find some things in this offense that I did well and gave us some identity in the passing game. We'll build the offense around some more of those things and find new ways to get guys open in Year 3.”

The Horned Frogs added transfer wide receivers Jordan Dwyer (Idaho) and Joseph Manjack IV (Houston) to help replenish a room that lost Jack Bech, Savion Williams, and J.P. Richardson. Dwyer caught 78 passes for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns last year at Idaho and can play outside or in the slot. Briles called him a dangerous vertical threat. Manjack drew comparisons to Bech because the ball finds him in big moments.

The wide receiver the staff is most excited about is Eric McAlister. The Azle product carved a niche for himself in a crowded wide receiver room last year and is the expected WR1 in the 2025 TCU offense. Major Everhart, Jordyn Bailey, and true freshman Ed Small are names to know in the slot. DJ Rogers remains the expected starter at tight end with Chase Curtis also in the mix.

The Frogs must improve as a rushing offense to compete for a Big 12 title and take some pressure off Hoover and the pass game. They ranked 113th nationally and last in Texas in rushing yards last season. The team averaged 3.7 yards per carry. UTSA transfer Kevorian Barnes impressed once the pads came on in the spring. Redshirt freshman Nate Palmer, Trent Battle, and Jeremy Payne will all get carries. 

“One of the things we did real well in 2022 was achieve balance with a strong run game and I think that really helped us, especially in those close games and on the road,” head coach Sonny Dykes said. “We want to get back to that. Balance doesn’t have to be 50-50. It’s about being able to do it when we need to do it.”

An improved offensive line could also help TCU find some mojo in the running game. Briles said the emphasis up front in the offseason was to be more physical. Coltin Deery dropped 30 pounds and moved to center. Ryan Hughes and Ben Taylor-Whitfield figure to be the starters at tackle. Carson Bruno missed the spring as he recovered from an injury but is expected back to regain the starting right guard position. At left guard, Cade Bennett returns from injury.

“We feel good with probably eight offensive linemen as we leave the spring and that is a good number for us,” Briles said. “We’re pleased with our progression in terms of physicality and we’ll need that to be successful up front.”

 

Breakout Candidates

WR Jordyn Bailey – The Denton Ryan export was TCU’s primary kickoff returner as a redshirt freshman and should see his role as a slot receiver increase this season. He caught nine passes and scored two total touchdowns last year while playing in 12 games. Bailey also rushed for 74 yards.

WR Dozie Ezukanma – The redshirt freshman from Keller Timber Creek received high praise from Dykes and Briles in the spring. He played in three games last year without logging a reception in a crowded wide receiver room. He could break out in his second season thanks to more opportunities.

 

Projected Starters

QB          10            Josh Hoover     Jr.             6-2, 200               Rockwall-Heath

RB           17            Trent Battle      Sr.           6-1, 200               Daphne, Ala.

WR         88            Eric McAlister Sr.           6-3, 205               Azle

WR         7               Jordan Dwyer  Jr.             6-0, 195               Puyallup, Wash.

WR         14            Joseph Manjack IV       Sr.           6-3, 205               Tomball Memorial

TE            0               DJ Rogers           Sr.           6-4, 250               Bellevue, Wash.

LT            70            Ryan Hughes  RS-Fr.  6-6, 290               The Woodlands

LG           60            Cade Bennett Sr.           6-3, 300               Scottsdale, Ariz.

C              51            Coltin Deery    Sr.           6-4, 325               Glen Mills, Penn.

RG          62            Carson Bruno Sr.           6-4, 305               Shreveport, La.

RT            56            Ben Taylor-Whitfield  Jr.             6-6, 315               Duncanville

K               34            Kyle Lemmermann      Soph.   6-2, 205               Southlake Carroll

Keep an Eye On

TCU has one of the best quarterback rooms in the Big 12 even after Hauss Henjy transferred to Oklahoma State after the season. Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles gushed over backup Ken Seals in the spring, describing the senior as “professional and mature” during the spring. The future of the quarterback position at TCU is incoming freshman Adam Schobel. The reigning Mr. Texas Football won a state championship at Columbus in December and enrolled at TCU in January. Briles said the strong-armed quarterback “has an incredible future” and was extremely accurate in his first spring on campus.

 

By the Numbers

33.5 – The Horned Frogs scored nearly 34 points per game and sported the 23rd-best scoring offense in the country in Year 2 with Kendal Briles calling the plays.

303.8 – That’s the average number of passing yards per game thrown by TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, which was sixth in the FBS and tops in Texas last year.

113.92 – The Frogs were 113th in rushing offense last year. They averaged over 190 rushing yards per game in the 2022 run to the CFP.

 

Defensive Breakdown

Creating turnovers in the second half of the season helped the Horned Frogs win six of their last seven and roll into 2025 with Big 12 championship aspirations. Second-year defensive coordinator Andy Avalos said the staff figured out better ways to emphasize and reward turnover creation in practice as the 2024 season rolled into October. The Frogs forced four turnovers in the first six games of last season. They caused 12 in the final seven.

“There is always a fine line to improve takeaways and not become a sloppy tackling team, a lot of times it can be one or the other,” Avalos said. “We put in a quota at practice to take 40 shots on the ball and just made it part of what we do. It helped us last year and we’re ahead of where we were again during spring ball.”

Devean Deal is the headliner on the edge of the TCU defense. He was the MVP of the bowl win over Louisiana and led the Horned Frogs with 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Deal recorded at least one TFL in six of the last seven games. The defensive end positions will be further bolstered when Michael Ibukun-Okeyode and Paul Oyewale return from injuries that ended their 2024 seasons. Avalos expects both back in the summer.

Markis Deal, brother of Devean, is the anchor of the interior of TCU’s defensive line. He started in seven games last year and will be a mainstay at nose guard. Avalos hopes to develop more depth behind him with Connor Lingren and Sterlin Brooks coming on. Washington State transfer Ansel Din-Mbuh exited spring as the expected starter at defensive tackle. Avalos called Din-Mbuh “a huge addition to our team, not just on the field but as a leader and a worker” during the spring.

Linebacker will once again be a strength of the TCU defense even with the loss of Johnny Hodges. Namdi Obiazor returns as the starter at Will linebacker because of the JUCO ruling that provided former junior college players another year of eligibility. The former safety is still relatively new to the linebacker position, and that’s allowed him to improve even as he enters his sixth year of college. Kaleb Elarms-Orr will be the starter at Mike linebacker after splitting time with Hodges last year.

Cornerback was a position hurt by injuries last season that should benefit from more depth in 2025. Avery Helm and Vernon Glover were potential starters as TCU neared the 2024 season but injuries forced both out of the lineup. They’re back for 2025 and grouped with Channing Canada and transfer Elijah Johnson to give Avalos four starting caliber cornerbacks to utilize. 

Bud Clark is one of the most experienced and productive safeties in the Big 12 and he’s back at the field safety position. Jordan Lester is his primary backup. Jamel Johnson is emerging as a consistent player at the boundary safety position. Kaden McFadden is a top special teams contributor who will provide depth behind Johnson. Austin Jordan is the expected starter at nickel with LSU transfer Kylin Jackson competing for snaps.

“As we learned last year, staying healthy is important, but I love where our defense is heading into the summer,” Sonny Dykes said. “Those guys are making plays and flying around the football.”

 

Breakout Candidates

LB Max Carroll – The sophomore from Tennessee is expected to be the primary backup at Mike and Will linebacker. He recorded 20 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and two pass breakups in 13 games as a redshirt freshman. He was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class.

CB Vernon Glover – The 6-1, 205-pound sophomore from Dickinson was pegged as a potential starter heading into 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury in fall camp. He’ll compete with Avery Helm, Channing Canada, and Elijah Jackson for playing time. Glover was a three-star recruit and played in 10 games back in 2023.

 

Projected Starters

DE           42            Zachary Chapman       Soph.   6-5, 255               Fort Bend Marshall

NT           95            Markis Deal      Soph.   6-5, 325               Naaman Forest

DT           92            Ansel Din-Mbuh             Jr.             6-3, 291               Aledo

Stud      11            Devean Deal   Sr.           6-4, 250               Naaman Forest

WLB      4               Namdi Obiazor               Sr.           6-3, 220               Eden Prairie, Minn.

MLB       3               Kaleb Elarms-Orr          Sr.           6-2, 235               Hayward, Calif.

NB          14            Austin Jordan Sr.           6-0, 200               Denton Ryan

CB          7               Channing Canada        Sr.           6-1, 185               Boutte, La.

CB          25            Elijah Jackson                  Sr.           6-1, 193               Carson, Calif.

FS            21            Bud Clark           Sr.           6-2, 185               Alexandria, La.

SS           2               Jamel Johnson                 Jr.             6-1, 200               Arlington Seguin

P               31            Ethan Craw      Sr.           6-3, 220               Tasmania, Australia

Keep an Eye On

Defensive lineman Zach Chapman transitioned from defensive tackle to defensive end in the offseason. Defensive coordinator Andy Avalos believes that better suits the 6-foot-5, 255-pound sophomore from Fort Bend Marshall. Chapman played in all 13 games and was tied for second on the team with three sacks. Chapman registered 24 tackles and a quarterback hurry and made at least one tackle in 11 of 13 contests. He was a second-team Freshman All-American by the Athletic and will be in the rotation at field-side defensive end. Chapman was a four-star recruit in high school.

 

By the Numbers

24.6 – That’s the number of points allowed per game for Andy Avalos’ group in his first year as defensive coordinator. That was 62nd in the country.

160.46 – The Frogs struggled to stop the run for much of the season, allowing over 160 yards per game. TCU checked in at 83rd nationally in rush defense.

43.72 – TCU was 104th in the country in third down conversions allowed at nearly 44 percent. No team in Texas allowed more.

Ceiling

11-1

The Horned Frogs are as talented as any team in the Big 12 if the offense provides quarterback Josh Hoover with a ground game and the defense improves against the run in Year 2 under defensive coordinator Andy Avalos. Arizona State and Kansas State are the toughest tests outside of Fort Worth.

Floor

6-6

The margins are razor thin in a crowded Big 12. The home slate includes tough tests against SMU, Colorado, Baylor, and Iowa State. Trips to Arizona State and Kansas State are mixed into the meat of the schedule. Continued trouble to run the ball and stop the run could plague the Horned Frogs. 

 

Coach Gossip

“This is a pivotal year for that staff. They had that great first year with Patterson’s guys and then about .500 in conference after that. Year 3 of (Kendal) Briles and Year 2 with (Andy Avalos), so it is a pivotal year. They had been really heavy transfer, but I thought they went heavy with high school recruiting last year. That was a pivot. That was interesting.”

“TCU is a talented football team that can be a little bit hot and cold the last two seasons. At their best, one of the scariest teams on our schedule. They look the part in warmups, that’s for sure. Sonny has always found athletes. I really like what that defensive coordinator does.” 

“They could win the Big 12 or miss a bowl and neither would shock me. Some of that is the Big 12. Feels like Baylor in that the good is real good and the bad is real bad.”

 

2024 RESULTS

Aug. 30                 at Stanford        W, 34-27
Sept. 7                  Long Island       W, 45-0
Sept. 14               UCF       L, 35-34
Sept. 21               at SMU                  L, 66-42
Sept. 28               at Kansas           W, 38-27
Oct. 4                     Houston              L, 30-19
Oct. 19                 at Utah                 W, 13-7
Oct. 26                 Texas Tech        W, 35-34
Nov. 2                    at Baylor             L, 37-34
Nov. 9                    Oklahoma State            W, 38-13
Nov. 23                 Arizona                 W, 49-28
Nov. 30                 at Cincinnati   W, 20-13
Dec. 28                Louisiana (New Mexico Bowl)               W, 34-3
Record: 9-4 (6-3)

 

2025 PREDICTIONS

Sept. 1                  at North Carolina          W
Sept. 13               Abilene Christian          W
Sept. 20               SMU                        W
Sept. 26               at Arizona State              L
Oct. 4                     Colorado            W
Oct. 11                 at Kansas State              L
Oct. 18                 Baylor                    L
Oct. 25                 at West Virginia              W
Nov. 8                    Iowa State         W
Nov. 15                 at BYU                   L
Nov. 22                 at Houston       W
Nov. 29                 Cincinnati          W
Record: 8-4 (5-4)

Biggest Game

Sept. 20 vs SMU

The final scheduled installment of the Iron Skillet is crucial for the Horned Frogs after TCU was embarrassed while giving up 66 points in a loss last year against SMU. Head coach Sonny Dykes was ejected during the blowout loss in front of a rabid SMU crowd. 

Trap Game

Oct. 25 at West Virginia

TCU begins a six-game stretch without an open date on Sept. 20 that will dictate the outcome of its season. That journey includes games against Big 12 contenders Arizona State, Kansas State, and Baylor. It concludes with a trip to West Virginia against Rich Rodriguez’s Mountaineers.

Upset Bid

Oct. 11 at Kansas State

TCU won’t be heavy underdogs against any of its 2025 opponents, but Big 12 road games against fellow contenders Arizona State and Kansas State provide the Horned Frogs a chance to leap into the top of the league by mid-October. Run-heavy teams like Kansas State hurt TCU last year.