TCU
The Horned Frogs will kick off play on Labor Day in a high-profile game against North Carolina, where they’ll begin outside of the esteemed AP Top 25 for the second consecutive year.
Though they didn’t crack the all-important list, Sonny Dykes’ fourth team at TCU wasn’t completely ignored by the “experts” — the Frogs received some votes in the preseason poll. Nonetheless, TCU is running under the radar. And I’m kind of wondering why.
Yes, it’s true that TCU has lost some key returning players, particularly on offense. A team doesn’t graduate two wide receivers — Jack Bech and Savion Williams — to the NFL and suddenly get better at moving down the field.
However, nine starters are back on each side of the ball, including the most important of them all: quarterback Josh Hoover.
But despite passing for a school record 3,949 yards and accounted for 31 total touchdowns in 2024, that’s not the part of Hoover’s return that made headlines. The junior turned down a reported $1 million more from Tennessee to come back to Stadium Drive. He is paid well at TCU, but $1 million more is $1 million more. And that’s why Dykes has called this “old soul” a unique player.
“I am really excited about who he is, what kind of leader he is, what kind of player he is,” Dykes said at Big 12 Media Days in July.
So are we.
As one of our favorite sports philosophers, Randy Galloway, used to tell us: “It’s always about the damn quarterback.”
Offensive Preview
OK, so, Josh Hoover set a single-season school record for passing yards and lost three top receiving targets.
Leave your concerns at the tailgate.
Believe it or not, don’t expect a drop-off at wide receiver under coordinator Kendal Briles (are we allowed to say his name yet?). Eric McAlister, an Azle High graduate who began his college career at Boise State, is the Frogs’ undisputed No. 1 at receiver. A preseason All-Big 12 pick, he’s a proven commodity after posting 762 yards and five touchdowns last season as a second-stringer.
Receivers Jordan Dwyer and Joseph Manjack IV transferred from Idaho and Houston respectively, with Dwyer registering 1,000 yards last season with the Hawkeyes.
On the ground, the Frogs struggled moving the ball in 2024 but believe they’ll be better in 2025 with a running back-by-committee approach. I’m told UTSA transfer Kevorian Barnes, who rushed for 1,803 yards and 14 touchdowns over three seasons while he averaged almost five yards per carry will “probably” be the starter to begin the season.
Helping him out will be sophomore Jeremy Payne, a four-star prospect in the Class of 2024 who showed a little something as a freshman, and Nate Palmer, a redshirt freshman who had a prolific career at Decatur High School.
In the trenches, the Frogs have confidence in protecting the QB and opening running lanes with expected starters Ryan Hughes, Cade Bennett, Coltin Deery, Carson Bruno, and Ben Taylor-Whitfield.
Keep an eye on Bennett (6-4, 305), a former All-Mountain West Conference performer at San Diego State who missed all of last season with a back injury. If Bennett is the difference maker up front like the Frogs think he will be, then TCU might paint scoreboards with prolific purple numbers.
Defend the Carter
TCU will again roll out a 4-2-5 scheme under second-year coordinator Andy Avalos.
Depth is a concern on the defensive line, though the Frogs like their starters, which include brothers Deavan and Markis Deal — one a defensive end and the other a tackle. Deavan was honorable mention All-Big 12 a year ago as a major disruptor in the backfield. He led TCU with 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Markis Deal made an impact plugging holes at tackle before being lost to injury.
TCU
I’m planning to remember the name Zach Chapman, a second-team freshman All-American selection by The Athletic after finishing with three sacks and a QB hurry as a redshirt freshman in 2024. He’s got something, and the line will need to put some pressure on quarterbacks to protect two new starters at cornerback.
Namdi Obiazor’s return as a starter at linebacker is a key asset for the defense. The former safety had 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. He has serious NFL ambitions. Former All-Pac-12 performer Kaleb Elarms-Orr is moving in to replace Johnny Hodges. Elarms-Orr had 54 tackles and two sacks as a backup last season.
The spotlight in the secondary will shine on Avery Helm and Vernon Glover, who both missed all of last season with injuries. The Frogs also brought in Elijah Jackson, a transfer from Washington who played five years for the Huskies.
One of our favorites, Bud Clark, is back for a sixth season at safety. One of the last remaining from the 2022 CFP Championship team, Clark has more than 30 starts over the past three seasons and has amassed 158 total tackles, 24 pass breakups, and 11 interceptions.
Strong safety Jamel Johnson also returns, but the Frogs are looking for a new nickel starter with the departure of Abe Camara. Austin Johnson is expected to be that guy.
Can these guys get off the field on third down and be more consistent players in the oppositions’ backfield? Both of those metrics were shaky in 2024.
Special Teams
Kyle Lemmerman, considered by some to be the best kicker nationally in his high school class as a senior at Southlake Carroll, is back as a sophomore. As a true freshman, he made 15-of-22 field goal attempts with a long of 48 yards. The Frogs are confident in Lemmerman’s leg with the game on the line.
Aussie Ethan Craw is back at punter. He averaged 42.4 yards a punt, with 19 of 42 punts going inside the 20 and only three touchbacks.
We hope not to see him much, with all due respect to Mr. Craw.
Big 12 Preview
I can without any reservation say that TCU will be in the mix for the Big 12 championship.
Why?
Because a lot of teams look to be in the mix for the Big 12 championship. Last season, four teams finished atop the standings at 7-2. Three, including TCU, went 6-3. Two others, 5-4. And last year’s Big 12 champion, Arizona State, was picked to finish 16th — dead last — in the preseason. So, expect something as unpredictable as the Wi-Fi signal during the big game on Saturday night.
There is a consensus building around Arizona State, Kansas State, and Texas Tech as one through three. The No. 11 Sun Devils, No. 17 Kansas State, No. 22 Iowa State, and No. 23 Red Raiders are the Big 12’s ranked teams going into the season.
I expect the Frogs to vie for this fourth spot, and who knows what happens when the breaks and loose balls start falling the right way.
I remember 2022.
The Season Says What?
The bottom line: TCU has got a hornet’s nest of a schedule. A nine-win season might be Sonny Dykes and his staff’s best coaching job. (I’ve got them at 9-3.)
The Horned Frogs' 2025 Schedule
Sept. 1 at North Carolina
- The eyes of a nation will be on the Frogs, who get the honor of playing in Bill Belichick’s girlfriend’s season debut. Give me the Frogs.
Sept. 13 Abilene Christian
- The last time these teams played was 95 years ago. TCU won 62-0. ACU is a good little FCS. Frogs go to 2-0.
Sept. 20 SMU
- The start of a whipping of a stretch, the No. 16 Mustangs come to Fort Worth for the last of the annual game between archrivals. The bad guys get the last one.
Sept. 26 at Arizona State
- What exactly are you, Sun Devils? The experts are on their side. Frogs drop a close one on the road.
Oct. 4 Colorado
- No sneaking in here like the last time. Lots of skepticism about Coach Prime’s third team. TCU blows the door off the Buffs.
Oct. 11 at Kansas State
- Frogs are 1-6 against the Wildcats since 2018, including a loss in the 2022 Big 12 Championship Game. Not liking this one.
Oct. 18 Baylor
- The Bears get back on the bus as losers. Frogs get a big one in Fort Worth.
Oct. 25 at West Virginia
- Rich Rodriguez is back as coach in Morgantown. He either quits at midseason or ups his intake of moonshine. Frogs roll here.
Nov. 8 Iowa State
- Does it ever stop, this schedule? This is a defining game for TCU, which turns this upset into a seminal victory.
Nov. 15 at BYU
- Book this one against the Mormons. Frogs on a roll.
Nov. 22 at Houston
- Houston will make modest gains in Willie Fritz’s second year. Still not good enough to beat the visiting Frogs.
Nov. 29 Cincinnati
- The Bearcats have taken their lumps since joining the Big 12. Cincy might be a bowl team, but one of those six will not be coming in Fort Worth.
