Now more than two years removed from a remarkable and unexpected run to the national title game, it’s clear that wasn’t the norm for TCU football.
It’s also clear, however, that head coach Sonny Dykes has the Horned Frogs back on a winning path.
This summer, BuffZone is previewing each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2025 season and in this installment we look at TCU, which will host the Buffs in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 4.
TCU may not be a national title contender like it was in 2022, when it went 13-2 and lost in the championship game. But, the program isn’t sputtering like it was in 2021, prompting administration to move on from long-time coach Gary Patterson.
The Patterson era (2001-21) was sensational for TCU and was a big reason the program was in position to leave the Mountain West Conference for the Big 12 in 2012. In the last four years under Patterson, however, TCU went 23-24.
Dykes is 27-13 through three years and the 2025 version of the Horned Frogs could be a contender for the Big 12 title.
“I love this team. I love where we are right now as a team and as a program,” Dykes said to TCU media a week ago. “We like our team, I love the work ethic of the team, I love the makeup of the team. It’s a deep team, but we haven’t done anything.
“I think we’re a lot further along than we’ve ever been, just with the way the guys have trained and the buy-in and what we’re doing now with our players and how we’re doing it. I think we’re constantly trying to build a better mousetrap and I feel like we’re getting there.”
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes stands on the sidelines during an NCAA college football game against Houston Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
The magical 2022 season was followed by a 5-7 campaign in 2023, a year that saw three losses by three points (including the opener against CU). The Horned Frogs got back on track last year, though, in going 9-4.
Several key players from last year are gone, but quarterback Josh Hoover returns. He was reportedly offered more than $1 million by Tennessee, but chose to stay at TCU, where he threw for nearly 4,000 yards last year as a sophomore.
“I love Fort Worth, I love TCU,” he told local media recently. “I see TCU as a top program and that’s why I came here. I came here to win a Big 12 championship.”
To do that, he needs some people around him to step up.
TCU’s top three receivers graduated, but there’s still talent, led by Eric McAlister (39 catches for 762 yards), and transfers Jordan Dwyer and Joseph Manjack IV. The run game has to improve, though. The Horned Frogs were 112th nationally with just 113.9 yards per game on the ground.
On the offensive line, three starters are back, including Coltin Deery, who played left guard in 2024 and is now at center. The Horned Frogs also get Cade Bennett back. A two-time All-Mountain West performer at San Diego State, he came to TCU a year ago and missed the 2024 season with an injury.
Defensively, a handful of starters are back, including safeties Bud Clark and Jamel Johnson, linebacker Namdi Obiazor and defensive linemen Devean and Markis Deal.
Last year, the TCU defense was solid and played well down the stretch, allowing just 14.3 points per game in the last four games. The run defense was a weakness, though.
Going into 2025, TCU has a tough schedule that includes nonconference games against North Carolina and SMU. To rack up wins and make a run at the top of the Big 12, the trenches will be a key.
“I think everybody knows (the defensive front) was a weakness of ours last year, the inability to stop the run,” he said. “Same thing up front as an offense. You’ve got to be able to run the football better. Those are areas we all know have to improve.”
TCU Horned Frogs
Head coach: Sonny Dykes, 4th season (27-13; 98-76 career)
2024 season: 9-4, 6-3 Big 12; beat Louisiana, 34-3, in New Mexico Bowl
Series with CU: Tied 1-1
Matchup with the Buffs: Saturday, Oct. 4 (TBA), at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas
TCU linebacker Devean Deal (11) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
5 Guys to Watch
S Bud Clark: Earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last year after posting 67 tackles, three interceptions and three pass breakups. A sixth-year senior, he has posted 145 tackles, 11 interceptions and 24 pass breakups in the last three years.
Edge Devean Deal: Former North Texas transfer had a huge first year at TCU, posting 46 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. At North Texas in 2023, he had 12 TFLs and six sacks. His younger brother, Markis, is a starting defensive tackle for the Horned Frogs.
WR Jordan Dwyer: A newcomer this year, he was a star at Idaho, catching 78 passes for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024. In three years with the Vandals, he caught 109 passes for 1,651 yards and 18 TDs.
QB Josh Hoover: In his first full season as the starter, Hoover set a TCU record for passing yards (3,949) in a single season, while also throwing 27 touchdowns, but he was picked off 11 times. Over the last two seasons, he’s thrown for 6,155 yards, 42 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
WR Eric McAlister: TCU’s top three receivers all graduated, but McAlister still put up good numbers last year, catching 39 passes for 762 yards (second on the team) and five touchdowns. Prior to transferring to TCU last year, he caught 47 passes for 873 yards and five touchdowns at Boise State in 2023.
Good to know
• With CU installing FieldTurf at Folsom Field this year, this game at TCU will be the only one that the Buffs will play on natural grass during the regular season. All seven home games and the other four road games will all be on artificial surfaces.
• Prior to 2022, CU had never faced TCU, but this will be the third meeting in four years. TCU beat the Buffs in Boulder, 38-13, on Sept. 10, 2022. CU returned the favor a year later in Deion Sanders’ first game as head coach, upsetting the Horned Frogs 45-42 in Fort Worth on Sept. 2, 2023.
• Last season, Hoover finished second in the Big 12 in passing yards (3,949) and completion percentage (66.5), behind only CU’s Shedeur Sanders (4,134, 74.0). He tied for third with his 27 TD passes and was third in passer rating (151.13).
• Linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr was second-team All-Pac-12 in 2023 at California, posting 92 tackles. Last year, he came to TCU and finished sixth on the team with 54 tackles (along with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks), despite not starting any games. He is projected to start this year.
• Kyle Lemmermann returns as the Horned Frogs’ kicker. He was 15-of-22 on field goals last year, with a long of 48. He was also 54-of-55 on extra points. Punter Ethan Craw is also back after averaging 42.5 yards per punt.
Portal movement
TCU lost 20 players to the transfer portal, per 247Sports. That list includes last year’s leading rusher, Cam Cook (now at Jacksonville State) and starting center James Brockermeyer (Miami). The majority of the losses, however, were backups, including linebacker Kylan Salter, now at CU. TCU added 12 transfers and several should make an immediate impact. Receivers Jordan Dwyer (Idaho) and Jospeh Manjack IV (Houston) could be starters. Ansel Din-Mbuh had six sacks at Washington State last year and is slated to start. Cornerback Elijah Jackson (Washington), safety Kylin Jackson (LSU), tackle Rasheed Jackson (Incarnate Word) and tight end Ka’Morreun Pimpton (LSU) could push for starting roles.