Following up their national championship game appearance in the 2022 season, TCU had a disappointing 2023 season. Without quarterback Max Duggan, the Horned Frogs faltered with a record of 5-7. Replacing Duggan proved to be difficult as TCU started the season with Chandler Morris at quarterback before giving way to Josh Hoover. The Horned Frogs defense was an even bigger issue and that was apparent right away. In the season opener, TCU fell to Colorado 45-42. The Buffaloes put up 565 yards of offense including 510 through the air. The defensive woes plagued the Horned Frogs throughout the season, which led to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie.
While the 2023 season did not go accordingly for TCU, the Horned Frogs were competitive in most of their games. Four of TCU’s losses were one-score games.
New defensive coordinator Andy Avalos has a history of having a positive impact on his defenses. In his first season at Oregon in 2019, the Ducks had the 22nd ranked defense in yards per game at 329.1 yards per game. In the previous season, Oregon had the 55th ranked defense. In 2019, the Ducks also led the Pac-12 in sacks.
The TCU defense returns their top two sack producers in linebacker Namdi Obiazor and defensive end Paul Oyewale. This pair of defenders should benefit from Avalos’ defense which emphasizes havoc. Another player that figures to be in the mix is linebacker Marcel Brooks. Now in his fifth season at TCU and sixth season of college football, Brooks finally figures to be a significant contributor.
The defense also returns safety Bud Clark. Clark has developed into a ball hawk with eight interceptions of the past two seasons. None bigger than his pick-six in the Fiesta Bowl against Michigan.
While the defense figures to show improvements, the offense figures to be one of the Big 12’s best. That starts with quarterback Josh Hoover. Hoover took over halfway through the 2023 season and put up big numbers down the stretch. In his final four games, Hoover threw for at least 300 yards in each. He also threw nine touchdowns in that span.
Hoover owes a great deal of success to a formidable group of receivers. That starts with Savion Williams. Williams led the Horned Frogs with 573 yards a season ago. His biggest game came against Texas when he hauled in 11 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown.
TCU also returns their second-leading receiver in JP Richardson. Richardson operates mainly out of the slot and has shown the ability to make tough catches.
Williams and Richardson figure to be Hoover’s top targets again in 2024. The receiving corps will have plenty of depth around them with JoJo Earle, Jack Bech, and Boise State transfer Eric McAlister. McAlister led the Broncos in receiving last season and had a whopping 18.6 yards per catch.
On the offensive line, right tackle Mike Nichols is the lone holdover from a season ago. The Horned Frogs have been active in the transfer portal rebuilding their offensive front. Bless Harris is the biggest name among the group. Harris showed promise at Florida State a season ago.
James Brockermeyer is the likely starter at center after transferring in from Alabama. Brockermeyer took first-team snaps with the Crimson Tide this spring before heading to the portal. At guards, Carson Bruno and Cade Bennett bring in plenty of experience, albeit at a lower level of football. Bruno started all 12 games for Louisiana Tech at right tackle in 2023. Bennett started 11 games at San Diego State and earned second-team All-Mountain West.
This group will look to make lanes for running back Cam Cook. Cook will take over as the lead running back with the departure of Emani Bailey. He only had 58 rushing yards in 2023, but those around the program are high on him.
Head coach Sonny Dykes has been successful in multiple stops with his biggest success coming in his first season at TCU. In 2022, he led the Horned Frogs to the Big 12 Championship Game and an appearance in the National Championship. In his previous stop at nearby SMU, Dykes compiled a record of 30-18. His worst season came in 2018 when the Mustangs went 5-7. Dykes and SMU followed that up with a 10-win season in 2019.
The Big 12 conference will look much different in 2024. Gone are Texas and Oklahoma and in come Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah.
So what does the TCU schedule look like?
The Horned Frogs begin the season at Stanford and are currently a nine-point favorite. TCU’s home opener is a nonconference bout against Long Island. After two weeks of play, TCU should sit at 2-0.
Four of TCU’s toughest conference games are at home: Central Florida, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Arizona. The Horned Frogs get a bye before hosting Arizona in their home finale.
TCU’s toughest road contest is their October 19 matchup at Utah. TCU will also go into that off of a bye.
Also on the slate is a home game against Houston and trips to SMU, Kansas, Baylor, and Cincinnati.
I expect chaos out of the Big 12 and for TCU to be very much in the mix. The Horned Frogs’ regular season win total currently sits at 7.5 and I like for them to go over that. What I like even more is that you can get it at +120 or better at online sportsbooks.
OUTTA HERE!
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