A pair of 0-1 teams are looking to bounce back this week at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday as the Nicholls State Colonels face off against the TCU Horned Frogs.
This is the first time these programs are facing off as it is rare for a team from the Southland Conference to play a Big 12 team.
Why are The Frogs playing Nicholls State?
When looking at the schedule, a game like this can seem like an outlier, but games like these are a common occurrence in the early season across college football.
They give smaller schools an opportunity to make money for their program by playing an elite opponent. Nicholls State will receive a $575,000 guarantee from TCU for playing the game, as the contracts are public records. Additionally, it provides a national stage for players at these small schools to showcase their talents to a bigger audience.
In return, TCU gets a “guarantee game” on its schedule in order to boost its record while also staying at home.
It is a win/win for both teams involved.
These games can still end up being interesting; just last week Texas State went into Waco and convincingly upset Baylor while getting paid in the process.
Game Diagnosis
TCU Head Coach Sonny Dykes kept it blunt in the post-game press conference after the loss to Colorado “Defensively, it’s hard to say we played well anywhere.”
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders torched the TCU defense for four touchdowns and a school record-breaking 510 passing yards.
The Frogs struggled offensively as well, as quarterback Chandler Morris surrendered two red-zone interceptions which catapulted the Buffaloes to their upset victory.
“I guess you could say it’s a wake-up call. I don’t know how losing in the national championship by 60 isn’t a wakeup call… but right now we’re definitely the laughing stock of college football,” said linebacker Johnny Hodges.
Multiple players took to social media to express their renewed mindset.
This game against Nicholls State is a reset for the Frogs, as they can focus on refining the aspects of the game that were lacking against Colorado, the biggest of which was tackling.
Despite the turnovers, the offense did show signs of efficiency, putting up 42 points in the loss.
Jared Wiley was by far the top pass catcher as he logged six receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown.
The runningback room showed out as Emani Bailey averaged an outstanding 11.7 yards per carry and Trey Sanders had three touchdowns.
Even with the great individual performances, some big names seemed absent in the offense, as standout WR Savion Williams only logged two receptions for six yards.
The Frogs will look to sharpen the offense and defense this weekend before a primetime matchup next week against the Big 12 newcomer Houston Cougars.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CDT from Amon G. Carter Stadium and streaming on ESPN+.
