TCU will face Kansas State on Saturday with quarterback Josh Hoover looking to improve on an impressive debut against BYU.
The last time these two teams met it was a showdown for the Big 12 title, as K-State won a gruesome game on the gridiron and handed TCU their only loss on the way to the National Championship.
A lot has changed since then, but both teams still remain dangerous and find themselves in similar situations at quarterback.
The Frogs could not have asked for more out of Josh Hoover in his first start. Things went so well that he ended up throwing 59 passes en route to a 44-11 beatdown of the BYU Cougars.
“Not surprised. He’s the most prepared player on our team. I think he had a great performance,” said head coach Sonny Dykes postgame.
Hoover’s astounding 439 yards passing and four touchdown passes netted him Big 12 player of the week honors.
He is the first TCU quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in his first career start since Casey Pachall did it against Baylor in 2014.
“Hoover hype” is in full effect around Fort Worth, but K-State has their own young quarterback to be excited about.
Freshman quarterback Avery Johnson burst onto the scene last week in Lubbock.
Opposite of Josh Hoover, Johnson got it done on the ground, rushing for 90 yards and five touchdowns and earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors.
The TCU defense has looked good after week one, but their toughest test is yet to come.
Even after the departure of Deuce Vaughn, the Wildcats love to run the ball, as was evident last week when they rushed 44 times for 274 yards.
And with the emergence of Avery Johnson, Joe Gillespie will need to get the defense ready for two different quarterbacks, as both Will Howard and Johnson both attemped nine passes last week against the Red Raiders.
“I thought defensively we played outstanding. these guys hear the stuff and social media, and they didn’t blink,” Dykes said.
As the Frogs try to keep up the defensive effort this weekend, look for linebacker Namdi Obiazor to make a big impact this game as this one is just a little more personal for him.
His brother, Chiddi Obiazor, is a defensive end for the Wildcats.
The brothers will be playing against each other this weekend, and Namdi Obiazor said they have already started going back and forth.
“I’ve let him know what’s up,” he said.
The Frogs open up as 6.5 point underdogs, the first time this season where they have not been favored.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. from Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas and broadcasting on ESPN2.
