Road Woes
TCU is 1-3 on the road this season after dropping its last game to Texas Tech in Lubbock, but the Frogs will look to improve their home record against No. 7 Texas this weekend.
“I hate it. I hate it for the guys. I’d do anything for these guys.”
Josh Hoover’s emotion and tone sums up the state of TCU Football, and at their lowest, they play the best team in the Big 12. A tall task given their recent performances.
Struggling in all three phases
“Guys that are good players for us in the past, are not playing very well right now,” said head coach Sonny Dykes following the loss to the Red Raiders.
Special teams has struggled mightily, as they rank 118th in kick return defense, giving up an average of 24.31 yards per return. Additionally, kicker Griffin Kell is 11/18 on field goal attempts this season.
The offense has continued to struggle with turnovers this year, ranking 114th with a -6 turnover margin this season.
The defense ranks a little bit better than the offense and special teams, ranking 77th in total defense this season.
Game Diagnosis
TCU is still looking to contend for a bowl game, needing to win two out of the next three games to do so.
For Texas, every game is a must win from here on out as it aims to make the College Football Playoff. No team with two losses has ever made the top four.
The Frogs want to make sure they don’t get that chance.
“We need all 11. We need everybody in the building,” said safety Mark Perry.
Texas has only lost one game this season, against their rivals Oklahoma. Led by Maalik Murphy at quarterback due to an injury to Quinn Ewers, the TCU defense looks to attack the young quarterback like Kansas State, which forced him to throw two interceptions.
Since TCU has joined the Big 12 in 2012, the Frogs are 8-3 against the Longhorns, including a defensive masterclass last year in which they held Ewers and the Longhorn offense to three points and limited running back Bijan Robinson, now with the Atlanta Falcons, to 29 yards rushing.
Defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie is going to have to orchestrate a similar game plan this week to stop their high-powered offense.
If TCU wants to upset, special teams needs to play better and the offense has to protect the football. Multiple turnovers will prove to be costly against a top ten-ranked team. Additionally, physicality in the trenches is vital against a team with the talent Texas has, echoed by tight end Jared Wiley.
After a better second half in Lubbock, the Frogs will attempt to carry that momentum into this week.
“No matter what, these guys continue to fight,” said Hoover.
The Frogs will try to keep that mentality for all four quarters this weekend as they try to pull off the improbable upset.
“There’s only one option and that’s to not quit,” said Hoover.
Nevertheless, Texas opens as a 9.5-point favorite against the Frogs.
Kickoff is set for this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. from Amon G. Carter Stadium and broadcasting on ABC.
