Head Coach Sonny Dykes and the Frogs expect to return to Fort Worth with a week one victory against Stanford.

This season-opening game should demonstrate TCU’s improvements offensively and defensively.

Although Stanford does not pose a serious competitive threat, it is important for TCU to take no game for granted. Last season, the Frogs hosted Deion Sanders’ Colorado, and the Buffaloes ultimately secured the win on a last minute touchdown.

In the 2023-24 season, Stanford was ranked second-to-last with a 2-7 Pac-12 record, struggling after many players hit the transfer portal in 2022. Now, Stanford is home to wide receiver Eric Ayomanor, a dynamic player for the Stanford offense who was originally a three-star recruit out of high school. Last season, Ayomanor recorded 62 receptions for over 1,000 yards and a season-best 13 receptions for 294 yards against Colorado on Oct. 13, 2023.

Facing a talented receiver in week one of the season will give TCU’s defense, the secondary specifically, a challenge they should expect to continue seeing from Big 12 teams later in the season.

Since ditching the 3-3-5 scheme, the Frog’s defense will shine in this matchup. Stanford’s offensive line allowed 41 sacks last season and ranked No. 103 in rushing attack with less than four yards per carry.

Josh Hoover has locked the QB 1 position, and Dykes is happy with how he’s improved as a leader and player since his debut last season.

“He’s learning how to be more consistent, and he’s maturing,” Dykes said. “I think he’s done a tremendous job of doing that so far in [the] fall.”

With Stanford’s defense being ranked No. 129 in the country last season, it is expected that Hoover and the Frogs will command the offensive flow for the entire game. Dykes said wide receiver Savion Williams has been connecting extremely well with the sophomore quarterback, and this duo has the potential to be lethal.

TCU also utilizes tight ends heavily in their short offensive game, and Drake Dabney is another expected target for Hoover.

The Frogs should add one more to the win column against Stanford, as they hold a 3-0 all-time record against them. Their last matchup was in 2017, and although close, TCU came out on top 39-37.

Dykes and the Horned Frogs will travel to Palo Alto, California, to face Stanford on Friday, Aug. 30 at 9 p.m. CDT. It will be televised on ESPN.