Josh Hoover and the Frogs open the 2025 college football season in North Carolina on Monday night. 

The Frogs are coming off a four-win end to the 2024 season and are looking to continue the streak to start the season. TCU will return seven starters from a season ago, including quarterback Josh Hoover and preseason All-Big 12 members, defensive back Bud Clark and wide receiver Eric McAlister. 

The Frogs are faced with a similar challenge they encountered two seasons ago, when facing a team with a brand-new head coach. The Tar Heels announced former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as their new head coach on Dec. 11, 2024. The Tar Heels finished 3-5 in ACC play in the 2024 season, as their record prompted them to hire a new head coach after parting ways with former coach Mack Brown. The Tar Heels completed a roster overhaul this past offseason as they brought in 70 new players this season, including 40 additions from the transfer portal and 30 true freshmen, according to democratandchronicle.com. Coach Bill Belichick just named South Alabama transfer, Gio Lopez, the starting quarterback for Monday night’s game. Lopez threw for 2,557 yards and 18 touchdowns for South Alabama in 2024. The Tar Heels had the No. 29 recruiting class along with the No. 9 transfer portal class and look to use their new additions on Monday night against the Frogs.

Eric McAlister making The Gauntlet look easy‼️ #GoFrogs 🐸 #ForTheWorthy pic.twitter.com/RnPJJ7abY6

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) August 19, 2025

The Frogs look to build off the momentum they ended the season with the year prior, as quarterback Josh Hoover has been named the No. 53 player in ESPN’s players to watch. Hoover is coming off throwing for 27 touchdowns and 3,949 yards, which ranks him second among returners. Eric McAlister was named to the Biletnikoff Award watchlist, which recognizes the nation’s top receiver. McAlister is poised for a big season, being the Frogs’ No. 1 option at receiver now. The Frogs added numerous weapons to offense from the transfer portal, including UTSA running back Kevorian Barnes, Idaho wide receiver Jordan Dwyer and Houston wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV. The Tar Heels ranked No. 89 in team defense in the 2024 season, and the Frogs are looking to attack that. This will be the first time the teams have played since 1997 in a matchup where the Frogs fell short, losing 31-10. Hoover and the Frogs will travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to face the Tar Heels at 7 p.m. CST on Monday, Sept. 1. It will be televised on ESPN.