There’s a certain irony to TCU football having the best defense of the Sonny Dykes era while simultaneously having the worst offense of his tenure.
That’s the position the Horned Frogs (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) find themselves in after blowing a golden opportunity to upset No. 10 BYU (4-0, 2-0) on Saturday night. TCU shut down one of the Big 12’s most efficient offenses, but managed to score just one touchdown in a 17-10 loss.
Before the season, if you told TCU fans that the Horned Frogs’ defense would rank in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense (13.4 points allowed per game) through five games, many would expect TCU to be sitting at 5-0 or 4-1 at worst.
“We’re playing good [defensively]. I thought we certainly played our best tonight,” Dykes said. “That’s a good football team, a good offensive team. I thought we played incredibly hard, but we got to be able to score more points. Defensively I thought we certainly played well enough to have a chance to win the game.”
The defense has routinely put the Horned Frogs in position to win games this season. It’s been an inverse of what we’ve typically seen from Dykes’ teams.
The Horned Frogs haven’t finished higher than 62nd nationally in scoring defense during his tenure, and in Dykes’ career, he’s only had one defense finish in the top 25 in scoring defense (2011 with Louisiana Tech).
TCU defensive end Paul Oyewale (97) and defensive end John Schobel celebrate after bringing down a BYU player during the second half Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The defense hasn’t been flawless, but the unit has exceeded expectations, including Saturday night against the Cougars. Yes, the rainy conditions and the injury to reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin helped TCU’s cause, but rain and injuries aren’t enough to explain how TCU was able to consistently outmatch BYU in the trenches.
Thanks to sticky coverage in the secondary, TCU held BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier to the worst throwing game of his career, as the sophomore managed just 62 passing yards.
There’s enough data now to say that TCU has a defense that is capable of winning the Big 12, but its offense just might be the worst in the Power Four.
It feels strange to say considering Dykes’ track record as an offensive guru and the amount of talent TCU has on offense.
Senior Kari Ashley leads all tight ends nationally in receiving yards (374), junior running back Jeremy Payne has continued to show he’s one of the better running backs in the Big 12, and the return of senior wide receiver Jordan Dwyer gives TCU an NFL talent on the outside. Sophomore receiver Ed Small has also been extremely productive in the slot.
Despite the talent and Dykes’ pedigree, the reality is that the hiring of offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis to replace Kendal Briles has been a dud. TCU is averaging just 11 points per game against Power Four competition, and that’s the reason the Horned Frogs already find themselves on the outside looking in at the Big 12 title race.
“We’ve got to continue to get better offensively. That’s an issue right now,” Dykes said. “We got to find ways to get the ball in the end zone and first downs. It was disappointing. BYU is a very good defensive football team. We knew it was gonna be some tough sledding tonight. They have a good team, but we’ve got to find a way to score points if we’re going to win some games.”
TCU’s offense actively helping opposition score
Not only is TCU struggling to score points, the offense is often undermining the defense with costly turnovers. Against North Carolina, senior quarterback Jaden Craig’s fumble in the third quarter led to a field goal. It would ultimately be the deciding score, as TCU had to drive for a game-winning touchdown instead of a field goal in the 15-10 defeat.
Small fumbled on TCU’s first possession against Central Florida, setting the Knights up with a short field. UCF took advantage and scored a touchdown in the 21-13 defeat for TCU.
The same thing happened in the second quarter Saturday when Craig was intercepted in BYU territory, and linebacker Faletau Satuala returned it 59 yards inside the TCU red zone. That led to a Bachmeier scramble for a touchdown, BYU’s lone TD drive until the final two minutes of the game.
It’s one thing to not be able to score, it’s another to actively help the opposing team put up points. Outside of the emergence of Ashley, nothing has gone right for TCU offensively this year.
The Horned Frogs rank dead last in the Big 12 in rushing offense, 15th in sacks allowed, and their quarterback looks like a player who is losing confidence. Or maybe it might be more accurate to say an offensive coordinator is losing faith in his signal-caller.
Late in the second half trailing 10-7, TCU had two drives that started in prime field position, at its 35- and 45-yard lines. Each drive ended in an extremely conservative play call that didn’t result in points.
The first was a decision to run Payne on a wide zone to the short side of the field on third-and-7 at the BYU 44-yard line. Payne was stuffed for a loss, and TCU had to punt.
On the next drive, TCU handed the ball to Payne four straight times until it faced a third-and-10 at the BYU 29. Craig’s lone chance to pass was a screen to Small that was immediately blown up. The Horned Frogs settled for a 46-yard field goal that was no good.
“We were trying to get it to short yardage. We thought we would see pressure and thought we had a chance to pop it. We wanted to get it down to fourth-and-3 or 4,” Dykes said. “They got us, they made a good play on us, and that was the thinking there. Try to set us up for two downs. I was comfortable with that call.
“And then the same thing on third down, ran a screen, thought we had a chance to pop them. [Thought] we were gonna see pressure, and they rallied to the ball better than we thought they would. Those are two play calls obviously we’d like to have over.”
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and TCU head coach Sonny Dykes shake hands after the game Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram Can TCU’s offensive problems be fixed?
Dykes’ explanation makes sense in a vacuum, but the conservative nature was reminiscent of what happened in the second half against North Carolina when Sammis clearly didn’t want to pass downfield unless absolutely necessary.
That’s the position TCU finds itself in. An offensive line that has been reshuffled multiple times can’t protect the quarterback or consistently open up rushing lanes. The quarterback who wanted to prove to NFL scouts he can perform at the Power Four level has underwhelmed, and now TCU will have to fight tooth and nail to make a bowl game.
What more can TCU do to fix its offense? Does Dykes need to be more involved? Does there need to be a quarterback change or another reshuffling of the offensive line?
“We’ll sit down and take a look at everything we’re doing,” Dykes said.
The arrival of Sammis and Craig was supposed to help elevate TCU past its nine-win ceiling, but instead the two additions could be the biggest reasons TCU won’t compete for a Big 12 title again.
Game schedule dates, times, locations Sept. 22 New York Mets 6, Rangers 3 Sept. 23 New York Mets 7, Rangers 2 Sept. 24 Rangers 3, New York Mets 1 Sept. 25 Minnesota 10, Rangers 2 Sept. 26 Rangers 6, Minnesota 2 Sept. 27 Minnesota 6, Texas 4 Season complete WNBA playoffs First-round series (Valkyries win 2-1) Game 1: Sept. 27 Golden State 104, Wings 80 Game 2: Sept. 30 Wings 108, Golden State 100 (OT) Game 3: Oct. 2 Golden State 77, Wings 73 Sept. 13 N.Y. Giants 28, Cowboys 20 Sept. 20 Cowboys 37, Washington 20 Sept. 27 Baltimore 34, Cowboys 31 Oct. 4 Cowboys 34, Houston 30 Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video Oct. 18 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Nov. 1 vs. Arizona, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 8 at Indianapolis, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., Fox Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., Fox Dec. 7 at Seattle, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Dec. 20 at L.A. Rams, 3:25 p.m., CBS Dec. 27 vs. Jacksonville, 7:20 p.m., NBC Jan. 3 vs. N.Y. Giants, 12 p.m., Fox Jan. 9 or 10 at Washington, TBA Aug. 29 North Carolina 15, TCU 10 Sept. 12 TCU 63, Grambling State 7 Sept. 19 TCU 31, Arkansas State 7 Sept. 26 Central Florida 21, TCU 13 Oct. 3 BYU 17, TCU 10 Oct. 17 at Baylor, TBA Oct. 24 vs. West Virginia, TBA Oct. 31 vs. Kansas, TBA Nov. 6 at Arizona, 9:15 p.m., ESPN Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN Sept. 5 Indiana 52, North Texas 16 Sept. 12 North Texas 44, UNLV 6 Sept. 19 Texas State 49, North Texas 35 Sept. 26 North Texas 63, Houston Christian 14 Oct. 1 North Texas 45, Tulsa 44 (OT) Oct. 10 vs. Charlotte, TBA Oct. 24 at Navy, 2:30 p.m. CBSSN Oct. 29 vs. Florida Atlantic, 6:30 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2 Nov. 7 vs. Rice, TBA Nov. 14 at UTSA, TBA Nov. 21 at Tulane, TBA Nov. 28 vs. UAB, TBA All home games at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium Aug. 27 Central Oklahoma 59, Texas Wesleyan 7 Sept. 5 McNeese State 52, Texas Wesleyan 0 Sept. 12 Texas Wesleyan 56, Texas College 20 Sept. 26 Texas Wesleyan 41, Nelson 16 Oct. 3 at Arkansas Baptist, 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at Louisiana Christian, 2 p.m. Oct. 17 vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor, 1 p.m. Oct. 24 at Langston, 2 p.m. Oct. 31 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State, 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at Ottawa (Arizona), 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at Wayland Baptist, 2 p.m. Preseason Oct. 9 vs. Houston (at Macao), 7 a.m., MavsTV+, NBA TV Oct. 11 vs. Houston (at Macao), 5 a.m., MavsTV+, NBA TV Oct. 14 vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV+, NBA TV Oct. 16 vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV+ Regular season Oct. 21 at Houston, 7:30 p.m., TBA Oct. 23 at Indiana, 6 p.m., TBA Oct. 24 vs. San Antonio, 7 p.m., TBA Oct. 26 at Miami, 6:30 p.m., NBA TV Oct. 28 vs. Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m., ESPN Oct. 2 vs. St. Louis, 8 p.m., TNT, truTV Oct. 3 at Nashville, 7 p.m., Amazon Prime Video Oct. 5 vs. San Jose, 7 p.m., Amazon Prime Video Oct. 8 at Buffalo, 6 p.m., Amazon Prime Video Oct. 10 at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m., Amazon Prime Video Sept. 5 FC Dallas 4, Kansas City 3 Sept. 9 FC Dallas 2, Minnesota 1 Sept. 12 FC Dallas 2, Portland 1 Sept. 19 FC Dallas 0, Austin 0 Sept. 26 FC Dallas 1, LAFC 0 Oct. 10 at Charlotte, 6:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 14 vs. Seattle, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 17 at Houston, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 24 vs. San Jose, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 28 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Oct. 1-3 Dirt Track Championship Oct. 2-3 Goodguys Lone Star Nationals Oct. 14 Tony Stewart Bowling Tournament Oct. 16-17 High Limit Racing Championship Oct. 29-31 POWRi Racing
This story was originally published October 4, 2026 at 2:38 PM.
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