![\"TCU](\"https:\/\/platform.underdogdynasty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/172\/2025\/11\/gettyimages-2244025623.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTCU QB Josh Hoover is 9th in the FBS in passing yards, pushing for his second-straight 3,000-yard campaign. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n
TCU started the year strong and quickly navigated into the rankings, looking the part as Big 12 contenders. Ever since squandering a 17-0 lead to Arizona State, the Horned Frogs\u2019 season has flipped upside down. They\u2019re 3-4 in their last seven with close wins over Colorado, Baylor, and West Virginia, and they\u2019re fresh off their lowest point in the season \u2014 a 44-13 shellacking to BYU in Provo.<\/p>\n
The Horned Frogs have a shot to put their recent struggles in the past and generate their highest-quality conference win of the year. Some adversity will need to be overcome as the team lacks starting running back Kevorian Barnes and veteran ballhawking safety Bud Clark, who are both ruled out on the injury report. Still, there\u2019s plenty of talent exhibited throughout Sonny Dykes\u2019 team, as evidenced during their dominant 3-0 start.<\/p>\n
More often that not, the presence of quarterback Josh Hoover will provide TCU an opportunity to win on any given gameday. The junior who set the program\u2019s all-time passing record in 2024 ranks ninth in the FBS in passing yards, armed with four 300+ yard performances and five 3+ touchdown delivery orders on the year. BYU\u2019s assertive defense held him under 20 completions and under 200 yards for the first time this year, and Hoover eyes a bounce-back to his September and October dominance in this late-season conference clash.<\/p>\n
One reason the Horned Frogs\u2019 passing attack is often so effective is the presence of star receiver Eric McAlister. Ranked first in the Big 12 and sixth in the FBS in receiving yards, McAlister can take over a game as well as any receiver in the country. He has five 100-yard outings this year \u2014 including three-straight \u2014 notably dicing up SMU\u2019s secondary in Week 4 with 254 yards and three touchdowns. A fellow downfield playmaker in Jordan Dwyer and longtime Houston Cougar receiver Joseph Manjack IV make up TCU\u2019s main trio of targets in this pass-heavy offense.<\/p>\n
Without Barnes in the run game, TCU turns to a stable of backs such as Trent Battle, Jeremy Payne, and Jon Denman. The Horned Frogs only surpassed 115 rushing yards once in Big 12 play, and that was the Oct. 18 game against Baylor when it ran for 196 and scored 42. The run success is correlated with the scoring, and the Frogs are managing just 17.7 points per game in their last three contests, plagued by struggles at the line of scrimmage.<\/p>\n
TCU does a great job stopping the run though, limiting opponents to 3.4 yards per carry and 127 yards per game. The Horned Frogs are 5-0 when holding FBS teams under 130 rushing yards and 0-4 otherwise, showing this facet\u2019s influence on their results. The corps of inside backer Namdi Obiazor and outside backers Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Devean Deal play a vital role in containing the ground. Elarms-Orr leads the team with 99 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks, while Obiazor has 67 tackles and Deal 7.0 tackles for loss.<\/p>\n
The Horned Frogs aren\u2019t as formidable against the passing game, ranking 112th nationally in fewest aerial yards allowed. However, the remedy to this is interceptions, and TCU gets a bunch of those. However, without Bud Clark and his four interceptions to contribute, the Horned Frogs will rely on other sources to force turnovers. One is fellow safety Jamel Johnson who has 78 tackles and four picks on the year. Another is Kylin Jackson, who should play an expanded role without Clark available.<\/p>\n