When Austin McGee of SB Nation's Frogs O' War reached out to talk about the upcoming weekend battlefront opposite the 12th-ranked BYU Cougars, I was anxious to jump at the opportunity. The name of the site alone was enough to gather my interest, and in all truth, I don't know all too much about this year's TCU squad.
I know they're likely better than the national sentiment would suggest -- nearly every Big 12 team is this season -- and they were just a few minutes from reaching this game with just two losses. That should terrify anyone hoping the Cougars can clutch out a 4-0 stretch to close the season and compete for a Big 12 championship.
But I'm not the expert here, so I choose to defer to Austin. Click here to read my end of the conversation over at Frogs O' War.
Conversation with a TCU Football Expert: Austin McGee
Q: Does your insider's perspective of TCU align with the national sentiment on the Horned Frogs?
A: First of all, is there even a national consensus on how people feel about the Horned Frogs? Some view TCU as the fun, pesky underdogs who always seem to overachieve. Others reduce the program to “65–7,” college football’s version of the Atlanta Falcons' “28–3,” except vice versa. In reality, TCU sits somewhere in between. They aren’t true underdogs — Vegas consistently treats them as a legitimate threat. Even with three losses and a road matchup, TCU is only a 3.5-point dog against 8–1 BYU. I’m not especially confident in them this week either, but more on that later.
From an insider’s perspective, TCU is a talented team that simply hasn’t met expectations. A College Football Playoff bid might have been optimistic, but it wasn’t unrealistic based on the roster. In the era of NIL and the transfer portal, there’s no reason the Horned Frogs shouldn’t compete at a high level every season.
Q: BYU saw firsthand how Iowa State can put up a heap of points in a short amount of time, just as TCU experienced last weekend. Did TCU lose control of the game, or was Iowa State in contention more than the scoreboard indicated?
A: TCU let this one slip away. Up 17-6 in the fourth quarter, the Horned Frogs should never have been in a position to lose. Instead, they surrendered 14 quick points in a seven-minute span, punctuated by a disastrous punt-return touchdown, and suddenly Iowa State had all the momentum. On a drive to tie or retake the lead, TCU coughed up the ball, sealing their fate.
It was a familiar pattern: undisciplined, untimely turnovers at the worst possible moments. The Frogs have sabotaged themselves in all three losses this season, and this game was no different.
Q: TCU's passing game may be the most dynamic the Cougars have seen all season. How well do you feel Josh Hoover will fare against BYU's secondary?
A: Josh Hoover is a gifted passer who has the ball on a string. He’s especially effective attacking downfield, showing impressive touch on intermediate and deep throws. He also has a strong supporting cast in receivers Eric McAlister and Jordan Dwyer. And while BYU’s secondary is stingy, allowing under 200 passing yards per game, TCU’s aerial attack is capable of challenging it.
The real concern is pressure. Hoover doesn’t thrive under duress; he’s not a shifty quarterback, nor is he a threat to run. Consistent pressure is the most reliable way to disrupt him. The junior has combined for 12 interceptions and fumbles this season, after 17 last year, underscoring ongoing ball-security issues. If the Cougars generate a steady pass rush, Hoover’s ceiling drops significantly.
Q: What game displayed TCU at their best this season? Their worst?
A: TCU’s season-opening win over North Carolina was the Horned Frogs at their best. With hindsight, the Tar Heels’ 4–5 record makes them look like a middling team, but at kickoff, TCU was favored by only 1.5 points — and still dominated 48–14. The Frogs were in total control, and Hoover didn’t even need a Herculean performance to hang 48. The rushing attack piled up 258 yards, and McAlister caught just three passes. Defensively, TCU looked fast, disciplined, and aggressive, holding the Tar Heels to only 222 total yards.
Kansas State, meanwhile, represented TCU at its worst. The Wildcats have become the Frogs’ kryptonite; TCU cannot seem to solve them. Despite taking an early 7–0 lead, the Frogs surrendered 28 unanswered points, and the game never felt competitive afterward. TCU actually out-gained Kansas State by more than 100 yards, but a lack of discipline and poorly timed mistakes ultimately doomed them.
Q: TCU's run defense is heinous and filthy. How does the rest of the Frogs' resistance fare against Bear Bachmeier and the BYU offense?
A: To put it bluntly, TCU’s defense just isn’t very good. The Frogs do have a strong safety tandem in Bud Clark and Jamel Johnson, and linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr has been a standout, but beyond those three, there aren’t many true difference-makers. Statistically, the run defense is better than even I expected. The defensive line is average — not a dominant, run-stuffing group — but the back-end trio of Clark, Johnson, and Elarms-Orr often cleans things up at the second level.
The pass defense, however, is substandard for two reasons: an inconsistent pass rush and a revolving door at cornerback. TCU’s top sack producers are Elarms-Orr, Devean Deal off the edge, and safety Kylin Jackson. When only one edge rusher has more than two sacks, it’s hard to feel confident about generating pressure, which directly affects the cornerback play.
Q: What is TCU's expectation for the remaining season? What is this team playing for?
A: Expectations remain high given TCU’s talent, and looking ahead, a nine-win season — including a bowl victory — still isn’t out of reach. Road trips to BYU and Houston, plus a home finale against Cincinnati, won’t be easy, but they’re manageable. The Frogs face a tough path, yet the opportunity is there.
TCU is playing for bowl positioning and momentum. Even if bowl games don’t carry the same weight they once did, Hoover still has eligibility remaining, and many starters will return next season. There’s real value in seeing how this team finishes as it builds toward Hoover’s final year.
Q: How does this game play out? Is BYU set to stomp the Frogs, or does TCU make it six straight against their old MWC foes?
A: With TCU, it’s hard to know what you’re going to get. The Cougars are the more consistent and disciplined team, while the Horned Frogs have been up and down all season. They haven’t been blown out this year, so I don’t expect that to change, but BYU’s steadiness gives it the edge. My projection: BYU 31, TCU 27.
Another thanks to Austin for his insight! You can read more from him over at Frogs O' War.