TCU Horned Frogs 2025 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: TCU Athletics)

Key Players Returning:

QB Josh Hoover, WR Eric McAlister, OC Colton Deery, OG Cade Bennett, OG Carson Bruno, OT Ben Taylor-Whitfield, DE Paul Oyewale, DE Zachary Chapman, DE Michael Okeyode, NT Markis Deal, LB Devean Deal, LB Namdi Obiazor, LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, CB Channing Canada, CB Jevon McIver Jr., BS Jamel Johnson, FS Bud Clark KR Jordyn Bailey, PK Kyle Lemmermann, and PT Ethan Craw.

Key Players Departing:

RB Cam Cook, WR Jack Bech, WR/PR JP Richardson, WR Savion Williams, TE Drake Dabney, OT Bless Harris, DE Caleb Fox, DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah, LB/KR Shad Banks, LB Johnny Hodges, LB Cooper McDonald, CB JaTravis Broughton, CB LaMareon James, NB Abe Camara, and BS Cam Smith.

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Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
WR Terry Shelton (Carrollton, Texas), EDGE Chad Woodfork (Humble, Texas), QB Adam Schobel (Columbus, Texas), WR Jordan Dwyer (Idaho transfer), CB Micah Strickland (Brownsboro, Texas), and WR Ed Small (Austin, Texas).

3 Star Recruits:  EDGE Jared Martin (El Centro, California), OT Logan Schram (Boerne, Texas), OL Kilian Registe (Keller, Texas), and CB Elijah Jackson (Washington transfer).

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2024 Results:

G01  STANFORD  W  34-27
G02  LONG ISLAND U.  W  45-0
G03  UCF  L  34-35
G04  @ SMU  L  42-66
G05  @ Kansas  W  38-27
G06  HOUSTON  L  19-30
G07  @ Utah  W  13-7
G08  TEXAS TECH  W  35-34
G09  @ Baylor  L  34-37
G10  OKLAHOMA STATE  W  38-13
G11  ARIZONA  W  49-28
G12  @ Cincinnati  W  20-13
BOWL  vs. Louisiana  W  34-3

Team Info:

2024 Overall:  9-4 (6th in Big XII)

Home:  4-2
Away:  4-2
Neutral:  1-0
B12:  6-3
Non-B12:  3-1

Head Coach:  Sonny Dykes

TCU:  27-13
Bowls:  3-4
Career:  98-76

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Josh Hoover (313-471, 3949 yards, 66.5%, 8.4 avg., 27 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing:  Jeremy Payne (54 car., 239 yards, 4.4 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving:  Eric McAlister (39 rec., 762 yards, 19.5 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Eric McAlister (5)
Sacks:  Devean Deal (5.5)
Tackles:  Namdi Obiazor (81)
Tackles For Loss:  Devean Deal (10)
Interceptions:  Bud Clark (3)
Pass Deflections:  Jevon McIver Jr. (5)
Forced Fumbles:  B. Clark/J. Johnson/Namdi Obiazor (1)
Kick Returns:  Jordyn Bailey (11 ret., 234 yards, 21.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  None
Kicking:  Kyle Lemmermann (15-22 fg/fga., 68%, 54-55 xp/xpa., 99 pts).
Punting:  Ethan Craw (42 punts, 1780 yards, 42.4 avg., 19 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  10  Josh Hoover  (RS JR)
RB:  17  Trent Battle  (RS SR)
WR:  88  Eric McAlister  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  00  Jordan Dwyer  (JR/TR)
WR:  00  Joseph Manjack IV  (RS SR/TR)
TE:  0  DJ Rogers
LT:  70  Ryan Hughes  (SO)
LG:  60  Cade Bennett  (RS SR/TR)
OC:  51  Coltin Deery  (SR/TR)
RG:  62  Carson Bruno  (RS SR/TR)
RT:  56  Ben Taylor-Whitfield  (JR)
KR:  13  Major Everhart  (RS JR)
PK:  34  Kyle Lemmermann  (SO)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  42  Zachary Chapman  (RS SO)
NT:  95  Markis Deal  (RS SO)
DT:  00  Ansel Din-Mbuh  (JR/TR)
DE:  11  Devean Deal  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  4  Namdi Obiazor  (SR/TR)
LB:  3  Kaleb Elarms-Orr  (RS SR/TR)
NB:  14  Austin Jordan  (SR/TR)
CB:  7  Channing Canada  (RS SR/TR)
CB:  00  Elijah Jackson  (RS SR/TR)
FS:  21  Bud Clark  (RS SR)
BS:  2  Jamel Johnson  (JR)
PR:  00  Joseph Manjack IV  (RS SR/TR)
PT:  31  Ethan Craw  (SR/TR)

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Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  A
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  B
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kicking:  B
Punting:  B

Schedule:

09/01 
@ North Carolina Tar Heels  |  TCU trails the series 0-3.  The Horned Frogs lost (10-31) the last meeting in 1997, and they lost (17-27) the prior meeting in 1994.

09/13  ALILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS  |  TCU leads the series 2-0.  The Horned Frogs won (62-0) the last meeting in 1930, and they won (21-9) the inaugural meeting in 1925.

09/20  SMU MUSTANGS  |  TCU leads the series 53-43-7.  The Horned Frogs are 6-3 since 2015, and their last series win (34-17) was in 2023.

09/26  @ Arizona State Sun Devils  |  TCU trails the series 0-2.  The Horned Frogs lost (10-33) the last meeting in 1975, and they lost (7-37) the inaugural meeting in 1974.

10/04  COLORADO BUFFALOES  |  The series is tied 1-1.  The Horned Frogs lost (42-45) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (38-13) the inaugural meeting in 2022.

10/11  @ Kansas State Wildcats  |  TCU trails the series 8-10.  The Horned Frogs are 4-6 since 2015, and their last series win (38-28) was in 2022.

10/18  BAYLOR BEARS  |  TCU leads the series 59-54-7.  The Horned Frogs are 8-2 since 2015, and their last series win (42-17) was in 2023.

10/25  @ West Virginia Mountaineers  |  TCU trails the series 5-8.  The Horned Frogs are 3-6 since 2015, and they lost (21-24) the last meeting in 2023.

11/08  IOWA STATE CYCLONES  |  TCU leads the series 9-6.  The Horned Frogs are 4-5 since 2015, and they lost (14-27) the last meeting in 2023.

11/15  @ BYU Cougars  |  TCU leads the series 7-5.  The Horned Frogs won (44-11) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (38-28) the prior meeting in 2011.

11/22  @ Houston Cougars  |  TCU trails the series 13-14.  The Horned Frogs lost (19-30) last season’s meeting, and they won (36-13) the prior meeting in 2023.

11/29  CINCINNATI BEARCATS  |  The series is tied 2-2.  The Horned Frogs won (20-13) last season’s meeting, and they lost (10-21) the prior meeting in 2004.

Predictions:

Home:  5-1
Away:  3-3
Neutral:  0-0
B12:  5-4
Non-B12:  3-0

Overall:  8-4 (6th in Big XII – Bowl Eligible)