Lindy’s Predicts TCU as a Big 12 Dark Horse — If Everything Comes Together

The TCU Horned Frogs football team hopes that the surge to end last season is a portent of things to come.

The Horned Frogs went 9-4 last year with a 6-3 season in the Big 12, thanks in part of winning five of their last six league games. TCU capped the season with a win over Louisiana in the New Mexico Bowl.

It was a solid bounce-back after an under-.500 season in 2023, one year after TCU made a Cinderella run to the College Football Playoff national championship game. The Horned Frogs remain the only Big 12 team to win a CFP game.

Lindy’s Sports recently published its preview for the Big 12, including the Horned Frogs. Heartland College Sports will weigh in with our previews later this summer. 

The magazine picked TCU to finish seventh in the Big 12. Here are three thoughts on the preview.

RECEIVING NEEDY

TCU built part of its success last year on its passing game. The good news is that quarterback Josh Hoover is back. The bad news is the weapons that made the passing game go aren’t.

Jack Bech, Savion Williams and JP Richardson are all in the NFL now. Combined, as Lindy’s points out, the trio accounted for 179 catches, 2,378 yards and 17 touchdowns. That seems significant.

If there’s a huge hole on this team, offensively or defensively, it’s who will pick up that slack.

Lindy’s put the onus on two players. One his holdover Eric McAlister, who caught 39 passes for 762 yards and five touchdowns. But he’s not running fourth fiddle anymore. He’s needs to be WR1. The other is Idaho transfer Jordan Dwyer. He caught 78 passes for 1,192 yards and 12 scores for the Vandals in FCS.

If TCU goes three wide — and it usually will — the Horned Frogs expect to start Jordyn Bailey, a redshirt sophomore who caught nine passes last year and has 14 for his collegiate career.

LINEBACKER U.

The move to defensive coordinator Andy Avalos agreed with the Horned Frogs last year. They were a Top 50 unit in total defense and were No. 23 in the nation against the pass, giving up just 185.2 yards per game. While the eternal Bud Clark is back at safety, the focus should be on the linebackers.

Devean Deal — who plays the STUD position — Namdi Obiazor and Kaleb Elarms-Orr are all back from a season ago. Deal had 5.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Obiazor had 81 tackles and Elarms-Orr had 54 tackles.

If all three of these players take the next step defensively, this unit could be one of the best in the conference and help a secondary that is working in either new or inexperienced starters.

IF EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER

Lindy’s sees the Horned Frogs as a Big 12 title contender if, in the publication’s words “if everything comes together.”

So, what does that mean? The defensive line must get better at stopping the run (TCU was No. 83 in the nation last year in that category). The wide receivers much pick up the slack right away because TCU has early games with North Carolina, SMU and Arizona State, all before September ends.

TCU also needs its projected starting cornerbacks Channing Canada and Avery Helm, to take steps forward this season. Helm missed last season, and Canada started the last five games a season ago.

Plus, the Horned Frogs are rebuilding the left side of their offensive line.

Nothing is perfect, but the pieces are there to make a run — if everything comes together.