Phil Steele recently released his preview of 2025 college football schedules, ranking TCU’s slate as the toughest in the Big 12 and the 11th hardest in the nation.
TCU’s non-conference lineup includes a road trip to North Carolina and a marquee home matchup with SMU. Their Big 12 slate features all four teams that went 7–2 in conference play last season.
Steele’s schedule strength algorithm considers both projected team strength and home/away splits, and TCU tops the Big 12 in difficulty under that formula. That puts added pressure on the Horned Frogs and QB Josh Hoover to perform at a high level in every game.
This challenge arrives at a critical time for TCU. After a 9–4 season capped by a New Mexico Bowl win, expectations are high under coach Sonny Dykes. In order to make noise in the Big 12 title race, TCU must navigate this brutal early slate and embrace it as a proving ground.
The Horned Frogs’ front-loaded schedule leaves no margin for error. Both players and coaches have acknowledged the season’s intensity, recognizing that early wins against top-tier opponents could significantly define their trajectory.
If TCU can survive this initial gauntlet, momentum and confidence will follow. A statement-core campaign would signal that TCU is built not just to compete, but to challenge for championships—even against the nation’s hardest schedules.
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