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Josh Hoover delivered a steady performance in TCU’s 20-13 win over Cincinnati on a chilly night in the snow, doing just enough to guide the Horned Frogs to their eighth victory of the season. While the game was not his flashiest of the year, Hoover's efforts ensured TCU came away with the win, keeping their momentum alive as they prepare for a bowl game.
Hoover completed 18 of 35 passes for 212 yards. Though he didn’t throw a touchdown, his longest completion of 40 yards highlighted his ability to find opportunities downfield just like he has all season. However, his lone interception and the Frogs’ inability to score in the second half showed areas where the offense fell short.
Despite these hiccups, Hoover remained composed under pressure and avoided any sacks, a testament to his awareness and ability to make quick decisions. He also avoided any fumbles, a problem that plagued him earlier in the season.
This game brings Hoover’s season passing total tantalizingly close to history. He now sits just 2 yards shy of surpassing Max Duggan’s 2022 total and only 206 yards from breaking Trevone Boykin’s all-time single-season record of 3,901 yards, set in 2014. With one game remaining, Hoover has a clear opportunity to etch his name at the top of TCU’s record books, an incredible achievement for a player still growing into his role.
While Hoover’s outing against Cincinnati didn’t light up the stat sheet, it showcased his dependability and ability to lead his team in close games. His passing played a critical role in complementing a balanced offensive approach, allowing TCU to maintain control and capitalize on opportunities in the first half. The Horned Frogs relied heavily on their defense late, but Hoover’s contributions in building an early lead proved to be the difference.
As TCU heads into bowl season, Hoover’s performance against Cincinnati reflects a quarterback who has consistently stepped up when it matters most. His pursuit of school history adds an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming game, where he will have a chance to break records and close the season with a statement win. For Hoover, it’s not just about the numbers but also about how much he has grown as a player since the start of the year.
Grade: B
More must-reads:
- Oklahoma QB John Mateer has amazing reason for trash-talking his teammates
- Insider says this ACC program is underrated going into 2025 season
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Oklahoma QB John Mateer has amazing reason for trash-talking his teammates
Quarterback John Mateer already seems comfortable in his own skin at Oklahoma, and that's led to a bit of verbal sparring between the quarterback and his teammates. Mateer lit up the scoreboard last season at Washington State before transferring to Norman, and he's now apparently lighting up his Oklahoma teammates. It's not unnoticeable that Mateer is getting chippy out there, but he recently revealed while talking to the media that it's all intentional. Yes, he enjoys ratcheting up the level of competition, but he's also trying to keep his teammates engaged during the "dog days" of fall camp. “I know from playing football, it gets people going a little bit,” Mateer said after a recent practice (h/t On3). “And that’s what you need on this field. Like, this (is) practice four, and it’s great, but come here soon it’s gonna be, ‘Damn, this practice is hot,’ this and that, so you can get everybody going a little bit more. And that comes from me." Playing a heated brand of football is just his style, but staying fired up and engaged is a responsibility as well for Mateer. “I’m the quarterback, I’m the leader, so I’ve got to do it. I love doing it — if you talk a little trash, you’ll get the best out of everybody," he said. For what it's worth, Mateer's trash talk has been noticed by some of his teammates, and it seems to be appreciated. “He’s a dog, man,” wide receiver Keontez Lewis said, according to Jesse Crittenden of OU Insider. “It’s great having a quarterback that goes out there with a little nastiness to him. So you couldn’t ask nothing better for a quarterback back there, honestly.” Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns last season (with seven interceptions) while rushing for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns. If that talent translates from Wazzou to Oklahoma, the Sooners are going to be a very dangerous team in 2025. Throw in a bit of "spark" from Mateer, and look out.
Aaron Judge Assigns Blame As Yankees Continue to Sprial
Aaron Judge didn’t ease into his return. After missing over two weeks with a strain in his right elbow, the Yankees’ captain was activated Tuesday and inserted as the designated hitter. But his presence wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding or the finger-pointing. As the Yankees dropped their fifth straight game, falling 2-0 to the Rangers, the calls for a change in leadership were growing louder. Yankees fans were howling for Aaron Boone’s job and wanted Brian Cashman to be sent packing with him. But, Judge made it clear who bears the blame. “About us in this room, we’ve got to step up, look ourselves in the mirror and do our job,” he said. That was the message from a captain who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his first game back. Judge didn’t shift the focus to his own timing at the plate or the limitations of his injury. He kept the spotlight squarely on the team’s performance and their accountability. New York has now lost 19 of its last 27 games and watched a once-secure playoff position slip into a Wild Card race that’s tightening by the day. The loss dropped them behind Boston and just a half-game ahead of Texas for the final AL Wild Card spot. Mistakes continue to mount. On Tuesday, it was another bullpen collapse, another critical misplay in the field, and another night where the offense failed to deliver in key spots. For Judge, the diagnosis was simple. Do your job. With the standings getting tighter, Judge’s words carry weight. The Yankees have time to turn this around, but not if they keep looking elsewhere for answers or excuses. The answers, as Judge reminded everyone Tuesday night, have to come from within.
Brewers righty deserves consideration as dark-horse Cy Young candidate
The Milwaukee Brewers' trade with the Boston Red Sox early in the season flew under the radar. The Brewers acquired former top prospect Quinn Priester from the Red Sox, sending outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez to Boston on April 7. Pitching prospect John Holobetz was sent to the Red Sox on May 5 to complete the trade. Priester had been expected to be a top-of-the-rotation arm, lauded for his athleticism and plus fastball and curve. However, he struggled during his time in the majors in 2023 and 2024, posting a combined 6.23 ERA and a 1.555 WHiP over 99.2 innings, striking out 69 batters with 41 walks while serving up 19 home runs. Despite a solid outing in his only appearance for the Red Sox, Priester remained in Triple-A as nothing more than pitching depth. That changed with his arrival in Milwaukee. He has exceeded expectations, either as a traditional starter or following an opener. Priester has posted a 3.15 ERA and a 1.190 WHiP over his 114.1 innings for the Brewers, striking out 93 batters with 38 walks. Opponents have mustered a meager .228/.294/.382 batting line in 471 plate appearances with just 13 homers. The Brewers' 64-48 record entering Tuesday is the best in the majors despite a nondescript rotation. While Freddy Peralta is a top-of-the-rotation arm in his own right, staff ace Brandon Woodruff missed all of 2024 and most of the first half of 2025. Pitchers such as Chad Patrick, Tobias Myers and Jose Quintana are back-of-the-rotation arms at this point. The Brewers needed someone to step up with Priester being the unlikely hero. Pitchers Paul Skenes and Zack Wheeler are the prohibitive favorites to win the National League Cy Young Award. BetMGM does not have Priester listed as one of the 10 most likely candidates to take home the hardware. However, Priester's performance, coupled with the Brewers' success this season, is worthy of attention. If he can continue to perform at this level, Priester deserves at least some consideration on the ballot.
Vikings’ JJ McCarthy dealt tough truth by NFL Insider after Jordan Addison suspension
It was announced on Tuesday that Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has been suspended by the NFL for the first three games of the upcoming season for violating the league’s substances of abuse policy. While Addison will bear the brunt of the sanction, it could also impact Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy. McCarthy missed his entire rookie year after tearing the meniscus in his right knee in the preseason. Now, he is eager to prove his worth and assure the Vikings that they made the right decision in drafting him as the 10th overall pick. While McCarthy has been beaming with optimism in training camp, NFL analyst Marcus Spears offered a pragmatic view. All eyes will be on the 22-year-old signal-caller the moment he sets foot on the gridiron, and for Spears, McCarthy should know his identity. “Here’s the deal, as a rookie quarterback coming into a system with all the confidence in the world, and what Kevin O’Connell has been doing offensively, we saw him resurrect Sam Darnold’s career, JJ McCarthy was the guy they chose, right? So right now, it’s about positioning him,” said Spears on ESPN’s “NFL Live.” “But I think ultimately for a young quarterback, now it’s about finding within.” In light of Addison’s suspension, Spears also noted that McCarthy lost a valuable target, making his first few games even tougher. Spears stressed that the Vikings should create other opportunities for McCarthy to shine and allow him to play his game. “It may be more of, like, ‘Let’s play mistake-free football, let’s find the plays where he can be explosive downfield.’ But more importantly, play a complementary game until you have your four requisite weapons, with Jordan Addison coming back because he did develop into a deep threat for Sam Darnold last year,” added Spears, who played nine seasons in the NFL. “JJ McCarthy is going to want to have that back before they start opening this offense up.” With Darnold now with the Seattle Seahawks, McCarthy has been handed the keys. It’s now up to him to unlock the Vikings’ strength.
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