2025 College Football Big 12 Team Previews: TCU Horned Frogs

Team: TCU
Mascot: Horned Frogs
Student Population: 12,938
Established: 1873
Motto: “Knowledge is power”
Location: Ft. Worth, Texas
Head Coach: Sonny Dykes
Offensive Coordinator: Kendal Briles
Defensive Coordinator: Andy Avalos
2024 Record: 9-4

Rankings

SP+: 29
FPI: 32
Kelly Ford: 32

Power Rankings

CBS Sports: 6

The Horned Frogs cruised to a solid 9-4 record and won six of their last seven games in 2024. At the same time, they lost to miserable UCF and Houston squads and five of their six conference wins came against teams that missed a bowl game. Rising quarterback Josh Hoover is a big-time playmaker, but the Frogs have to get more consistent running the ball to reach elite status. (+1300)

SB Nation: 7

The Horned Frogs return both coordinators and their star QB, which is the good part. Josh Hoover finished the season strong in Kendal Briles’ offense, and should enter the season as one of the Big 12’s top QBs. TCU returned nine of their starters on both sides of the ball, but the biggest question will be if Hoover can get it going with a completely new receiving corps. Jack Bech and Savion Williams are both in the NFL, and to replace them TCU portaled Houston WR Joseph Manjack IV and Jordan Dwyer, who put up big numbers at Idaho.

Defensively, they didn’t really add a lot of impact players, but EDGE Devean Deal led the team in sacks last season and returns to the Horned Frogs this season, as does LB Namdi Obiazor and S Bud Clark. There’s some more production in the secondary that needs to be addressed (CB specifically), but if they can find consistency there, the Horned Frogs could surprise some people.

24/7 Sports: 8

There is cautious optimism for TCU in 2025 with starting quarterback Josh Hoover firmly at the helm of the program. If new targets like Idaho transfer Jordan Dwyer and Houston transfer Joseph Manjack IV can step up, the Horned Frogs’ offense should pick up right where it left off as the most productive unit in the Big 12. Defensively, TCU showed steady improvement as the 2024 season progressed, hinting at a potential breakout next year with several key contributors set to return.

Transfer Class Rankings

24/7 Sports: National Rank 53 | Big 12 Rank 12 (12 players)
Rivals: National Rank 93 | Big 12 Rank 14 (8 players)

Miscellaneous

Bovada Win Totals: 6.5

Athlon Big 12 Predictions: 8

Not much separates No. 1 and No. 9 in the projected finish for the Big 12. TCU surged at the end of ‘24 by winning six out of its final seven games and optimism is high in Fort Worth that momentum will carry over into this fall.

Quarterback Josh Hoover returns after finishing second in the Big 12 in yards per game (303.8), and the receiving corps still has plenty of talent despite losing Savion Williams, Jack Bech, and JP Richardson. Eric McAlister should push for All-Big 12 honors as the team’s No. 1 target, with transfers Jordan Dwyer (Idaho) and Joseph Manjack IV (Houston) rounding out the top options for Hoover. If TCU is going to challenge for a spot in the Big 12 title game, improvement up front and with its ground attack is a must. The Horned Frogs managed only 3.7 yards a carry in ‘24.

TCU’s defense showed signs of improvement under first-year coordinator Andy Avalos last season. After giving up 5.74 yards a snap in Big 12 play in ‘23, the Horned Frogs cut that total to 5.4 last year. With six starters back, Avalos should build on that progress. Safety Bud Clark is back as one of this unit’s key leaders to lead a pass defense that ranked No. 42 nationally in success rate last year. But improvement is needed against the run after TCU finished 12th in the conference.