Teams:

• Arizona
• Arizona State
• Baylor
• BYU
• Cincinnati
• Colorado
• Houston
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Oklahoma State
• TCU – At bat
• Texas Tech – On deck
• UCF – In the hole
• Utah
• West Virginia

Portal Team Rankings:

• On3: Big 12 9th | National 38th
• 24/7 Sports: Big 12 10th | National 47th
• The Athletic: B-

Via AI:

• Jaden Craig (QB, from Harvard): Brings significant experience and is projected to compete for or secure the starting quarterback job.
• Jeremy Scott (WR, from South Alabama): A dynamic playmaker added to the receiving corps.
• Noah McKinney (IOL, from Oklahoma State): A massive addition to the offensive line.
• Michael Short (LB, from Virginia Tech): Provides immediate depth and playmaking ability at the linebacker position.
• Teon Parks (CB, from Colorado): A defensive back transfer expected to help solidify the secondary.
• Cheta Ofili (Edge, from Texas Tech): Added to improve the Horned Frogs’ pass rush and defensive front.

Via The Athletic:

Top players added: QB Jaden Craig (Harvard), iOL Noah McKinney (Oklahoma State), edge Cheta Ofili (Texas Tech), LB Michael Short (Virginia Tech), CB Teon Parks (Colorado)

Sonny Dykes has signed more transfers than high school recruits just once (in the 2024 offseason) since taking the reins in Fort Worth in November 2021. So, it’s no surprise that the Frogs signed the second-smallest portal class in the Big 12. You can make the argument that losing quarterback Josh Hoover (Indiana) outweighs the gains of picking up seven FBS transfers who started at least five games last season. But if Craig, who went 19-5 as a starter at Harvard, proves to be a steady replacement, TCU could end up with a sneaky good class. One interesting player to monitor is running back Landon Walker, a transfer from the Colorado School of Mines. The 6-2, 225-pound fifth-year senior ran for 2,220 yards and 29 touchdowns and averaged 6.5 yards per carry in his career at the Division II level.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly:

Is Sonny Dykes underrated? He has won 36 games in four seasons, and his Horned Frogs have made a run to the national title game. That’s really good! But the title-game run was almost four years ago, and they got blown out in record fashion before briefly collapsing the next season. They’ve gone 9-4 each of the past two seasons, but they were pretty dependent on tight wins last year and ranked just 37th in SP+.

Whether he’s underrated or properly rated, Dykes has a big year ahead. His Horned Frogs play each of the top five teams in the conference, including four straight in a ruthless November stretch, and he’s putting his faith in a new-to-the-family offensive coordinator and an Ivy League quarterback.

Gordon Sammis was last seen coordinating an almost mistake-free UConn offense that graded out as the Huskies’ best in 22 years and threw just one interception all season. With quarterback Josh Hoover off to Indiana, Dykes replaced him with Harvard’s Jaden Craig, a 6-3, 230-pounder who threw for 5,299 yards, 48 touchdowns and only 10 picks over 21 games in 2024 and 2025. He looks the part, and he’ll theoretically get some time to find his sea legs, as TCU’s first four opponents are projected 58th or worse in SP+.

There’s more at the link.

Team Recruiting Rankings:

• On3: Big 12 9th | National 49th
• 24/7 Sports: Big 12 8th | National 47th

Via AI:

• Carter Buck (Edge, Lake Travis): The crown jewel of the 2026 class. At 6’6″ and 250 pounds, the four-star recruit is widely regarded as one of the best edge rushers in the state.
• Jason Bradford (Safety, Temple): A highly-touted safety with excellent size and coverage skills.
• Vincent Johnson Jr. (Offensive Line, Sulphur Springs): A massive, 6’5″, 310-pound tackle who brings elite size and strength to the Horned Frogs’ trenches..
• Jesse Ford (Defensive Line, Arlington Martin): A strong-side defensive end who consistently disrupts plays behind the line of scrimmage.
• Ace Martin (Running Back, Port Arthur Memorial): A dynamic, versatile running back who provides a combination of size and track speed to the backfield.
• Zach Taylor (Safety, Fulshear): A quick, instinctive defensive back who bolsters TCU’s secondary.

Big 12 Power Rankings

• ESPN’s Bill Connelly: 6th in the Big 12
• CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah: 6th in the Big 12
• The Big Lead: 7th in the Big 12
• Desert News’ Brandon Judd: 6th in the Big 12

AI Projection: What is the outlook for TCU Horned Frogs football for 2026?

The TCU Horned Frogs enter the 2026 season with high expectations and are viewed as a potential dark-horse contender in the Big 12. Coming off consecutive nine-win seasons and an Alamo Bowl victory, head coach Sonny Dykes’ squad is aiming to make another run at the conference title.

Key Team Changes

New Offensive System: Former UConn offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis has taken over to run the offense. The team is focusing on a more balanced ground attack, reduced turnovers, and lower tempo.

Quarterback Position: Harvard transfer Jaden Craig and redshirt freshman Adam Schobel are competing for the starting job to replace Josh Hoover, who transferred to Indiana.

Defensive Stability: Defensive coordinator Andy Avalos returns for his third season with a deep, veteran secondary that features standout safety Jamel Johnson.

Outlook & Expectations

Win Total Odds: Oddsmakers have set the projected win total for the Horned Frogs at around 6.5, though many college football analysts project an overall regular-season record closer to 9-3.

Team Depth: The team boasts its deepest offensive and defensive lines since their 2022 National Championship run.

Big 12 Standing: Most preseason polls place TCU securely in the top half of the conference, positioning them to make some serious noise if the new offense clicks early.

Upcoming Schedule

Season Opener: The Frogs are scheduled to kick off their season on August 29 in Dublin, Ireland, against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Key Matchup: The highly anticipated matchup against Utah on November 21 is seen as a potential deciding game for the Big 12 race.