FORT WORTH, TX — College football is finally here! TCU will kick off the 2021 season against Duquesne in their season opener this Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.
TCU finished the 2020 season with a 6-4 record and fifth overall in the Big 12 Conference. The Horned Frogs won five of their last six games, four of them being home wins. TCU was bowl-eligible at the end of the season, unfortunately their season was cut short due to COVID-19.
TCU has high expectations coming into this season with 18 returning players, 10 on offense and 8 on defense. Eyes are going to be on the defense this game to see how they can cope without some of their best players from last season, including two-time All-Big 12 linebacker Garret Willow. Dee Winters will start the season at linebacker and as we all know, he’s got some big shoes to fill.
Along with Winters, some of the key defensive players to look at in this matchup is cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges Tomlinson and defensive end Ochaun Mathis.
Hodges Tomlinson put on a show last season earning All-Big 12 and All-American honors as a Sophomore. He was also Pro Football Focus’s top-rated cornerback. If he plays up to his potential he has the chance to win Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, as a Junior, and increase his chances of going to the NFL Draft early.
Mathis finished last season with nine sacks, more than any other TCU defensive player since Mat Boesen in 2017. Mathis was voted preseason All-Big 12 and was put on the watch list for the Lombardi Award. Like Hodges Tomlinson, Mathis is looking to exceed expectations and wow the NFL scouts this season.
Duquesne finished last season undefeated at 4-0 and led the Northeast Conference. This veteran team is returning all 22 starters, 17 of them received All-Northeast Conference accolades last season. The Dukes have finished better than .500 every season since 2015, and with all 22 starters returning they plan on doing the same this season.
The Dukes are led by quarterback Joe Mischler. Mischler has started for the Dukes the last three years and earned First-Team All-NEC last year after throwing for 1,195 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions in five games.
Another offensive threat that the Horned Frogs are going to have to look out for is Running back Garrett Owens. Owens earned Second-Team All-NEC honors last season after rushing for 411 yards and five touchdowns. Owens averaged 82 yards per game.
Duquesne has never played TCU and hasn’t played a football game in the state of Texas since the 1930’s.
TCU is favored to win this game, but with that being said Duquesne is a solid FCS team and will put up a fight against the Horned Frogs. TCU needs to come out and play hard on both sides of the ball. The Horned Frogs have a rigorous schedule ahead and they need to use every opportunity they have to get better and prepare for the tougher opponents later this season.
