STANFORD, CA- The wait for TCU football is nearly over. The Horned Frogs last took the field more than seven months ago against the University of Oklahoma, a game many would prefer to forget.
While some may see that game as a disappointment, others view it as a learning opportunity to build on during the offseason. In his first season as head coach, Sonny Dykes turned around the program in one year, leading the Horned Frogs to the National Championship in Los Angeles. However, last season was a different story, with TCU finishing with a 5-7 record.
One of the biggest takeaways from last season, especially after the Oklahoma game, was the need for defensive improvements. The Sooners put up 69 points on TCU, leading to the departure of defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie. This year, the defense will have a new look, led by new coordinator Andy Avalos, who brought in three former head coaches to the staff, including former Nevada head coach Ken Wilson as linebackers coach.
Among the key returning players is linebacker Johnny Hodges, who missed time due to injury last season. In 2022, Hodges earned recognition as the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and was named to the All-Big 12 second team. Despite being limited by injury to just four games last season, he managed to tie for 10th on the team with 28 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.
On offense, sophomore quarterback Josh Hoover will start for TCU. Hoover stepped in for an injured Chandler Morris last season, starting the final six games. In his first career start, he completed 37 of 58 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns in a 44-11 win over BYU, becoming the first Power Five quarterback since 2019 to achieve 400 yards passing and four touchdowns in his debut.
In a press conference yesterday, TCU quarterback Josh Hoover expressed his team’s eagerness to compete, saying, “We’re itching to go play against someone, and I know I certainly am. Our team is extremely competitive, and ever since our game against OU, all we’ve been thinking about is playing Stanford. There’s a lot of excitement and anticipation among us to test our skills and prove ourselves. We know what we’re capable of, and now it’s about showing that to everyone else.”
TCU opens its 2024 season Friday night against Stanford, which finished 3-9 last season. However, Stanford boasts a strong quarterback-receiver duo. Junior quarterback Ashton Daniels threw for over 2,200 yards and 14 touchdowns last season while adding 461 rushing yards. His top target, sophomore Elic Ayomanor, had over 1,000 receiving yards as a true freshman, with most of his production coming in the latter half of the season.
Stanford’s defense struggled last season, and if TCU’s offense picks up where it left off, the Horned Frogs should be in good shape. However, if TCU’s defense hasn’t resolved its issues, they could face a challenge from Stanford’s dangerous duo.
Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT in Stanford, California.
