BYU comes into its Week 5 trip to TCU with a 3-0 record and a week of rest behind it, while the Horned Frogs are still looking for their first win over a power conference opponent this season.
The Cougars were off in Week 4 after their hot start, and now they head on the road for a Big 12 matchup against a TCU team that has already taken two losses to power conference competition. The Horned Frogs dropped their opener to UNC in Week 1 and then fell to UCF in Week 4, with wins over Grambling and Arkansas State in between.
One matchup stands out immediately: BYU running back LJ Martin against a TCU run defense that has not been especially sturdy. Martin has been BYU’s top offensive threat so far, ripping off 7.8 yards per carry on his first 42 touches. If that efficiency holds up, BYU’s offense should have a clear path to control the game.
That’s part of why the spread looks light at 6.5 points. TCU has not looked like a strong team through the first month, ranking 64th in net adjusted EPA per play and losing by at least five points to two opponents that are clearly below BYU’s level. On top of that, the Horned Frogs sit just 50th in opponent EPA per rush, which only strengthens the case for Martin to have another productive outing.
The numbers point in one direction: if TCU can’t slow the run, keeping this game within the number becomes a tough ask.
In Other News...
TCU Faces A Bigger Question Than Expected Before No. 10 BYU
TCUs first availability report for the BYU matchup offered at least a little relief, with starting linebacker Max Carroll and backup offensive lineman Ryan Hughes absent from the list entirely, a sign they may be ready to go. Defensive end Zach Chapman and Perry Cole Jr. did show up as questionable, though coach Sonny Dykes said Chapman is expected to play, giving the Frogs some clarity at one of the more important spots on the defensive front.
Even so, the report adds another layer to a game that already carries real weight with No. 10 BYU coming to town. TCU has to sort through who is truly available and who is still trending toward game-time decision status, and the bigger concern may be how much of the defense is intact when the Frogs try to slow a ranked opponent that will put stress on every level of the unit. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Just Entered An Early Recruiting Battle Worth Watching
TCU has added another young name to its recruiting board, extending a scholarship offer to 2027 defensive lineman Charles Egbo after a conversation with Sonny Dykes. The Iowa Colony High School prospect is already verbally committed to Texas State, but the Horned Frogs are clearly making an early push as they continue to build a relationship and watch his development.
Egbos recruitment is starting to get interesting because TCU is no longer alone in trying to change the picture, with Houston also stepping in recently. For the Frogs, this is the kind of early evaluation battle that can matter down the line, especially with a prospect whose fit and upside are still being sorted out while the process is very much in motion. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Gets A Huge Chance To Respond Against No. 10 BYU
TCU gets a timely chance to steady itself Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium, where the Horned Frogs will welcome No. 10 BYU after a 2-2 start to the season. The matchup comes with a quick chance to reset after a loss to UCF that was defined by turnovers and penalties, the kind of self-inflicted problems that can turn a promising afternoon into a frustrating one.
BYU arrives in Fort Worth unbeaten at 3-0 and fresh off a bye week, which only raises the degree of difficulty for a TCU team trying to find its footing. The setting gives the Frogs a chance to answer at home against a ranked opponent, and with broadcast details already in place, the spotlight is set for a game that could say plenty about where this team is headed next. [Read more 🡒]