The TCU Horned Frogs are back at .500 after a 20-10 win over Kansas State, and this one looked a lot like the kind of game that has carried them lately: the defense setting the tone, the offense doing just enough, and the whole operation grinding out a result.
If there’s one thing that keeps showing up, it’s how suffocating this defense has become. TCU didn’t let Kansas State run a play on the Frogs’ side of the field in the first half, and the pressure came from everywhere.
Koron Hayward was right in the middle of it, forcing a fumble, while both linebackers added sacks. The one real blemish was a blown coverage that turned the game into a one-possession battle, but that kind of mistake has been rare enough this season to treat it like an outlier.
Sonny Dykes has talked about the possibility of bringing this group back next year, and if that happens, this defense could be even more dangerous.
On offense, Kari Ashley remains the matchup problem that can tilt things in TCU’s favor. He can line up in the backfield, split out wide, or work from the tight end spot, and defenses have to account for him every snap.
He’s tough to bring down with one defender, he’s dangerous after the catch, and his catch radius gives the Frogs a real weapon to lean on. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see even more plays built around him over the final two weeks.
The offense still had its rough stretches, because that’s been part of the story all season. But there were also signs of something more stable.
TCU put together three drives that lasted more than four minutes, and while only one of those ended in points, that kind of pace matters. It complements what the defense is doing by keeping the unit fresh and limiting the number of quick possessions that can flip the field back the other way.
That was especially important in a game where the defense was forcing short series and giving the offense more chances to settle in. When the Frogs go three-and-out too quickly, it puts more strain on the defense. The longer drives against Kansas State helped avoid that trap.
Jeremy Payne’s return from injury also gave the ground game a lift. He brought some needed energy, broke missed tackles, and kept pushing forward for extra yards.
This time, the ball wasn’t funneled through just a couple of names the way it was last week. TCU spread things around more, with seven different players catching passes and six different Horned Frogs getting rushing attempts.
It may feel late in the year for that kind of balance to matter, but it matters now because TCU gets top-ranked Utah next weekend. The Frogs will need the defense to keep doing the heavy lifting, and the offense showed enough against Kansas State to at least give that upset a chance.
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TCU Heads Into Texas A&M With One Big Concern Still Lingering
TCU closed out its non-conference tune-up with a 76-64 win over Milwaukee, getting a strong all-around effort before the schedule stiffens. Xavier Edmonds led the way with 18 points and 13 rebounds, and the Horned Frogs tightened up defensively after halftime to pull away and finish the game with some needed momentum.
Now comes the real test. Texas A&M will be TCUs first high-major opponent of the season, and that matchup should say a lot more about where the Horned Frogs stand than anything they have seen so far. The win over Milwaukee offered a clean finish to one part of the schedule, but the next stretch will quickly show whether TCUs improved second-half defense can travel against a far tougher level of competition. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Kept Its Bowl Hopes Alive But A Bigger Problem Remains
A much-needed win finally gave TCU something to build on Saturday night, as the Horned Frogs snapped a three-game skid with a 20-10 victory over Kansas State at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The defense set the tone from the start and never really let go, with five sacks and two turnovers helping TCU stay in control while quarterback Jaden Craig kept the offense moving despite an ankle injury.
Kaden McFadden delivered one of the biggest moments of the night with a late sack and forced fumble that helped seal it, the kind of finishing play TCU had been missing during its slide. The result keeps the bowl picture alive, but the bigger concern is still hanging over the program, because one win does not erase the issues that have made this season so hard to trust. [Read more 🡒]