TCU and West Virginia both arrive in Fort Worth with momentum, but they’re riding it in very different ways. The Horned Frogs are coming off a 17-6 upset of rival Baylor, while the Mountaineers just survived Cincinnati in a 45-42 thriller.
Now the two meet Saturday at 11 a.m. at Amon G. Carter on ESPN2 in a game that could keep one of them hanging around the Big 12 race a little longer.
It’s also a matchup that brings strength against strength. TCU’s run defense has been one of the team’s calling cards, and West Virginia’s spread option attack will test that front right away. Both teams are long shots in the conference title picture, but the winner can still keep some hope alive for a late-season push toward AT&T Stadium in December.
For TCU, the easiest path is to make West Virginia’s defense pay for how vulnerable it has been. The Mountaineers are giving up 45 points per game in conference play and more than 310 passing yards per game.
That opens the door for a Horned Frogs offense that has struggled against Power Four opponents, scoring just five total touchdowns in four games against P4 teams. If there’s a week for that group to find something, this looks like it.
The more reliable edge for TCU may be up front on defense. Under Andy Avalos, the Horned Frogs have been excellent against the run, allowing just 92 rushing yards per game while ranking first in the Big 12 in total defense.
Sonny Dykes said TCU used 11 defensive linemen against Baylor, and that depth has helped fuel the unit’s rise. If the Horned Frogs can keep West Virginia around 150 rushing yards, they’ll like their chances.
Even the punting game could matter. John Hoyet Chance has become a real weapon for TCU, and last week against Baylor he pinned the Bears inside the 20 five times.
With the offense not exactly firing on all cylinders, field position has become part of the formula. Forcing an offense to drive 70 to 80 yards again and again is no small task, even for a group as dangerous as West Virginia’s.
On the other side, the Mountaineers have plenty of ways to make this uncomfortable for TCU. Former Horned Frogs running back Cam Cook returns to Fort Worth after leaving the program after the 2024 season, and he’s been outstanding since then.
He led the nation in rushing last year with Jacksonville State and ranks fifth this season. Cook told the Star-Telegram earlier this week he was treating the TCU game like any other, but if he becomes the first runner to top 100 yards against the Horned Frogs this season, that changes the tenor of the night fast.
West Virginia also brings a quarterback TCU has not seen much of this year. Michael Hawkins Jr., the Oklahoma transfer, has been one of the most electric players in the country, piling up 749 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns while also throwing for 1,519 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Outside of BYU’s Bear Bachmeier, TCU hasn’t dealt with many quarterbacks like him, and Hawkins is even more explosive as a runner. He hasn’t been held under 77 rushing yards in any game this season, so the Horned Frogs will have to force him into passing situations.
TCU’s biggest concern may be its own line. The Horned Frogs have the wide receivers to stress West Virginia’s secondary, including Jordan Dwyer and Ed Small, but none of that matters if Jaden Craig doesn’t get protection.
TCU ranks last in sacks allowed, while West Virginia sits fourth in the Big 12 in sacks. If the Horned Frogs can’t handle that pressure, the offense could be in for another long afternoon.
In Other News...
TCU Leadership Shakeup Puts New Pressure On Sonny Dykes
TCUs latest leadership change arrives at a moment when the football program can least afford more uncertainty. Chancellor Daniel Pullin resigned after less than two years on the job, and the university has turned back to former chancellor Victor Boschini, giving the administration a familiar face as it sorts through what comes next on campus and in athletics. For Sonny Dykes and athletic director Mike Buddie, the timing matters because their situations are already tied to the direction of a season that has not yet settled into a comfortable place.
At 3-3, the Horned Frogs are still searching for traction in the conference race and for a way to strengthen fan confidence as the year goes on. That leaves the rest of the schedule carrying extra weight, because the people making decisions above the program will be watching closely to see whether the team can stabilize and build momentum. For Dykes especially, every game from here can shape how the season is judged, and with the university itself in transition, the margin for missteps feels even smaller. [Read more 🡒]
TCUs New-Look Roster Faces One Huge Question Entering The Season
TCU womens basketball is headed into the 2026-27 season with a very different look, and Mark Campbell is treating it like the start of a new project rather than a continuation of the old one. After losing key pieces from the programs recent successful run, the Frogs are leaning into the idea of a fresh start, with Campbell saying the challenge is not just replacing talent but building a new identity around what comes next.
The early signs point to a roster that will be shaped by a few crucial holdovers and additions, with Clara Silva giving TCU a familiar presence inside and transfer guard Jadyn Wooten arriving as a potential fit in the backcourt. How quickly that mix comes together will go a long way toward determining whether the Frogs can turn all that change into something cohesive once the season opens. [Read more 🡒]