Josh Hoover, TCU, and the Cost of Contention in College Football’s New Era
In today’s college football landscape, the rules of engagement have changed - and not subtly. The days of measured roster building and long-term program development are being pushed aside by a new reality: cash talks, and it talks loud. For programs like TCU, this new era isn’t just disruptive - it’s defining.
The Horned Frogs, like many schools outside the sport’s financial elite, are caught in the middle of a high-stakes arms race where name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals and transfer portal moves have turned roster management into a game of high-dollar poker. And right now, TCU’s biggest hand is quarterback Josh Hoover.
Hoover’s Leverage Play
Hoover has one year of eligibility left and is set to start in the Alamo Bowl against USC on Dec. 30.
That’s a win in itself in a season where bowl opt-outs and midseason transfers have become the norm. But what happens after that game is the real question - and it could shape the immediate future of TCU football.
This past spring, Hoover reportedly turned down a significant NIL offer from Tennessee to stay in Fort Worth for less. He made it clear he was happy at TCU, citing strong relationships with the coaching staff - particularly offensive coordinator Kendal Briles.
But Briles is now gone, off to South Carolina, and in his place is Gordon Sammis, who was hired away from UConn. Sammis knows the stakes and has already said he’s actively recruiting Hoover to stay.
“I have to be able to sell the fact that we are going to do great things here,” Sammis said after a recent practice.
Now, TCU has to decide how much Hoover is worth - not just in terms of dollars, but in what he brings to the field.
The Numbers Behind the Name
Hoover’s raw stats paint the picture of a solid, if not spectacular, college quarterback. He’s completed 65% of his passes over his career, with 71 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. Since taking over the starting job from Chandler Morris in October 2023, TCU has gone 19-12, including a 17-8 stretch over the last two seasons.
Those numbers don’t scream “first-round pick,” and NFL scouts reportedly don’t see him as a draft lock. But in college football’s current climate, that doesn’t matter as much as it used to. A proven college quarterback - especially one with Power Four experience and a track record of winning more than he loses - is a valuable commodity.
In 2025, quarterbacks with Hoover’s résumé are commanding NIL deals north of $2 million. That number is expected to climb over $3 million in 2026. In other words, staying in college may be Hoover’s most lucrative play.
What’s the Cost of Staying the Same?
Here’s where things get tricky for TCU. With Hoover, the Frogs have been competitive - but not elite.
His arm talent is evident, and when he’s protected, he can be electric. But when the pocket collapses and he’s forced to extend plays, the results are less consistent.
He led the Big 12 in interceptions in 2025, a stat that underscores the volatility in his game.
Since Hoover took over, TCU hasn’t sniffed the Big 12 title game, let alone the College Football Playoff. That’s not all on him, of course.
Football is the ultimate team sport, and quarterback play is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. But at some point, programs have to ask themselves: are we paying to maintain the status quo, or are we investing in a leap forward?
And TCU has already made sacrifices to keep Hoover in the driver’s seat.
Chandler Morris, once the starter, transferred after losing the job. He landed at North Texas, then moved again to Virginia, where he led the Cavaliers to an ACC title game appearance and nearly a playoff berth.
Another talented quarterback, Hauss Hejny, left for Oklahoma State after being told Hoover was the guy. Hejny earned the starting role in Stillwater, though his season was cut short by a broken foot in Week 1.
Now, freshman Adam Schobel - a legacy recruit from Columbus, Texas - is waiting in the wings. He’s the next man up, unless TCU dips into the portal to find a veteran replacement. But either way, a decision looms.
The Portal or the Payout?
The transfer portal opens Jan. 2 and closes Jan. 16.
If Hoover enters, he’ll be one of the top available quarterbacks alongside names like Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt and Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby. Mississippi’s Trinidad Chambliss is also in the mix, pending an NCAA eligibility ruling.
Sorsby is already being linked to Texas Tech. And Hoover, with his experience and production, would instantly become one of the most sought-after quarterbacks on the market - and one of the most expensive.
That’s the reality TCU is facing. Do they match the going rate and hope Hoover takes another step forward? Or do they let him walk, roll the dice on Schobel or a transfer, and reset the quarterback room?
A Program at a Crossroads
This isn’t just about Josh Hoover. This is about where TCU sees itself in the Power Four hierarchy.
The Horned Frogs have tasted the big time - College Football Playoff, national title game, Top 10 finishes under guys like Andy Dalton, Trevone Boykin, Kenny Hill, and Max Duggan. Those quarterbacks took time to develop, but when they hit, they hit big.
Since 2000, TCU has only finished unranked in three consecutive seasons once. If they miss the Top 25 again this year, it’ll be the second such stretch. That’s not the direction Sonny Dykes wants to see his program heading.
So now, TCU has to decide: is Hoover the bridge to something better, or the ceiling they’re trying to break through?
In this new era of college football, where talent comes with a price tag and loyalty is often measured in dollars, the Horned Frogs are facing a decision that could define the next several years of the program. Hoover has the leverage. TCU has the choice.
And the clock is ticking.