TCU came out of its two-week layoff looking far sharper than it did in Dublin, and the 63-7 win over Grambling State offered a much cleaner picture of where the Horned Frogs stand. The scoreboard was lopsided, but the real value was in the details: an offense that found rhythm early, a quarterback who looked settled, and a few stubborn mistakes that still need sorting out.
The biggest swing from the North Carolina game came on offense. After spending most of the loss in Ireland trying to find its footing, TCU needed far less time to get rolling Saturday. The Frogs scored less than three minutes into the game, and Jaden Craig followed that opening burst with what was easily his best showing in a TCU uniform.
Craig looked like a different quarterback than the one who struggled against North Carolina. He was comfortable, aggressive and in command, throwing the ball all over the field while also creating with his legs.
Sometimes that meant sliding around the pocket. Other times it meant extending a play long enough to squeeze out extra yards.
That kind of performance matters for the bigger picture, because Gordon Sammis’ offense is built around the run, but the passing game is still the piece that will determine how far this team goes. For Craig, Saturday was more than just a bounce-back. It was a step toward confidence, and a step toward building something real with his receivers.
That chemistry was a major issue two weeks earlier, especially with Jordan Dwyer sidelined again because of a foot injury. Dwyer missed his second straight game, and against North Carolina, that absence showed up fast when Craig couldn’t find a dependable target. Against Grambling, though, TCU got answers from elsewhere.
No one looked more comfortable with Craig than tight end Kari Ashley, who turned in a huge day with 7 receptions for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ashley emerged as a real focal point, and if Dwyer also sits out the UCF game, he should see plenty more work.
The passing game looked much more connected than it did in Dublin, and that’s a meaningful development for a quarterback still learning his options. New quarterback, new pass catchers, new timing - that’s a tough combination, and this was the kind of test TCU needed to see whether those pieces could click. They did.
Still, the Frogs were far from clean. Jeremy Payne’s fumble out of the end zone was a costly offensive mistake, and the defense continued to show some of the same breakdowns that hurt it against North Carolina. Grambling hit on a couple of big plays, including gains of 52 and 62 yards, after missed tackles and busted assignments left openings.
TCU did answer in key spots, though. On Grambling’s first drive, the defense held the Tigers inside the five-yard line, and special teams finished the job by blocking the field-goal attempt. That sequence echoed North Carolina’s opening possession two weeks earlier, only this time the Frogs closed it out.
Penalties were another area where TCU looked more disciplined. The Frogs stayed clean in the first half and finished with only five penalties for 60 yards in the second half, a clear improvement from the 11 penalties for 89 yards against North Carolina.
The next stop is another home game against Arkansas State, and that will be the final tune-up before Big 12 play begins at UCF. TCU made progress against Grambling, but there’s still plenty to clean up before the schedule tightens.
In Other News...
TCU Gets One Defensive Boost But Bigger Starter Concerns Remain
TCU got a small defensive lift this week with Sonny Dykes saying safety Jamel Johnson will be available for the upcoming game against Arkansas State after sitting out the previous matchup because of a foot injury. Johnsons return gives the Horned Frogs a needed option on the back end as they try to steady the defense heading into another stretch of the schedule.
The bigger concern, though, is that Zach Chapman and Jordan Dwyer are still doubtful because of lower-body injuries, leaving TCU with more uncertainty than it would like. Dykes did offer some optimism that Dwyer could be back in time for the Big 12 opener against Central Florida, but for now the Horned Frogs are still waiting to see how much of their starting group can actually get on the field. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Gets One Last Real Test Before Big 12 Play
Before TCU dives into Big 12 play, the Horned Frogs get one more chance to sharpen themselves in a non-conference tune-up at home against Arkansas State. It is the kind of September game that can look routine on paper, but it still offers a useful checkpoint for a team trying to clean up details before the league schedule starts to matter more.
Arkansas State brings a little more complexity than a typical late non-conference visitor, with transfer quarterback Trey Owens running an offense that spreads work around at running back and receiver. The Red Wolves also mix up their defensive looks and have a solid secondary, even if their run defense has been leaky through their first two games. For TCU, the matchup should be less about surviving a trap and more about seeing whether the Frogs can handle a varied opponent the way a Big 12 team has to. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Campbell Just Landed A TCU Commitment That Says Plenty
Mark Campbell added another notable piece to TCUs future on September 14, when 2027 point guard Kaylor Buse announced her commitment to the Horned Frogs. The ESPN No. 52 prospect in the class chose TCU over several other programs, giving Campbell a well-timed win on the recruiting trail and another sign that the programs message is resonating with national talent.
Buses decision also speaks to the value of relationships in recruiting, with her connection to Campbell playing a major role in the pick. For TCU, landing a highly regarded floor leader this early in the 2027 cycle is the kind of move that can shape a class before it fully takes form, and it leaves the Horned Frogs with momentum as they continue building around Campbells vision. [Read more 🡒]