TCU is back at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday, and this one carries a different feel than last week’s tune-up. After a 63-7 win over Grambling State, the Horned Frogs now get a much sturdier test in Arkansas State, a Butch Jones team that arrives in Fort Worth at 1-1.
The Red Wolves opened with a 34-24 loss to Memphis, then bounced back with a 52-7 win over West Georgia. That’s enough to keep TCU honest.
Arkansas State has shown it can move the ball, and the Horned Frogs’ secondary could be challenged if the Red Wolves find rhythm throwing deep and spreading things out. As Tom Burke said in this week’s Midnite Madness, they can’t be brushed aside.
For TCU, the goal is simple: keep the momentum from last week and keep sharpening the edges before conference play begins. The offense looked far more connected against Grambling State, with a better grasp of what offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis wants from the unit. Jaden Craig took a noticeable step forward, and the Frogs will lean on him again with a tougher opponent across the field.
There are still some familiar availability questions for Sonny Dykes’ group. Wide receiver Jordan Dwyer is not expected to play as he continues working through an injury, and defensive end Zachary Chapman is also not expected to suit up.
That leaves TCU without two players who matter on opposite sides of the ball. The thinking appears to be keeping both on track for Big 12 play, when they’ll be needed most.
One potential boost comes in the secondary, where Jamel Johnson is expected back. That matters against an Arkansas State offense that has already shown it can stretch the field and hit explosive plays.
The Horned Frogs are trying to turn a 1-1 start into something steadier, and a win Saturday would be another step toward rebuilding confidence. The assignment is more serious than the one they handled last week, but TCU still has the edge in talent and depth. This is the final chance to clean things up before the Big 12 opener at UCF.
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In Other News...
TCU Heads Into Big 12 Play With One Encouraging Shift
TCU closed non-conference play with a 31-7 win over Arkansas State, and the result offered a little more than just a clean finish before Big 12 action begins. Jaden Craig delivered his sharpest passing outing of the season, completing 21 of 27 throws for 337 yards and three touchdowns, and the Horned Frogs also looked more organized than they had in stretches earlier this fall, with fewer penalties and a secondary that benefited from safety Jamel Johnsons return from injury.
Still, the box score did not hide every concern. The offense had its rough spots, and the defensive front again had trouble consistently creating pressure on the quarterback, which is the kind of issue that tends to get exposed once league play starts. For TCU, the encouraging part is that there was at least one clear sign of progress heading into the Big 12 slate, even if the larger evaluation is still very much in motion. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Is Pushing For A Texas Prospect Fans Should Watch
Tyce Payne has become a name worth tracking for TCU as the Horned Frogs continue building relationships with one of Texas more intriguing high school prospects. The Vernon standout already has 11 scholarship offers, and TCU is firmly in the mix after putting in the work with Payne and his camp as the recruiting cycle moves forward.
Payne is not rushing the process, which leaves TCU waiting along with several other programs. He has said he is seriously considering the Horned Frogs, but his decision is still on the spring timeline, and he is also dealing with a minor injury while focusing on sharpening his game before college football enters the picture. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Just Got The Encouraging Tune-Up Fans Needed Before Big 12 Play
TCU got the kind of non-conference tune-up it needed before Big 12 play, handling Arkansas State 31-7 at Amon G. Carter Stadium behind a sharp afternoon from senior quarterback Jaden Craig. He threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns, completed more than 70% of his passes and helped the Horned Frogs show real growth in their offensive timing and receiver play, with sophomore Ed Small among the notable contributors.
Just as important for TCU, the defense settled in and shut out Arkansas State in the second half, turning what had been a competitive game into a more comfortable finish. For a team trying to build momentum entering league play, it was the kind of clean, encouraging performance that suggested the pieces are starting to fit, even if the bigger tests are still ahead. [Read more 🡒]