Longtime broadcaster Dan Patrick put an unexpected Big 12 wrinkle into the Lincoln Riley discussion this week, floating TCU as a possible landing spot if the USC coach’s time in Los Angeles ends.
On his show, Patrick said he spoke with someone he described as being “in the know” about Riley’s future and asked whether Baylor could be in play. According to Patrick, the answer was no - but TCU drew a different reaction.
“It feels like it’s a foregone conclusion at USC that Lincoln Riley will not be back,” Patrick said. “I spoke to somebody in the know yesterday and I said, ‘Could you see Lincoln Riley going to Baylor?’
And he said, ‘No, absolutely not.’ He goes, ‘TCU.
I could see Lincoln Riley going to TCU.'”
Patrick then wondered aloud whether any move would hinge on what happens with Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs.
“And I don’t know what TCU is this year with Sonny Dykes still there at TCU. But if that is open, is there a mutual parting there?” Patrick added.
For now, there’s no sign TCU is getting ready to make a change. But the suggestion stands out because Riley has already been linked with a return to Texas if USC’s situation continues to deteriorate. Riley, the former Oklahoma head coach, is a Texas native who played at Texas Tech and built his reputation as one of college football’s top offensive minds while coaching in the Big 12.
That’s why the idea of him ending up back in the league would land so loudly.
Right now, though, both coaches are still in place. Riley remains at USC, and Dykes is still leading TCU. Patrick’s remarks only added fuel to a rumor mill that could get even louder if USC’s search for answers continues.
TCU is 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs fell to West Virginia last weekend and host Kansas on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
CT. Their finish is no easier: three ranked teams in four games, with trips to Arizona and Texas Tech and home games against Kansas State and Utah in between.
In Other News...
Jacobe Hayes Just Gave TCU A Needed Boost On Offense
Jacobe Hayes has started to look like more than just a promising young piece in TCUs offense. The sophomore receiver showed real progress against West Virginia, continuing a stretch in which he has become a more reliable option and a welcome sign for a group that has needed steadier production from its pass catchers.
Hayes growth has stood out because it comes in the middle of an uneven season, when TCU has been searching for answers and consistency on offense. His development suggests the Horned Frogs may be finding another dependable target, and the next question is how much larger his role can become as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Suddenly Faces A Bigger Sonny Dykes Question After West Virginia
The fallout from TCUs disappointing loss to West Virginia reached the coaching staff almost immediately, with Sonny Dykes moving to make a change along the offensive line. The move came as the Horned Frogs tried to steady themselves after a rough showing, and it added another layer to a season already drawing attention in a Big 12 coaching landscape where pressure points seem to pop up fast.
The larger conversation around Dykes also widened beyond Fort Worth, with speculation swirling online about his job security before school administrators pushed back on the rumor mill. In a conference that has already seen coaching chatter touch names like Lincoln Riley and follow Baylors recent change, TCU is suddenly dealing with more than one question at once, and the next steps around the program are now under a brighter spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Faces A Big 12 Problem Kansas Could Exploit Again
Kansas comes into its Big 12 matchup with TCU feeling a little better about itself after picking up its first conference win of the season against Baylor. The Jayhawks have built their offense around balance, with quarterback Isaiah Marshall and a rushing attack that has given them some life, and running back Dylan Edwards has been a big part of that formula. For TCU, the task is pretty clear: slow down the ground game and keep Kansas from turning the contest into one of those grind-it-out afternoons where the Frogs are chasing the pace.
The matchup also carries some added weight because Kansas has had a hard time solving TCU in recent years, and Fort Worth has not exactly been a friendly stop for the Jayhawks. Still, this version of Kansas looks more capable of creating problems with its run game and enough passing help to make defenses think twice about loading up. If TCU is going to protect home field, it will need to keep Kansas from getting comfortable early and find a way to take away the kind of balance that has made the Jayhawks tougher to handle. [Read more 🡒]