TCU made it clear this offseason that bolstering the interior of its offensive line was a priority-and the Horned Frogs wasted no time getting to work. Even before the transfer portal officially opened in January, they had already secured a key addition in Noah McKinney, a seasoned lineman who brings both size and experience to Fort Worth.
McKinney’s journey to TCU came with some unusual circumstances. His former head coach at Oklahoma State, Mike Gundy, was dismissed early in the 2025 season.
That move opened a unique window for McKinney and several of his teammates-they were allowed to enter the portal midseason and still remain eligible to play. TCU capitalized on that opportunity, landing McKinney in November, well ahead of the typical transfer rush.
Once in purple, McKinney didn’t just join the roster-he contributed. He saw action in seven games during the 2025 season, starting five of them before being sidelined for the final stretch. It wasn’t a full campaign, but it was enough to give TCU a glimpse of what he can offer: a powerful, 6-foot-4, 330-pound presence on the interior line who brings a blend of physicality and experience that’s hard to find.
Across his college career, McKinney has appeared in 25 games, earning five starts. He’s not just a body in the trenches-he’s a player who’s been battle-tested in Big 12 play. That kind of experience is invaluable for a TCU offense looking to reestablish control at the line of scrimmage.
According to the 247Sports transfer rankings, McKinney was rated as the No. 8 interior offensive lineman in the portal-a strong endorsement of his potential impact. For a TCU squad that needed to shore up its protection and create more push in the run game, landing a top-10 interior lineman is a big-time move.
The Frogs still have work to do this offseason, but getting McKinney in the fold early was a statement. He’s not just filling a spot-he’s expected to anchor a unit that has to be better up front if TCU wants to climb back into Big 12 contention.