TCU is heading into Big 12 play with some momentum, and the next stop is Orlando.
The Frogs will meet UCF on Sept. 26 in their conference opener, coming off a 31-7 win over Arkansas State on Sept. 19. TCU started a little slowly and led just 14-7 at halftime, but the second half belonged to the Frogs, who scored 17 more points and kept the Red Wolves off the board.
Quarterback Jaden Craig keeps stacking big days. He followed up his previous outing with another 300-yard passing game, throwing for three touchdowns as well. Through three games, Craig leads the Big 12 with 903 passing yards.
Wide receiver Ed Small is making his own case as one of the league’s early breakout names. The sophomore posted a career-best 164 receiving yards on seven catches and added a touchdown against Arkansas State. He now sits ninth in the nation with 330 receiving yards.
TCU also got defensive back Jamel Johnson back last weekend after he missed the prior game with a foot injury. He made an immediate impact, leading the team with seven tackles against the Red Wolves.
That side of the ball has been the story of TCU’s season so far. Through three games, the Frogs are allowing just 9.67 points per game, good for ninth in the country. They’ve given up only 29 points total, their lowest mark since 2014.
There’s also encouraging injury news for TCU on the offensive side. Wide receiver Jordan Dwyer is expected back against UCF after being listed as questionable on the initial injury report.
Head coach Sonny Dykes said Dwyer would be back on Tuesday, and he was a full participant in Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s practices. Defensive end Zach Chapman remains questionable, though he also practiced Tuesday.
UCF enters at 2-1 as well, fresh off a 44-30 win over Georgia State. The Knights’ lone loss came against Pitt.
They’ll be without star quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who did not play against Georgia State and will miss the game against TCU. Barnett transferred from James Madison University, where he led the Dukes to the College Football Playoff last year.
Saturday’s game has one extra wrinkle for fans in Orlando: UCF is offering unlimited hot dogs until halftime. The game will be played in “The Bounce house,” where a packed crowd is expected.
This will be only the second meeting between the programs, and TCU’s first trip to Orlando. The Frogs lost the only previous matchup in 2024, falling 35-34 after missing the game-winning field goal.
Oddsmakers have TCU as a three-point road favorite, while ESPN gives UCF a 51 percent chance to win.
TCU and UCF kick off at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, with the game set to stream on Fox Sports 1.
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UCF Catches TCU In A Spot Big 12 Fans Will Notice
TCU heads into its matchup with UCF still trying to steady itself after a season-opening loss to North Carolina, a result that raised early questions about both the Horned Frogs overall quality and the play at quarterback. The Big 12 spotlight only gets brighter from here, and this game offers an immediate chance for TCU to show it can respond the way a team with higher expectations should.
UCF will be missing starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III, which adds another layer of intrigue to a game that already carries real weight for TCUs standing and perception around the conference. A win would help the Horned Frogs quiet some of the early noise, but it would not wipe away the damage from the opening loss, which is what makes this one more than just another September game. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Opens Big 12 Play With A Chance To Expose TCU Concerns
TCU heads into its Big 12 opener in Orlando with more questions than it likely wanted at this point in the season. The Horned Frogs are 2-1 and heading to the Bounce House to face a UCF team that has its own quarterback situation, but the bigger concern for TCU is the injury list, which includes the absence of Perry Cole Jr. and kicker Kyle Lemmermann. The return of Jordan Dwyer should help, but this is still the kind of early conference game that can reveal how deep a roster really is.
UCF is also expected to be short-handed, with starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III likely out and Keyone Jenkins set to take over. That leaves both teams trying to sort out personnel issues as league play begins, and it puts even more pressure on TCU to handle the trip cleanly. For a Horned Frogs team trying to get its footing before the Big 12 race starts to harden, this opener offers an immediate test of composure, depth and how well the next man up can keep things from getting away. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Opens Big 12 Play With A Real Chance To Make Noise
TCU heads into its Big 12 opener at UCF with the kind of early-season opportunity that can change the tone of a conference race before it really settles in. The Horned Frogs have reasons to feel good about where they are, from the return of wide receiver Jordan Dwyer to a defensive front that has the look of a real strength, and they also appear to have an edge at quarterback in a matchup that should tell us plenty about how far this team can go.
UCF, though, brings the one thing no road team can ignore in a league opener: a home crowd and an offense capable of making a game feel uncomfortable fast. For TCU, the challenge is not just matching that energy but doing enough in the trenches and through the air to leave Orlando with a statement win, the sort that could make the Frogs worth watching closely as Big 12 play gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]