TCU’s first Big 12 test arrives Saturday in Orlando, and it comes with a few built-in unknowns.
The Horned Frogs, 2-1, are headed to face Central Florida at 2:30 p.m. on FS1 in what doubles as their first true road environment of the season. It’s also a conference opener that should tell a lot about both teams.
TCU came into the year eyeing a run to the Big 12 title game. UCF, meanwhile, wanted to take a step forward in year two under Scott Frost.
That plan took a hit when quarterback Alonza Barnett, the Knights’ top transfer portal addition, injured his hamstring. Barnett is not expected to play against TCU, which forces UCF to lean on senior Keyone Jenkins.
Jenkins got the nod against Georgia State and had a rough afternoon, finishing 7 of 17 for 86 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran for 25 yards.
Still, he’s not a total unknown. Jenkins spent three seasons at Florida International from 2023-25, and his best year came in 2024, when he threw for 2,557 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The passing game has already been limited for UCF, and Barnett’s absence could push it even further in that direction.
That puts a lot on the Knights’ ground game, and that’s where the real threat lives.
Louisville transfer Duke Watson has been electric, piling up 297 yards and three touchdowns on just 21 carries. His 11 yards per carry ranks first nationally, and the production has been as explosive as it sounds.
UCF also has a solid complement in Central Arkansas transfer Landen Chambers, a Fort Worth native who played at Fossil Ridge High School in the Keller school district. Chambers has 118 yards and is averaging 7.9 yards per carry, and at 215 pounds he gives the Knights more of a between-the-tackles presence.
The results have been uneven, though. UCF rushed for 304 yards against Bethune-Cookman and had 20 against Pittsburgh in a game heavily affected by weather.
That makes Saturday a revealing matchup for TCU’s front, which is allowing 79.3 rushing yards per game, good for fifth in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs haven’t seen a back like Watson yet.
UCF’s defense has leaned on creating chaos, especially after losing star pass rusher Malachi Lawrence, a first-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys. With that kind of void, the Knights have focused more on turnovers than on a dominant pass rush. It worked against Georgia State, when they came back from a halftime deficit by forcing three turnovers, including two in the second half.
Veteran safety Demari Henderson leads the team with two interceptions, while Wisconsin transfer linebacker Tackett Curtis has 23 tackles and an interception. Those two made the game-changing picks against Georgia State, and they’ll be key figures for TCU to keep tabs on.
As for the pass rush, UCF has gone by committee so far, with no player owning more than one sack. Junior edge rusher Sincere Edwards leads the team with three tackles for loss.
There’s also some shuffling up front for the Knights on offense. After the Pittsburgh game, Frost changed two spots on the offensive line, moving Connor Meadows from center to guard in place of Owen Shell and elevating Jacob Maiava to center. The adjustment paid off against Georgia State, but the larger question remains whether UCF can consistently protect its quarterback and hold up at the line of scrimmage.
Pittsburgh held the Knights to 0.9 yards per carry and had three sacks, so that’s another area TCU can try to attack. The Horned Frogs have seven sacks, which ranks seventh in the Big 12, a mark that’s merely average for a group that came into the season with bigger expectations after bringing back most of last year’s two-deep. Saturday should say plenty about where that unit really stands.
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TCU Gets Timely Boost As Two Key Frogs Trend Toward UCF Return
TCU got a welcome midweek development on Tuesday, when Sonny Dykes said receiver Jordan Dwyer and defensive player Zach Chapman both took part in practice and are expected to be available for the upcoming game against UCF. Dwyer was back at full speed and should give the offense another important option, while Chapmans experience gives the defense a familiar piece to work with as the Horned Frogs continue their prep.
The staff still has a few days to watch how both players respond before kickoff, but the early signs are clearly encouraging. For a TCU team trying to keep its momentum moving the right way, getting key contributors trending back at the same time is the kind of boost that can matter once conference play tightens up. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Just Opened A Long-Term Recruiting Battle For Elite Receiver
TCU has added another name to its receiver board with a scholarship offer to Jacolby Campbell, a four-star prospect out of Abbeville High School in Louisiana. Campbell is already sitting on 13 offers, a sign that the Horned Frogs are stepping into a crowded race for one of the more sought-after pass catchers in the class.
Campbell is still early in the process, with a commitment decision not expected until July or August 2027, so this is the start of a long evaluation rather than a quick finish. For now, he is focused on sharpening his game and adding strength during the offseason while pushing through his high school season, which gives TCU plenty of time to keep building a relationship before the real decision point arrives. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Faces A Huge Test Against A Quarterback Who Can Change Everything
Jaden Craig has quickly become the kind of quarterback who forces a defense to account for every snap, and that is exactly what UCF is preparing for as it heads into a Big 12 matchup with TCU. Through the first three games, Craig has been at the top of the league in passing production, giving the Horned Frogs a passer who can stretch the field and punish even small mistakes.
Scott Frost and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch spent part of the buildup talking about the difficulty of defending Craigs elusiveness and how crucial it will be to keep explosive plays in check. UCF is trying to sort through some offensive line injuries at the same time, while also looking for a cleaner showing on third down, which only adds to the challenge of keeping pace with a TCU offense built around a quarterback who can alter the game in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]