TCU and West Virginia both arrive in Fort Worth with momentum, but they’re riding it in very different ways. The Horned Frogs are coming off a 17-6 upset of rival Baylor, while the Mountaineers just survived Cincinnati in a 45-42 thriller.
Now the two meet Saturday at 11 a.m. at Amon G. Carter on ESPN2 in a game that could keep one of them hanging around the Big 12 race a little longer.
It’s also a matchup that brings strength against strength. TCU’s run defense has been one of the team’s calling cards, and West Virginia’s spread option attack will test that front right away. Both teams are long shots in the conference title picture, but the winner can still keep some hope alive for a late-season push toward AT&T Stadium in December.
For TCU, the easiest path is to make West Virginia’s defense pay for how vulnerable it has been. The Mountaineers are giving up 45 points per game in conference play and more than 310 passing yards per game.
That opens the door for a Horned Frogs offense that has struggled against Power Four opponents, scoring just five total touchdowns in four games against P4 teams. If there’s a week for that group to find something, this looks like it.
The more reliable edge for TCU may be up front on defense. Under Andy Avalos, the Horned Frogs have been excellent against the run, allowing just 92 rushing yards per game while ranking first in the Big 12 in total defense.
Sonny Dykes said TCU used 11 defensive linemen against Baylor, and that depth has helped fuel the unit’s rise. If the Horned Frogs can keep West Virginia around 150 rushing yards, they’ll like their chances.
Even the punting game could matter. John Hoyet Chance has become a real weapon for TCU, and last week against Baylor he pinned the Bears inside the 20 five times.
With the offense not exactly firing on all cylinders, field position has become part of the formula. Forcing an offense to drive 70 to 80 yards again and again is no small task, even for a group as dangerous as West Virginia’s.
On the other side, the Mountaineers have plenty of ways to make this uncomfortable for TCU. Former Horned Frogs running back Cam Cook returns to Fort Worth after leaving the program after the 2024 season, and he’s been outstanding since then.
He led the nation in rushing last year with Jacksonville State and ranks fifth this season. Cook told the Star-Telegram earlier this week he was treating the TCU game like any other, but if he becomes the first runner to top 100 yards against the Horned Frogs this season, that changes the tenor of the night fast.
West Virginia also brings a quarterback TCU has not seen much of this year. Michael Hawkins Jr., the Oklahoma transfer, has been one of the most electric players in the country, piling up 749 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns while also throwing for 1,519 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Outside of BYU’s Bear Bachmeier, TCU hasn’t dealt with many quarterbacks like him, and Hawkins is even more explosive as a runner. He hasn’t been held under 77 rushing yards in any game this season, so the Horned Frogs will have to force him into passing situations.
TCU’s biggest concern may be its own line. The Horned Frogs have the wide receivers to stress West Virginia’s secondary, including Jordan Dwyer and Ed Small, but none of that matters if Jaden Craig doesn’t get protection.
TCU ranks last in sacks allowed, while West Virginia sits fourth in the Big 12 in sacks. If the Horned Frogs can’t handle that pressure, the offense could be in for another long afternoon.
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