The new season of college football is nearly upon us, and while Arizona State is seeking to repeat as Big 12 champions, the rest of the conference will have something to say about that. In anticipation of the new season, we're breaking down each of the 15 other schools and where they stand heading into the year. You can find previously released breakdowns below.
Oklahoma State
Houston
BYU
Colorado
Cincinnati
Arizona
West Virginia
Kansas
UCF
Utah
Now, it's time to look at one of the teams most expected to present a serious challenge to the Sun Devils: the TCU Horned Frogs.
What happened last year
Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs bounced back from a losing season in 2023, a major disappointment following their National Championship Game appearance the year prior. After making a change at defensive coordinator, TCU saw more consistent play on that side of the ball, bolstered by a strong season from quarterback Josh Hoover.
Early losses to UCF and Houston, two Big 12 bottom feeders, put Dykes on the hot seat with a 3-3 start. However, the offense took off from there, as the Horned Frogs won five of their final six games before a blowout win in the New Mexico Bowl gave TCU a final record of 9-4.
The only loss during that second half stretch came on the road against rival Baylor, and saw the Bears - who themselves finished the regular season on a six-game win streak - mount a massive fourth quarter comeback to win by just a field goal.
What's new this year
What's new for TCU? Not much, and that's a good thing.
Continuity was a key focus for the Horned Frogs after their strong finish last year. TCU saw just 20 players transfer out, though only four of them moved to another Power 4 program. They brought in 12 transfers, with offensive lineman Dylan Kinney and cornerback Elijah Jackson being the two biggest names and most likely immediate contributors.
For the most part, though, TCU returns a good chunk of last year's team on both sides of the ball. Hoover is the big one, though. After throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns last year, Hoover was reportedly targeted by Tennessee after their own quarterback surprisingly transferred out during spring practices.
The fact that TCU was able to retain Hoover despite SEC interest helped to dramatically increase the hype in Fort Worth.
Reasons for optimism
Hoover is a big reason. Only Shedeur Sanders threw for more yards and had a higher completion rate in the Big 12 last year. His return in Kendal Briles' offensive system gives TCU the chance to field an elite offense in 2025.
The defense also figures to be better in their second year under defensive coordinator Andy Avalos. Last year, they improved to fifth in the Big 12 in total yards allowed, but were eighth in scoring. With the addition of Jackson, as well as players feeling a bit more comfortable in the scheme, defensive improvements are expected.
Reasons for skepticism
The schedule is brutal for the Horned Frogs.
The season starts on the road against Bill Belichick's North Carolina Tar Heels, and they host SMU two weeks later. In terms of Big 12 play, TCU has to face a litany of top contenders in Baylor, Iowa State, Arizona State, and Kansas State; the latter two are on the road. TCU also faces BYU on the road in mid-November, which will present a tough weather environment for the Horned Frogs.
Even the "easier" games are against the likes of Colorado, West Virginia, Houston, and Cincinnati, all of whom have some serious dark horse potential.
Realistic expectations
TCU felt good about how they ended the year last season, and rightfully so. They then went to work to ensure they brought back as much of that team as they could, and they largely succeeded.
Is it going to be enough, though? The Horned Frogs' schedule is decidedly tougher than it was a season ago, and the Big 12 is more loaded with talent, too. It would be a shock to see TCU miss a bowl game, but they may not have done enough in the offseason to catapult into the top tier of the conference.