The TCU Horned Frogs are gearing up for the 2025 College Football season with a tangible sense of optimism, aiming squarely for an elusive Big 12 Championship title. Under the continued leadership of coach Sonny Dykes, the team is poised to build on recent successes, with expectations for both 2022 and 2024 to become the standard in Fort Worth. This ambitious outlook is underpinned by a talented roster capable of proving that the Horned Frogs belong among the conference elite.
A significant source of excitement for TCU Football lies within its prolific scoring unit, spearheaded by returning quarterback Josh Hoover. After an impressive sophomore campaign where he neared 4,000 passing yards, Hoover is firmly in the discussion for the conference’s top signal-caller. Despite a turnover in receiving personnel, the team has bolstered its aerial attack with promising transfers like Tony Gomez from Idaho and Mikal Harrison-Pilot from Houston, ensuring that Hoover has ample talent surrounding him to continue TCU’s offensive prowess.
The stability of TCU’s offensive line further solidifies the team’s potent attack. With 93 combined career starts and key figures like center Willis Patrick and guard Ezra Dotson-Oyetade returning, the unit promises robust protection and formidable blocking. The potential emergence of left tackle Tommy Hughes, a redshirt who brings considerable size and promise, could elevate this line to one of the conference’s best, providing a strong foundation for both the passing and, hopefully, an improved TCU Horned Frogs rushing game.
Defensively, the Horned Frogs experienced a rollercoaster in Year One under Coordinator Joe Avalos, but showed clear signs of improvement late in the season. The typical trajectory for a new defensive scheme suggests significant strides are made in the second year, and TCU is well-positioned for such a leap. The return of five of their top seven tacklers, including impactful linebacker Namdi Obiazor and senior edge rusher Paul Oyewale who led the team in sacks, provides a strong core for Avalos to refine his system.
Despite these promising returns, the TCU defense still faces challenges, notably in generating consistent pass rush and getting off the field on crucial third downs. While they excelled at limiting explosive plays, opponents often moved the ball effectively through chunk gains, leading to high-scoring affairs. For the Horned Frogs to truly contend for a Big 12 Championship, these areas of defensive execution will be critical to tighten up in College Football 2025.
Curiously, TCU enters the 2025 College Football season flying somewhat under the national radar, largely due to their 2023 performance. This lack of widespread expectation, however, could prove to be a significant advantage. Unlike other highly-touted programs, the Horned Frogs can operate with less external pressure, allowing Sonny Dykes and his staff to focus on internal development and execution, potentially leading to a quietly successful campaign.
The ceiling for this TCU Football team is genuinely high, with a realistic path to 10 wins and a berth in the Big 12 Championship game. The coaching staff’s confidence in the defensive talent, evidenced by their approach to transfers, suggests an expected step forward for Avalos’s unit. If the defense can complement what is projected to be a top-scoring offense nationally, the Horned Frogs possess the ingredients for a truly impactful College Football 2025 season.
However, a formidable 2025 schedule looms large, presenting the TCU Horned Frogs with one of the nation’s most challenging slates. Beginning in Week 3, the team endures seven consecutive games without a bye, including six against Power Conference opponents and five within the demanding Big 12. Facing elite teams like Arizona State and Kansas State on the road, alongside rivals such as SMU and a tricky West Virginia team, means there are few, if any, easy contests for Sonny Dykes’ squad.
This gauntlet of games means that if TCU’s defense doesn’t coalesce and improve significantly, particularly against run-heavy offenses like SMU, Kansas State, and West Virginia, the season could quickly unravel. While the offense’s ability to throw the ball at a high frequency somewhat mitigates the need for a dominant run game, the overall defensive performance will be the true determinant of whether the Horned Frogs can navigate this brutal schedule and achieve their Big 12 Championship aspirations.
