The Sonny Dykes era begins in Fort Worth, Texas as the TCU Horned Frog prepare for the 2022 season.
Long-time HC Gary Patterson agreed to mutually part ways last Halloween. The separation made an end to one of the longest HC tenures in college football. Since the 2001 season, the Horned Frogs have navigated through Conference USA, Mountain West Conference, and the Big 12. By far the winningest HC in TCU football program history.
TCU made a curious hire with Sonny Dykes. Dykes was the head coach of close surrounding rival, SMU, for the last four seasons. He has an entirely different approach than Patterson. While Patterson was a hard, defensive-minded head coach, Dykes prioritizes a wide-open offensive scheme.
Who Will Be Under-Center For Horned Frogs?
We likely will not know who the starting QB for TCU will be until game one of the season. Max Duggan is the experienced choice with 29 starts under his belt.
Most spectators favor Chandler Morris for the starting job though. Morris committed to Oklahoma, but transferred to TCU after one season. He flashed in reduced action over four games, completing 65.8% of his passes for 9.1 YPA with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Morris led the Horned Frogs to an upset of Baylor, but his stature is questioned for durability.
The Horned Frogs have a pleasant amount of experience at the skill positions returning. As five out of their top six rushers and their four leading receivers from last season return.
Joe Gillespie is TCU’s new defensive coordinator. Gillespie was the defensive coordinator at Tulsa from 2019 to 2021. His philosophy will bring the 3-3-5 to Fort Worth. TCU will need to do SOMETHING after how lackluster this defense was in 2021, ranking 109th in Defensive SP+ after surrendering 37.8 PPG and 491.5 YPG.
2022 TCU HORNED FROGS SCHEDULE
- Fri., Sept. 2 – at Colorado
- Sat., Sept. 10 – vs. Tarleton
- Sat., Sept. 24 – at SMU
- Sat., Oct. 1 – vs. Oklahoma
- Sat., Oct. 8 – at Kansas
- Sat., Oct. 15 – vs. Oklahoma State
- Sat., Oct. 22 – vs. Kansas State
- Sat., Oct. 29 – at West Virginia
- Sat. Nov. 5 – vs. Texas Tech
- Sat., Nov. 12 – at Texas
- Sat., Nov. 19 – at Baylor
- Sat., Nov. 26 – vs. Iowa State
Judging how the Sonny Dykes Era has begun at Louisiana Tech (5-7), Cal (1-11), and SMU (5-7), I want to lean under, but I am going over here. Dykes should have this Horned Frog team exploding on the offensive side of the ball.
TCU last season you can say was disappointing, but two of those seven losses were by one-score. The returning production on both sides of the ball for the Horned Frogs is a massive advantage in the BIG12. Ranking 9th in the nation and 1st in the BIG12, I look for the Horn Frogs to jump out the gate rapidly.
I believe if the Horned Frogs can start the season 3-0 with two tough road games at Colorado and SMU (not really in distance traveled), then the over is the play!
