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· collected 2026-08-21 · by Stephen Hawkins The Associated Press
TCU coach Sonny Dykes is looking to improve his team's performance after two consecutive 9-win seasons. The Horned Frogs have a new quarterback, Jaden Craig, who transferred from Harvard, and a revamped defense following the departure of both starting linebackers in their 4-2-5 scheme. TCU had multiple turnovers in all four of its losses last season and will need to be more efficient on offense if it wants to reach its potential. The team opens the season against North Carolina on August 29 in Ireland.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
*TCU coach Sonny Dykes is looking for more from his team after they posted back-to-back 9-win seasons*. He believes that to reach their full potential, the team needs to overcome some significant challenges, including the departure of both starting linebackers who were drafted into the NFL. The Horned Frogs are entering *their fifth season under Dykes* with a new quarterback, *Harvard transfer Jaden Craig*, and a new offensive coordinator, Gordon Sammis. Last season's losses can be attributed to multiple turnovers, which TCU will aim to improve on this year. With Craig leading the offense, the team hopes to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. The Frogs' first game is scheduled for *August 29 against North Carolina in Ireland*. Dykes acknowledged that his team has been "pretty good" but emphasizes the need to be "great", which he believes requires reaching their full potential as a team.
Written for “TCU Football Expectations” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
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answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
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No political leaning scored for article 1697 · logged 2026-08-31
TCU
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — 2025 record: 9-4
Expectations
“I think we’ve been pretty good,” Dykes said.
asserted
Dykes → think → ?
”Being great really is about reaching your potential as a team, and I don’t think we’ve done that in the last three years.”
asserted
we → reach → years
The Horned Frogs, who made the national championship game in Dykes’ first season, are going into his fifth with a new quarterback and two huge departures from the middle of the defense after both starting linebackers in their 4-2-5 scheme were NFL draft picks.
asserted
linebackers → make → scheme
While trying to get to their first Big 12 championship game since 2022, the Frogs need Harvard transfer QB Jaden Craig and the offense to be efficient and effective.
asserted
Craig → try → 2022
Craig comes in with new offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis, whose UConn squad last year had only two turnovers while averaging 445 total yards and 35 points a game.
asserted
squad → come → yards
TCU had multiple turnovers in all four of its losses last year.
asserted
TCU → have → losses
Josh Hoover threw for 9,627 yards, 71 TDs and 33 interceptions the past three seasons at TCU before transferring to reigning national champion Indiana to succeed Heisman Trophy-winning QB and NFL No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza.
asserted
Hoover → throw → Mendoza
The Frogs open the season Aug. 29 against North Carolina in Ireland.
asserted
Frogs → open → Ireland
They beat the Tar Heels in coach Bill Belichick’s debut last season.
asserted
They → beat → debut
Strengths including some returning skill and a solid OL around new QB
Craig, a 24-game starter at Harvard who set school passing records last season, has some talented returning skill players around him.
asserted
who → include → him
Running back Jeremy Payne ran for 476 yards in the final five games last season, and scored the game-winning TD in the Alamo Bowl for TCU on a 35-yard catch-and-run in overtime against Southern Cal when breaking multiple tackles.
asserted
Payne → run → tackles
Returning receiver Jordan Dwyer (54 caches, 730 yards and seven TDs) will have an even bigger role after the departure of 1,190-yard receiver Eric McAlister.
asserted
Dwyer → return → McAlister
In front of Craig will be potentially one of the Big 12’s top offensive lines, led by left tackle and third-year starter Ben Taylor-Whitfield (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) and a couple of other returners.
asserted
one → lead → returners
The Frogs also added big transfers, including 6-4, 330-pount guard Noah McKinney (from Oklahoma State) and center/guard Jaheim Buchanon, a 25-game starter at FIU the past two seasons.
asserted
Frogs → add → FIU
Weaknesses include uncertainty on defense
While the Frogs return third-year starting safety Jamel Johnson (96 tackles and Big 12-high five interceptions) and most of their defensive line, there are plenty of changes on defense.
asserted
Frogs → include → defense
Michael Short, who could start with Carroll, played only four games at Virginia Tech last season.
uncertain
who → start → Tech
In the secondary, Vernon Glover Jr. is coming back from a knee injury, while the Frogs also brought in several defensive backs through the portal.
asserted
Frogs → come → portal
