Turnover disasters

TCU came into the game ranked among the worst nationally in turnover margin and gave away four more on Friday night, with two atrocious Josh Hoover interceptions, a backbreaking JP Richardson fumble and the game-clinching QB fumble. Hoover now ranks in the Top 10 nationally in most interceptions and remains first nationally in lost fumbles, even as he also ranks in the Top 5 nationally in passing TDs and passing yards.

This does not include turnovers on downs, of which TCU also contributed to the turnover figure, which directly led to Houston’s first score of the game and put the Frogs behind the eight ball early. TCU’s first possession of the game had the Frogs over midfield, but well out of FG range for a 4th and 2 chance. A great place to line up and make your best play to try and get the first down to keep the drive moving. TCU was indeed in line, but apparently believed the best way to gain two yards is via QB sneak. Indeed, the game usually reserved for picking up a few inches, won no more than 72 inches. At least this time it didn’t result in a scoop-and-score like vs. SMU, but it’s still an unconscionable play-call for the situation, negating the early momentum gained by the TCU Defense getting the 4th down stop just moments earlier.

Sometimes turnovers are a game of luck and the way the ball bounces, and boy did the ball not bounce the right way for the Frogs on Friday. TCU fumbled twice and lost both; TCU forced three Houston fumbles and recovered zero.

Worst game of your life so far

There is simply no bottom for the TCU Football program in 2024. Blowing a 21-point lead at home against UCF turned out not to be the bottom. Getting kicked out by SMU on The CW wasn’t the basement. The way this season is going, being besieged by the nation’s worst offense on home court as a 17-point favorite probably won’t be the low point of the 2024 season. There are still six weeks to find new and creative ways to extinguish shameful displays. Houston entered the game dead last in all of FBS in points per game and bottom 10 in yards per game…the Cougars entered Amon G. Carter Stadium delivering 361 yards of total offense and 30 points.

3rd down for the count

The TCU offense didn’t grab the first down until three minutes in 4th quarter, ultimately finishing 3-10 for the game with an average third-to-go distance of 7.7 yards. The Frogs’ inability to sustain their drive has been a killer to their ability to play winning football this season.

As bad as the offense has been at moving the chains efficiently, the defense has been even worse at stopping the opponent on third down and leaving the field. Somehow, fouls find 3rd and long the easiest way of any drive. On Frida, the Cougars had an average 3rd down-to-go distance of 8.1 yards, but were still able to get five 3rd down conversions. Houston was able to pick them up with QB runs, RBs bouncing off tacklers with ease, and quick WR screens. That’s been the case all season and it still keeps TCU from taking meaningful steps forward in games but always having to chase the tail. Houston scored on all five of its trips to the red zone,

Goodbye week?

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

A bye week can often be the time in a football season when a struggling program makes a personnel change in an attempt to right a sinking ship. While I don’t see head coach Sonny Dykes and athletic director Jeremiah Donati as making rash decisions, it may very well be time for some hard conversations with members of the program about whether they have what it takes to coach and develop . win football in Fort Worth. The fans of the Horned Frogs will not — and should not — accept a program that “has a chance to be a good football team” or that “had a good week of practice” if the results on the field are so poor to stay. Perhaps TCU fans were spoiled by two decades of success under Gary Patterson and an immediate National Championship run to open Coach Dykes’ tenure, but given the level of financial support and available talent, consecutive seasons of missing a bowl at TCU should be unacceptable are. TCU’s losses this season have come to UCF, SMU and Houston; Not only does TCU not compete nationally, it has fallen behind the trio of programs that competed in the American Athletic Conference two seasons ago. The schedule has 15 days before what will be its toughest test of the season, a road trip to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Utes. What will change in those two weeks to give the Frogs a chance to win that game, make a bowl run and have any hope of a better future? There is a chance to salvage the season somewhat, with rivalry games and big games on the horizon in an effort to become bowl eligible, but it will take a huge coaching and leadership effort to get this team off the mat and going take advantage of the opportunities. forward. Do they have it in the locker room to move forward positively or will the Frogs come out of Bye Week the same way they went in?