The TCU Horned Frogs were in the College Football National Championship Game just two short years ago, but it feels like a lot longer. The Horned Frogs struggled in the transfer portal last season, leading to a disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2023, including a 3-6 conference mark.
Sonny Dykes is facing the pressure, but what questions might he face at Big 12 Media Days?
Three Most Significant Questions for Sonny Dykes at Big 12 Media Days
1) How is This Team’s Mindset Different From Last Year’s?
TCU simply couldn’t create momentum last season. The Horned Frogs lost to Colorado in the opening week, and when it looked like things were getting back on track after three straight wins, they lost to West Virginia in a night game at home to close out the month of September.
On paper, this team is drastically different, with a completely retooled offensive line and linebacking group. But is the team really different in its mindset? Dykes is usually pretty blunt in an interview setting, so he’ll be able to give us insight into his mindset entering 2024.
2) What Is QB Josh Hoover’s Status?
Josh Hoover made the Big 12 All-Freshman team in 2023 and looked like he has the talent to have a good career for the Horned Frogs. However, he sustained an injury in March and missed nearly all of spring ball. He’s probably good to go for the season opener but missed valuable reps with a largely new group of players on offense.
Dykes can tell us what we can expect from Hovoer in 2024 and whether his injury will end up having a significant impact on his on-field play in the fall.
3) What Needs to Change in 2024?
Unlike some teams that struggled in 2023, TCU’s issues couldn’t be blamed on a singular unit. The offensive and defensive lines struggled at times, but TCU lost some games in which it couldn’t score and others in which it couldn’t stop the opponent.
TCU’s biggest issue was the wild inconsistency from week to week. That makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly what went wrong. Dykes has the opportunity to address what he believed the issues were and what he and the team need to fix in 2024.
Big 12 Media Day Schedule: Sonny Dykes, TCU Head Coach
Date: Tuesday, July 9
Time: 2:00 p.m. EST
How to Watch: ESPN+
The 2022 National Championship Runners-Up, TCU took a huge step backward in 2023, finishing the year with a disappointing 5-7 record.
Dykes enters his third season with a program whose true talent probably lies in between the two extremes of the first two seasons. There are four newcomers in 2024, but Texas and Oklahoma move to the SEC, giving TCU a chance in a truly wide-open Big 12.
The defense is one of the most experienced in the country, boasting a host of new transfers, many of whom will see immediate playing time.
The Horned Frogs open the season with a critical road non-conference game at Stanford on Friday, August 30, at 10:30 p.m. EST. They’ll host Long Island University in their home opener on September 7 at 8:00 p.m.
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