BY: KENNY VARNER
TCU 2025 Season Preview: Hoover Leads High-Powered Offense with Eyes on Big 12 Title
Sonny Dykes leads a TCU team coming off an 8-4 season and looks to push the Horned Frogs even further behind rising star quarterback Josh Hoover. The offense showed flashes of brilliance last year, but this season, consistency is the goal—and with Hoover returning, expectations are high in Fort Worth. He’ll benefit from a solid and experienced offensive line, and under Dykes’ offensive-minded leadership, you can count on TCU lighting up the scoreboard.
The defense, however, is where the leap needs to happen. For this team to reach another level, the unit must improve. Early reports out of spring practices suggest this could be the best defense yet under Dykes’ tenure. If the Horned Frogs can continue to win close games and show defensive progress, they have a real shot at finishing in the top half of the Big 12—and perhaps even more.
It’s refreshing to see a superstar quarterback returning to form, and that’s exactly what Josh Hoover brings. He passed for 3,949 yards with pinpoint accuracy, completing 66.5% of his throws while maintaining a strong 27-to-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio. A true leader, Hoover carried the team on his back with 471 pass attempts.
The offensive line returns three starters—Coltin Deery, Carson Bruno, and Ben Taylor-Whitfield. Cade Bennett, who missed all of last season, is essentially another starter returning. This unit excelled in pass protection but struggled to generate much push in the run game, which averaged just 113 yards per game. Jeremy Payne and Trent Battle posted modest numbers at running back, but don’t be surprised if Nate Palmer emerges as the featured back this fall.
As always under Sonny Dykes, the wide receiver room is loaded with talent. Eric McAlister returns as a dangerous deep threat, averaging 19.5 yards per catch. Joseph Manjack, a transfer from USC, brings additional depth, but the biggest upgrade may be Jordan Dwyer from Idaho. Dwyer caught 78 passes for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and looks like a perfect fit in TCU’s system. If the run game can just find a little more traction, this offense will be among the best in the Big 12.
Defensively, the Horned Frogs were the limiting factor last season. TCU went 8-0 when allowing fewer than 30 points but just 1-4 when surrendering 30 or more. The defense improved down the stretch, holding four of their final seven opponents to 13 points or fewer.
Edge rusher Devean Deal, the team’s sack leader, returns to anchor the pass rush. Markis Deal brings strength inside at 325 pounds, while Ansel Din-Mbuh—Washington’s sack leader in 2024—joins the defensive line. The linebacker unit in the 4-2-5 scheme features Namdi Obiazor, who posted 81 tackles, and Kaleb Elarms-Orr. In the secondary, Elijah Jackson (Washington) is a strong addition if he stays healthy, and the safety tandem of Bud Clark and Jamal Johnson gives this unit real shutdown potential. This experienced group has the tools to take a big step forward.
TCU will be able to score on anyone. For the Frogs to make the leap into Big 12 title contention, they’ll need more from the ground game and for the defense to play up to its potential. The schedule opens favorably with a rebuilding North Carolina team and FCS opponent Abilene Christian. That should set up a 2-0 start before key matchups against SMU and College Football Playoff participant Arizona State. Road trips to BYU and Kansas State will test their mettle.
This team has the pieces to win eight or more games and flirt with a Top 25 ranking. And if things break just right, don’t be surprised if TCU finds itself playing for a Big 12 championship come December.