TCU looks to get out of slump against skidding Baylor

Field Level Media|published: Tue 14th November, 20:16 2023

Nov 11, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) in action during the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas Longhorns at Amon G. Carter Stadium. credits: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

TCU looks to keep its flickering postseason aspirations alive on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Baylor in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Horned Frogs (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) were sitting pretty after seven games before a lopsided loss at Kansas State on Oct. 21 and close setbacks against Texas Tech and No. 7 Texas. Now, TCU needs to topple both the Bears (3-7, 2-5) in the newly dubbed "Bluebonnet Battle" and Oklahoma on Nov. 24 just to become bowl-eligible.

Josh Hoover threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns and Emani Bailey rushed for 98 yards and a score in the Horned Frogs' 29-26 setback to the Longhorns last Saturday.

Starting linebacker Johnny Hodges re-injured his hand vs. the Red Raiders after initially sustaining the injury against Houston on Sept. 16.

"Johnny will be done for the season, unfortunately. I hate that for him," TCU coach Sonny Dykes said on Tuesday. "He tried to come back quickly and it just didn't work out. Johnny is one of those kids that loves his teammates, loves his team, he loves playing football, and I know how disappointed he is to not be able to play the rest of the season."

Sadly, Hodges isn't alone. Dykes noted wideouts Dylan Wright (lower body) and Warren Thompson (undisclosed) will sit out the final two games.

Like TCU, Baylor enters Saturday's clash on a three-game skid — however, bowl eligibility is not in play for the Bears. Baylor followed up setbacks to Iowa State and Houston by being on the business end of a 59-25 drubbing from Kansas State last Saturday.

Blake Shapen threw for a career-high four touchdowns — two to Dawson Pendergrass — in the loss to the Wildcats.

Baylor coach Dave Aranda is aware that the Horned Frogs play with a quicker tempo, and that in itself is going to present challenges for his club.

"We're going into the world of tempo, so we have to be better," Aranda said. "We've got to get it to where we're lined up, our cleats are in the grass, where we're in position to execute and play in all of it."

—Field Level Media