Horned Frogs reeling after losing three of last four Big 12 games
TCU Coach Sonny Dykes and his players glance up at the scoreboard during the fourth quarter against Kansas State Saturday October 21, 2023 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
MANHATTAN, Kan — The Horned Frogs left Bill Snyder Family Stadium Saturday night with their worst loss in recent memory.
After all, Kansas State annihilated TCU 41-3. Not to mention the three points was the Horned Frogs’ lowest output since November of 1993. Everyone was expecting the game to be a dogfight, considering it was a rematch of the Big 12 Championship Game. Instead the Horned Frogs got embarrassed like they didn’t even get off the bus, and Coach Sonny Dykes had no answers. He thought his players was going to be ready for the moment.
“We had a good week of practice, guys were prepared, and I came into this game with a lot of confidence” Dykes said. “Thought we would play well after last week, and it was a bad performance from the get-go.”
TCU (4-4) was limited to a season-low, 300 yards of total offense. The Horned Frogs’ defense didn’t fare much better, and allowed the Wildcats to score at will in the first half. So much so, that the defense allowed 406 through the first two quarters. Kansas State (5-2) flat-out mauled TCU at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Once the smoke cleared, the Wildcats led the Horned Frogs in plays, yards, first downs and time of possession.
Dykes’ tempo on offense was no match for Kansas State’s physicality. Quarterback Josh Hoover completed 23 of his 41 passes for 187 yards and an interception. On top of that, TCU only converted two of its’ 13 third downs. Running back Emani Bailey was the lone bright spot for the offense. Bailey rushed for a game-high, 100 yards.
TCU’s defense was the biggest shocker though. Kansas State racked up a jaw-dropping, 343 yards on the ground, and it accomplished that feat with a variety of players. Dykes was disappointed with all of the missed tackles, and several defenders that were out of place in coverage. The Wildcats used two quarterbacks, and were effective with both. Dykes and his staff prepared hard, and still couldn’t stop Will Howard and Avery Johnson from making plays.
“I had no idea that this was going to play out like it did tonight,” he said. “Obviously we got a lot of work to do , we got an open date, and we’ll try to figure out the best way to get fixed and play better.”
Namdi Obiazor tallied a game-high, 13 tackles including one for loss and a sack. Millard Bradford added nine, stops, including seven solo. At the end of the day TCU’s defense failed to force any turnovers, which is vital on the road in conference play.
The Horned Frogs have now lost three of their last four Big 12 games, and the schedule only gets tougher moving forward. Dykes need to take advantage of the bye-week to evaluate his players and staff. Everyone needs to take a long look in the mirror and take accountability. Leaders have to emerge, so the team can respond to adversity.
Dykes knows there’s still a lot of football left to be played, but if the Horned Frogs don’t get it together, they’ll be looking at a second losing season in the last three years.
“Don’t really know what to say, I’m shocked, surprised, didn’t see it coming, I’m embarrassed, I think our players are too, and they should be.”
