Head coach: Sonny Dykes, 4th season (27-13; 98-76 career)

2024 season: 9-4, 6-3 Big 12; beat Louisiana, 34-3, in New Mexico Bowl

Series with CU: Tied 1-1

Matchup with the Buffs: Saturday, Oct. 4 (TBA), at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas

5 Guys to Watch

S Bud Clark: Earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last year after posting 67 tackles, three interceptions and three pass breakups. A sixth-year senior, he has posted 145 tackles, 11 interceptions and 24 pass breakups in the last three years.

Edge Devean Deal: Former North Texas transfer had a huge first year at TCU, posting 46 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. At North Texas in 2023, he had 12 TFLs and six sacks. His younger brother, Markis, is a starting defensive tackle for the Horned Frogs.

WR Jordan Dwyer: A newcomer this year, he was a star at Idaho, catching 78 passes for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024. In three years with the Vandals, he caught 109 passes for 1,651 yards and 18 TDs.

QB Josh Hoover: In his first full season as the starter, Hoover set a TCU record for passing yards (3,949) in a single season, while also throwing 27 touchdowns, but he was picked off 11 times. Over the past two seasons, he’s thrown for 6,155 yards, 42 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

WR Eric McAlister: TCU’s top three receivers all graduated, but McAlister still put up good numbers last year, catching 39 passes for 762 yards (second on the team) and five touchdowns. Prior to transferring to TCU last year, he caught 47 passes for 873 yards and five touchdowns at Boise State in 2023.

Good to know

• With CU installing FieldTurf at Folsom Field this year, this game at TCU will be the only one that the Buffs will play on natural grass during the regular season. All seven home games and the other four road games will all be on artificial surfaces.

• Prior to 2022, CU had never faced TCU, but this will be the third meeting in four years. TCU beat the Buffs in Boulder, 38-13, on Sept. 10, 2022. CU returned the favor a year later in Deion Sanders’ first game as head coach, upsetting the Horned Frogs 45-42 in Fort Worth on Sept. 2, 2023.

• Last season, Hoover finished second in the Big 12 in passing yards (3,949) and completion percentage (66.5), behind only CU’s Shedeur Sanders (4,134, 74.0). He tied for third with his 27 TD passes and was third in passer rating (151.13).

• Linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr was second-team All-Pac-12 in 2023 at California, posting 92 tackles. Last year, he came to TCU and finished sixth on the team with 54 tackles (along with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks), despite not starting any games. He is projected to start this year.

• Kyle Lemmermann returns as the Horned Frogs’ kicker. He was 15-of-22 on field goals last year, with a long of 48. He was also 54-of-55 on extra points. Punter Ethan Craw is also back after averaging 42.5 yards per punt.

Portal movement

TCU lost 20 players to the transfer portal, per 247Sports. That list includes last year’s leading rusher, Cam Cook (now at Jacksonville State) and starting center James Brockermeyer (Miami). The majority of the losses, however, were backups, including linebacker Kylan Salter, now at CU. TCU added 12 transfers and several should make an immediate impact. Receivers Jordan Dwyer (Idaho) and Jospeh Manjack IV (Houston) could be starters. Ansel Din-Mbuh had six sacks at Washington State last year and is slated to start. Cornerback Elijah Jackson (Washington), safety Kylin Jackson (LSU), tackle Rasheed Jackson (Incarnate Word) and tight end Ka’Morreun Pimpton (LSU) could push for starting roles.