UCF opponent previews: TCU, 2 seasons removed from title game, kicks off Big 12 play

• Nickname: Horned Frogs

• Location: Fort Worth, Texas

• Enrollment: 12,785

• Home field: Amon G. Carter Stadium (Capacity: 46,000)

• Conference: Big 12

• 2023 Record: 5-7, 3-6 Big 12

• All-time series record vs. UCF: First meeting

Editor’s note: This is the third installment in a 12-part series highlighting UCF’s 2024 football opponents.

Perhaps no program encapsulates the unpredictable nature of the Big 12 quite like TCU.

The Horned Frogs have alternated winning seasons with losing ones for the last six years, becoming the first Big 12 team to reach the national championship game in the Playoff era in 2022 before crashing down to earth and failing to achieve bowl eligibility last year.

So, how will the Frogs fare in 2024? Perhaps their conference opener — a first head-to-head encounter with UCF — will set the tone for the season. Kickoff at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, is set for 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 14, with Fox broadcasting the game to a nationwide audience.

UCF opponent previews: Sam Houston seeks bounceback season after rough FBS debut

UCF is 7-9 away from home in Gus Malzahn’s tenure, including an underwhelming 1-4 mark against Big 12 opposition in its first run through the conference. However, TCU’s home field has been somewhat forgiving for visitors of late, with the Horned Frogs dropping at least three home games in four of the last five seasons.

The Knights may well need to take advantage of that fact, considering their ensuing two games are high-profile clashes with Colorado and Florida.

Sonny Dykes enters 15th season as FBS head coach, 3rd at TCU

Sonny Dykes played college baseball at Texas Tech, where his father, Spike, holds the distinction of being the school’s second-winningest football coach behind Mike Leach. It’s at TCU, however, where Sonny has made his name — collecting no fewer than a half-dozen major national coach of the year honors in 2022.

Prior to taking over the Horned Frogs, Dykes presided as head coach at Louisiana Tech, California and SMU. He holds a career record of 89-72 (.553 winning percentage) ahead of his 15th season.

Dykes changed defensive coordinators in December, bringing in former Boise State head coach Andy Avalos. UCF defeated Avalos’ Broncos in 2021 and ’23, prevailing 18-16 in the latter game courtesy of Colton Boomer’s 40-yard walkoff field goal.

Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles helped new UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson blossom into one of the SEC’s best signal-callers for two years at Arkansas. Jefferson threw 48 touchdowns compared to just nine interceptions, adding 1,304 rushing yards and 15 more scores under Briles’ tutelage for the 2021-22 seasons.

Josh Hoover takes command at QB, top tackler Namdi Obiazor returns

Top Offensive Returners: QB Josh Hoover, OL Mike Nichols, WR JP Richardson, RB Trey Sanders, WR Savion Williams

Top Defensive Returners: DB Bud Clark, DL Caleb Fox, DB Avery Helm, DL Tymon Mitchell, LB Namdi Obiazor, DL Paul Oyewale

For all its offensive inconsistency, most notably the team’s 19 turnovers, TCU put up some points, tying with UCF for sixth in the Big 12 in scoring at 31.3 per game. Redshirt sophomore Josh Hoover flashed major potential down the stretch, throwing for 412 yards against Baylor and for four touchdowns versus Oklahoma.

Trey Sanders (176 yards, six TDs) and Cam Cook (58 yards, zero TDs) will try to offset the loss of 1,200-yard rusher Emani Bailey behind a reshaped offensive line. TCU’s top two receivers, Savion Williams and JP Richardson, combined for 87 catches, 1,109 yards and seven touchdowns.

Big 12 honorable mention linebacker Namdi Obiazor was ever present for TCU’s defense, logging more than 800 snaps and producing team-highs in tackles (84) and sacks (four). Bud Clark graded poorly as a tackler, per Pro Football Focus, but he produced three interceptions and five pass breakups at the safety spot.

TCU ranked 110th in the nation against the pass, allowing 253.7 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks, but a far more respectable 76th in scoring defense (27.8 ppg).

Bless Harris, Kaleb Elarms-Orr headline nearly two-dozen TCU transfers

Transfer Portal Additions: DL Hakeem Ajijolaiya (Houston), IOL Cade Bennett (San Diego State), IOL James Brockermyer (Alabama), JaTravis Broughton (Utah), OT Carson Bruno (Louisiana Tech), TE Drake Dabney (Baylor), DL Devean Deal (Tulane), LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr (California), OT Bless Harris (Florida State), WR Braylon James (Notre Dame), DB LaMareon James (Old Dominion), RB Dominique Johnson (Arkansas), DB Austin Jordan (Texas), WR Eric McAlister (Boise State), EDGE Cooper McDonald (San Diego State), DB Jevon McIver (Austin Peay), DB Jaise Oliver (Tulsa), EDGE NaNa Osafo-Mensah (Notre Dame), TE Jax Porter (Alabama), QB Ken Seals (Vanderbilt), DB Cameron Smith (Memphis), IOL Remington Strickland (Texas A&M), DB Richard Toney (Nevada)

Transfer Portal Losses: WR DJ Allen (UTSA), IOL Ezra Dotson-Oyetade (Florida A&M), WR Rohan Fluellen, DB Randon Fontenette (Vanderbilt),…