College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2018
By Zach Bigalke
Three years ago, TCU overcame a 31-point deficit against Oregon to win the Alamo Bowl in overtime. This year, the Horned Frogs pulled off a similar trick against Stanford. Down 21-10 at halftime and 28-16 in the third quarter, Gary Patterson’s squad managed to reverse its fortune and pull off a 39-37 victory in regulation.
The Horned Frogs won despite keeping their defense on the field for over 33 minutes against the tough Cardinal ground game. TCU also coughed up three giveaways, losing the turnover battle in the process. It wasn’t a perfect performance for TCU, but the second-place team from the Big 12 in 2017 has plenty to look forward to in the upcoming year.
Kenny Hill will be gone at quarterback, his eligibility exhausted after transferring three years ago from TCU. So too will be senior running back Kyle Hicks, though Darius Anderson should be back and healthy after suffering a season-ending injury to his right foot. The receiving corps and the right side of the offensive line will also need to be rebuilt after seniors graduated.
As a result, the Horned Frogs will fall lower in the preseason AP Top 25 than they are likely to end the 2017 season. The uncertainty in Fort Worth, though, could be erased quickly with a statement win over Ohio State in mid-September ahead of Big 12 play.