Colorado hosted TCU football on Friday night hoping to kick off the season with a win, but the Horned Frogs had other ideas.
The Sonny Dykes era of TCU football got off to a nice start on Friday evening as the Horned Frogs went on the road and dominated Colorado, 38-13.
On paper, TCU looked like the better team, but I don’t think anyone saw a 25-point road win for the Horned Frogs, especially in the first game of a new coach.
What did we learn from the Horned Frogs’ dominant win?
3. The defense not breaking in the first half was the difference
In the first half of this one, Colorado was moving the ball. The Buffaloes were out-gaining the Horned Frogs and had a chance to put some points on the board but only came away with a couple of field goals. They kicked two field goals and turned the ball over on downs once which was great for the Horned Frogs’ confidence.
The defense carried that confidence over into the second half.
After being out-gained 212-67 in the first half, the Horned Frogs gained 346 yards in the second half to just 136 for the Buffaloes. That massive advantage led to the one-point halftime advantage growing into a 38-13 blowout by the final whistle.
The defense stood tall on the road and if not for that first-half ‘bend but don’t break’ mentality, this game could have been totally different.
2. The run game is going to carry this team
When Zach Evans hit the transfer portal this past offseason, it felt like TCU’s run game took a massive hit, but that wasn’t the case on Friday night in Boulder.
The Sonny Dykes era got off to a strong start on the offensive side of the ball and it had nothing to do with the passing game. In fact, the run game led the way and it looks to be the clear strength on this side of the ball and maybe on the entire team. The Horned Frogs rushed for 275 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries. Yes, they averaged a healthy 9.2 yards per touch.
Whenever you can draw up a run play and almost expect 6-7 yards, you know you’re doing something right.
Plus, the depth in the backfield is fantastic. Three running backs had at least three carries and each averaged over 6.5 yards per touch. Kendre Miller had eight carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, Emari Demercado had four touches for 49 yards and a score, and Emani Bailey had three carries for 42 yards. And this isn’t even counting backup quarterbacks Max Duggan and Sam Jackson who had six carries for 85 yards combined and receiver Derius Davis had a 27-yard touchdown run.
This run game is healthy.
1. The jury’s still out on Chandler Morris
Oklahoma transfer and son of former Arkansas head coach Chad Morris, Chandler Morris, had an odd game. He didn’t play poorly, completing 13-of-20 passes for 111 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had 18 rushing yards on four carries. He didn’t play poorly, but he also didn’t play well. Morris was just there.
Like I said earlier, the run game led the way and the defense really stepped up after bending but not breaking in the first half so Morris didn’t need to do much, but after being named the starting quarterback just before the game, the jury’s still out.
Max Duggan has starting experience and many believe he’s the better quarterback and he got a chance to prove himself with Morris getting injured in the second half. He completed 2-of-3 passes for 27 yards and had 41 rushing yards on three carries, including an electric 33-yarder.
Morris averaged just 5.6 yards per carry while Duggan averaged 9.0. Duggan didn’t get many reps, but he still seems to have some juice.
Did we learn more about the quarterback situation from this one? Not really — like at all.
Thankfully, the Morris injury isn’t serious and was reported to be just a ‘tweak.’