What to watch for as TCU football hosts K-State this weekend
TCU football returns home this week.
The Horned Frogs (1-1) have rejuvenated their fan base with a victory over No. 9 Texas last week in Austin, and will be looking to carry the momentum into Saturday’s game against Kansas State.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
And, to fans’ pleasure or chagrin, TCU unveiled its uniforms for the game will be the same alternate uniforms worn at last year’s homecoming game against Texas. Hey, the Frogs won 37-27 that day whether you loved or hated the on-field look.
Here are five things to watch this Saturday:
1. K-State’s QB situation. Kansas State has questions at quarterback after Skylar Thompson was injured in last week’s victory over Texas Tech. As of now, Thompson appears to be a game-time decision.
If Thompson doesn’t go, the Wildcats are expected to turn to freshman Will Howard. Howard replaced Thompson and finished the Tech game, going 7 of 12 passing for 173 yards and a TD.
TCU coach Gary Patterson said this week that he expects K-State to run its same offense regardless of who is at quarterback.
2. Limiting the big plays. TCU’s defense would be playing great if not for 10 plays. Iowa State connected on five big plays two weeks ago, and Texas hit on five plays last week.
It goes without saying but TCU has to limit those explosive plays against K-State. The Wildcats top playmaker is freshman running back Deuce Vaughn, who has had a couple 70-plus yard plays the last two weeks in victories over Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
Patterson blamed himself for the big plays early on this season. The players know the importance of preventing them too.
3. Red-zone O. Another thing that goes without saying but has to improve is turning red-zone trips into touchdowns instead of field goals. TCU had three trips to the red-zone end with field goals against Texas.
Quarterback Max Duggan addressed the importance of turning those into TDs. Opponents have scored nine TDs in 13 red-zone trips against K-State this season.
4. Takeaways please. K-State is plus-seven in turnover margin early on this season and hasn’t turned it over yet. TCU is even, forcing three and giving away three. The Frogs defeated the Longhorns last week by recovering a fumble by the Longhorns at the 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter.
If TCU is able to win the turnover battle, its chances of winning the game increase significantly.
5. Special teams factor. This is usually an even matchup between the programs. TCU and K-State are 4-4 since TCU joined the Big 12 in 2012, including four games being decided by one score or less.
With expectations of another close game, special teams could become the deciding factor. K-State has blocked a punt in each of their first three games, something TCU must be aware of and avoid.
The Frogs, meanwhile, must make some plays of their own on special teams. JD Spielman has shown flashes of a being a home-run threat as a returner, and feels he’s close to breaking one.
“Real close,” Spielman said this week. “There have been some times walking off the field after a game and I think, ‘Man, make one or two more people miss or break one more tackle and that could have been a touchdown that decides the game.’ I’m not letting the fact that we’ve been close so many times discourage me, I’m using that as a way to show everybody how close we are. … Eventually one of those returns is going to pop for a touchdown and hopefully there’s plenty of them to come.”
This story was originally published October 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
