Why TCU isn’t worried about cold weather ahead of season finale against Cincinnati
When the Horned Frogs head to Cincinnati on Saturday, they’ll have to deal with more than just a desperate team seeking bowl eligibility.
The temperature could get as low as 21 degrees according to numerous weather forecasts around the 5 p.m. kickoff time against the Bearcats.
It’ll be the first time this season TCU has had to deal with these types of conditions, but the Horned Frogs seemed eager to play in that type of environment during the program’s weekly press conference.
“We haven’t really had a cold weather game this year, so I’m kind of looking forward to it,” head coach Sonny Dykes said. “It’s something, it’s something unique, it’s something we don’t get to do often. I think we’re fired up about it. It’s a big game for them, bowl eligibility, senior day all the stuff.
“We’ve got to do a good job of not letting the elements bother us. It’s going to be a challenge for us mentally this week to not let that stuff affect us.”
A number of players echoed Dykes’ eagerness to play in the cold conditions, including quarterback Josh Hoover. Weather can have an adverse impact on quarterbacks from the way they have to grip the ball or deal with windy conditions.
However, Hoover isn’t planning on adjusting his usual preparation for the game. In fact, Hoover said he’s grown accustomed to being out in cold weather recently.
“I don’t really care too much about the weather, I actually like the cold,” Hoover said. “I duck hunt, so I’m out there all the time in the cold and the rain. It’s nothing I’m new to, I’m looking forward to it.”
Notre Dame transfer Nana Osafo-Mensah was another TCU player that said he’ll be comfortable in the freezing conditions.
“It’s not even going to be anything crazy,” Osafo-Mensah said. “Thirty-five degrees? It sounds cold right now, but I’ve definitely played in a lot worse. I’m not too worried about the weather.”
It’s good that the Horned Frogs appear eager to overcome the conditions as Cincinnati will be a big challenge. The Bearcats have fallen on hard times with a four-game losing streak that has them in jeopardy of missing a bowl game.
However, TCU doesn’t see a bad team just because the Bearcats are 5-6.
“They were 5-2 and just beat Arizona State, who has turned out to be a good team,” Dykes said. “They hit a tough spot with their scheduling, they’ve played some really good teams. Mostly teams that are at the top of the standings the last couple weeks. Iowa State, Colorado, Kansas State, all those teams have been really successful.
“It’s a good team, they’re balanced. They don’t have a lot of weaknesses. They’re a solid football team.”
Offensively, the Bearcats have had success running and passing the ball. Corey Kiner has rushed for 1,000 yards while quarterback Brendan Sorsby has thrown for 2,653 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. Sorsby has also rushed for 354 yards and eight more touchdowns on the ground.
Sorsby’s favorite target has been Florida transfer Xzavier Henderson, who has 692 yards and four touchdowns on the season. On the offensive line, Cincinnati has performed okay. The Bearcats average over 181 rushing yards per game, but Sorsby has been sacked 18 times.
It’s a capable unit, but one that can be exploited. Winning those battles and limiting the impact of Kiner and Sorsby running the ball will be key for TCU.
“We already noticed they’re a big mid zone team, we got a little taste of that against Baylor and Kansas,” Osafo-Mensah said. “It’s going to be a really big week for us to focus on the technical parts of the offense.”
On defense everything starts with former All-American Dontay Corleone on the defensive line. Corleone was an All-American in 2022, an All-Big 12 selection last season and will likely be another all-conference selection this season.
Dykes said it’s hard not to notice Corleone when you turn on the tape.
“He’s kind of your prototypical nose guard,” Dykes said. “I think the odd front defense that they run is perfect for him and his skill set. When you have a big body like that that can knock the center into the backfield and create penetration, it’s hard. It makes your run game more difficult. It can really destroy the flow of your offense and he does a tremendous job of doing that.”
Stats will never paint a complete picture of the impact a defensive tackle is making, but it should be noted Corleone has a career-high 3.5 sacks this season.
He can get after the pass and disrupt the run game. Winning the battles with Corleone in the middle will be crucial, especially when TCU leans on its wildcat package with Savion Williams in the backfield.
Behind Corleone, the Bearcats are led by their linebackers. Cincinnati has four players with at least 45 tackles led by Jared Bartlett. Bartlett leads the team with 59 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
The Bearcats have improved their scoring defense from 102nd last year to No. 70 this year. A sizable jump, but the unit is still a ways off from being considered a good defense.
Cincinnati has one of the worst run defenses in the Big 12 with opponents averaging 166.2 yards per game and almost five yards per carry. The defense has allowed 30 or more points in four straight games.
If the Horned Frogs can endure the cold conditions, then there’s no reason TCU’s own offense can’t score at least 30 points for the fifth straight game and get win No. 8 in the season finale.
