2026 TCU football preview: Alamo Bowl hero ready to lead the running backs
TCU football’s run game has been a weakness for the past few seasons, marred by inconsistency and the lack of a true star.
The failure to consistently control the line of scrimmage is one reason the Horned Frogs have been unable to win more than eight games in the past two regular seasons.
If things go as planned, that shouldn’t be the case in 2026.
New offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis’ scheme is more run-oriented, and TCU returns maybe its most talented running back since Kendre Miller in 2022 in junior Jeremy Payne.
With a new quarterback leading the offense, it will be imperative for the Horned Frogs to lean on the ground game while Jaden Craig adjusts to the Big 12.
The Star-Telegram continues its 2026 TCU football preview with a look at the running backs:
Running back
Departing players: Trent Battle, Nate Palmer, Kevorian Barnes
Returning players: Jeremy Payne, Jon Denman, Joe Pitchford
Incoming players: Landon Walker, G’Ivori Graham, Amante Martin
Projected starter: Jeremy Payne
Breakdown: The Horned Frogs lost Barnes and Battle to graduation, while Palmer transferred to Wisconsin after failing to crack the rotation last season. That means the bulk of the carries should go to Payne, the hero of TCU’s Alamo Bowl win over USC in December. Payne rushed for a career-high 623 yards and averaged 95 yards in the final five games of the season, capped by a dramatic 35-yard catch-and-run in overtime to beat the Trojans in San Antonio.
Payne is known his speed and ability to generate big plays, but he also showed his growth and willingness to stay between the tackles and pick up tougher yards in the box. He’ll enter fall camp as the unquestioned starter while Denman, a sophomore, is expected to be next up. Denman rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns last season and works well with Payne due to his size and physicality.
Behind them, though, is where things could get tricky. Walker has rushed for over 2,000 yards in his career, but that was at Division II Colorado School of the Mines. Pitchford has mainly been used as a blocker in goal-line situations while Martin and Graham are true freshmen.
The Horned Frogs could have a dynamic one-two punch with Payne and Denman, but they’ll need another running back to step up and be a factor in the rotation.
Biggest question: Depth. Spring camp showed how dicey things could get for TCU if the injury bug hits the running back room. Denman missed the spring, leaving TCU with just Payne, Walker and Pitchford to get through camp with Graham and Martin not enrolling until the summer.
TCU will have more bodies with both players on campus, but if Payne or Denman gets banged up, the Horned Frogs will have to rely on inexperienced players. That could hinder the Horned Frogs’ growth in the run game.
Prediction: The Horned Frogs will have a much more productive run game, going from 14th in the Big 12 in 2025 to top seven in 2026. Payne sets another career-high with over 800 yards, while Denman chips in close to 500.
Both freshman running backs get on the field, but Martin emerges as the third running back TCU needs in its rotation.
