Steven Johnson: Five make or break games for TCU football in 2023
TCU’s 2023 football schedule has plenty of intriguing matchups.
From facing Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes in the season opener to facing Big 12 newcomers Houston and BYU, the Horned Frogs’ slate includes a little bit of everything.
But what about the marquee games, the games that will determine whether TCU will be in the mix to contend for the Big 12 title? There are plenty of those, too, and most of them will occur in the back half of the schedule.
If TCU handles its business to start the year, then October and November will be filled with games with both conference and national stakes.
Here are five games that could make or break TCU’s 2023 season:
Week 4 vs. SMU on Sept. 23
More eyeballs nationally will be on TCU’s season opener vs. Colorado, but it’s the rivalry game against the Mustangs that will have a bigger impact on the season. It’ll be another year of Sonny Dykes facing his old team and this year SMU could have former Horned Frogs Jordan Hudson and Kyron Chambers as a potential starters.
It’s a game where if TCU wins, then the Horned Frogs did what they supposed to do. But, if they stumble then it’ll be a milestone achievement for SMU, who is desperately trying to sneak into a Power Five conference while keeping up with TCU in the Metroplex.
Week 8 at Kansas State on Oct. 21
A rematch of last year’s Big 12 championship game, this game could go a long ways to deciding who makes it back to AT&T Stadium for the title game. TCU outlasted Kansas State in the regular season, but came up an inch short in overtime.
You can bet that’s still on the mind of many of TCU’s players, especially on defense. Both teams lost a lot of starpowers from 2022, but K-State does return potential All-Big 12 quarterback Will Howard. This could be TCU’s toughest road game of the season.
Week 10 at Texas Tech on Nov. 2
A Thursday night primetime game in Lubbock could be very treacherous for the Horned Frogs. The Red Raiders bring back a ton of experience on offense, especially at wide receiver and should have better injury luck at the quarterback position. Tech played TCU tough in 2022, as the Horned Frogs had to pull away in the second half.
It could be another tight battle this year. The Horned Frogs will be coming off a much needed bye week before traveling to face the Red Raiders.
Week 11 vs. Texas, Nov. 11
This could be the Longhorns’ last game in Fort Worth for some time with Texas headed to the SEC in 2024, only adding to the stakes. The Longhorns have been picked as the consensus favorite to win the Big 12 and if Texas can finally live up to the hype, then the Longhorns should come into Fort Worth as a College Football Playoff contender.
Conference supremacy, the starpower on both teams plus what should be TCU’s best home crowd of the season makes this the most important game on the schedule.
Week 13 at Oklahoma, Nov. 24
TCU snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Sooners in emphatic fashion last season with a 55-24 beatdown in Fort Worth. Oklahoma will be eager to avenge the embarrassing loss, but there could be more stakes that come with the regular season finale.
The Sooners, picked third in the preseason media poll, are expected to contend this season and TCU could be the deciding game for Oklahoma or vice versa. If Oklahoma doesn’t live up to expectations, Sooners coach Brent Venables could come into this one with his seat very warm.
