TCU is fresh off just the third missed bowl game of the Gary Patterson era. However, the Horned Frogs are headed in the right direction. 

Patterson hired former Minnesota coach Jerry Kill to manage the offense in an off-field role. Kill has some advantages, including returning quarterback Max Duggan. The defense should continue to perform at a high level, especially with an elite safety tandem of Ar’Darius Washington and Trevon Moehrig-Woodard. The pieces are in place. 

The key stat? Patterson has coached four teams that finished below .500. The Horned Frogs have won 11.3 games per year in the seasons afterwards. Here’s how we see TCU’s 2020 season unfolding. 

Sept. 5: at Cal

The season opener brings together two of the best defensive minds in the Power Five, as TCU’s Gary Patterson faces off against Cal’s Justin Wilcox. However, Patterson still remains the master of defense, and TCU has more offensive potential than Cal. 

Prediction: Win (1-0)

Sept. 12: Prairie View A&M

The Panthers’ two best offensive players from last year’s team are gone; they’ll be no match for the Horned Frogs. 

Prediction: Win (2-0)

Sept. 26: at SMU

SMU shocked TCU a year ago, and it wasn’t particularly close. Don’t expect SMU to give up the Iron Skillet easily, but TCU will certainly have this rivalry game circled on the calendar. The game will come down to the TCU secondary, and whether the Horned Frogs can develop their corners to an elite level.

Prediction: Win (3-0)

Oct. 3: Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State is on pace to put together one of its best teams in program history if things go as planned. The Horned Frogs will have an early opportunity to knock Oklahoma State off its perch; TCU might not be up for the challenge. 

Prediction: Loss (3-1)

Oct. 10: at West Virginia

The Mountaineers will be much better in Neal Brown’s second season, and the Horned Frogs had trouble with them at home in the final week of 2019. However, TCU will be further along at this point than West Virginia. 

Prediction: Win (4-1)

Oct. 17: Kansas State

Kansas State narrowly beat TCU a year ago, and the game is back in Fort Worth now. With a year of film to evaluate Chris Klieman’s Kansas State, Gary Patterson should be more prepared for the challenge. Max Duggan will need to show off his legs to cause issues for the K-State defense. 

Prediction: Win (5-1)

Oct. 24: at Baylor

Last season, Baylor and TCU faced off in a triple-overtime instant classic in Fort Worth. Now, the game heads back to Waco with a new Baylor coach and lots of new pieces. This will be a true 50-50 game. 

Prediction: Loss (5-2)

Oct. 31: Oklahoma

Gary Patterson is the world’s pre-eminent expert in shutting down elite offenses. Lincoln RIley’s is the one nut he can’t seem to crack. Since Riley was hired at OU, Patterson’s teams have give up 40.2 points per game against the Sooners. The 2020 TCU defense should be good, but beating OU is a tough ask. 

Prediction: Loss (5-3)

Nov. 7: Iowa State

Iowa State is a team that improves dramatically over the course of a season, and this should be no different. This game comes down to whether Iowa State running back Breece Hall is ready to be a full-time difference maker next to QB Brock Purdy. If the Cyclones can be balanced, it’ll cause major issues for TCU. 

Prediction: Loss (5-4)

Nov. 14: at Texas

TCU’s brutal midseason stretch closes out with a matchup against the Texas Longhorns. Tom Herman’s squad lost an embarrassing game at Amon Carter Stadium that derailed his 2019 season. The Longhorns will be prepared.

Prediction: Loss (5-5)

Nov. 21: Texas Tech

TCU narrowly escaped with a win in Lubbock last season, and the game heads back to Forth Worth this year. Matt Wells’ team will be better with Alan Bowman in the lineup, but the Horned Frogs are built to shut down passers like him. 

Prediction: Win (6-5)

Nov. 28: at Kansas

TCU beat up on Kansas a year ago despite still trying to find its rhythm. Kansas is losing a tremendous amount of production from the 2019 team, so improvement in Les Miles’ second season isn’t guaranteed. 

Prediction: Win (7-5)

Bowl game: Liberty Bowl vs. Ole Miss

The Horned Frogs will get rewarded with a bowl game against an SEC opponent and a chance to reach eight wins. The chance will come against Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin. The Horned Frogs are well-prepared to deal with the skill talent that the Rebels have to offer. 

Prediction: Win (8-5)

Record Prediction: 8-5, 4-5

TCU has a difficult schedule with as many as 10 teams that could compete for a bowl appearance. Almost all of them have a puncher’s chance to beat TCU. The standard will need to rise dramatically from a season ago. 

Luckily, the Horned Frogs bring back Max Duggan, who could take a step in year two. The defense should be great with major experience returning on the back end. The schedule is unforgiving, but TCU is up to the challenge.