Spring football begins in earnest next week when colleges across the state return from spring break. A few programs began work a week prior to spring break, while others dust off the pads beginning on March 21. Spring games are littered throughout April with the season set to start the first week of September.
The 2022 season is an intriguing one inside the state of Texas. The Aggies and Longhorns hope to climb back to the top of the perch as a collision in the SEC approaches. Baylor hopes to stay atop of the Big 12 under the cool, calm, and collected leadership of Dave Aranda. And Texas Tech and TCU begin new eras under exciting new regimes.
But what is the best and worst that can happen in 2022? Here's what think regarding the Horned Frogs:
TCU Horned Frogs
2021 record: 5-7
Best case for 2022: Dykes snaps TCU out of the staleness created by fielding the same head coach for more than 20 years. The Horned Frogs get creative, and explosive, on offense, while the defense returns to former glory by stopping the run and figuring out a way to rush the passer more consistently. Quentin Johnston emerges as the best wide receiver in the state, Max Duggan stays healthy, and the Dykes vanquishes SMU in his return to Ford Stadium in September, which frees up TCU to go on a run in a Big 12 without a clear favorite.
Worst case for 2022: A change at head coach takes more than a season to digest while the Horned Frogs sputter out on defense and fail to improve offensively in year one under Dykes. Another injury to Duggan sends the offense into a freefall without the services of Zach Evans, who transferred to Ole Miss. The defense continues to freely give away rushing yards and touchdowns. And the program finds itself out of the bowl conversation and towards the bottom of the Big 12 standings again. That result hurts recruiting efforts and the Horned Frogs lose any momentum in the DFW area.
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