5 Things That Stood Out

1. Our friend, Ol’ Mo

Like everything, football games run on energy. Texas won the coin toss and chose to receive, hoping to set the tone of the game by virtue of an authoritative opening drive. But TCU’s defense was up to the task. Seven plays and 26 yards later, Texas punted, setting up Kenny Hill and company for a touchdown on their opening possession after Hill drilled through the Horns’ secondary, making six of six throws. After the strong start to the game, the Frogs never trailed. In energy and football, momentum is everything.

2. Perpetual Summers

Linebacker Ty Summers has almost faded into the background after dominating the highlight reel late in the 2015 season. And by faded in the background, we mean he’s in on seemingly every stop, so seeing him rising above a dejected running back or receiver is almost a given. After netting a team-high 14 tackles on Friday, Summers now has 105 on the season, including 10-plus in eight of the last 10 games. Yes, Frog fans, whenever it’s Summers time, the footballin’ indeed seems easy.

3. So Clutch

The 2016 defense, like a typical Gary Patterson-coached squad, is coming on strong as the season progresses. The big, Black Friday victory over Texas was the team’s best defensive effort of the year, so far. The Frogs collected four sacks en route to holding the Longhorns to 407 yards — 85 below their yearly average. D’Onta Foreman managed to run for 165 yards in what might have been his final game in Austin, but otherwise, Texas couldn’t get a thing going all afternoon. So like the old saying goes, defense wins championships, or as an alternative, paves the way to a bowl game.

4. Keep on Trucking

Oh panic! TCU’s starting running back and starting quarterback both went out with injuries in the fourth quarter. What to do to hold onto that all-important sixth win? Stay calm and do what the Frogs always do. Foster Sawyer played his best football in a TCU jersey in replacement time at quarterback, an effort highlighted by a 28-yard completion to Daniel Walsh. Running backs Trevorris Johnson, who moves like a monster truck, and fabulous freshman Darius Anderson both trotted into the end zone while Hicks was healing on the sideline. Talent everywhere on this team. No need to panic.

5. Score One for Stability

Sorry, Charlie. Now-former Texas coach Strong beat every Big 12 team once … except for TCU. Safe to say the Frogs have had Bevo’s number, winning four of five since joining the conference. About 16 hours after the game concluded, Texas had fired Strong and hired Houston coach Tom Herman. The Horns can start rebuilding, again, while TCU will prepare for its 14th bowl game in Patterson’s 16 seasons. Then the Frogs will keep reloading in what will hopefully be Coach’s 17th year. In an uncertain world of college football, stability is a rare thing. Horned Frogs across the globe should remember to be thankful for the coaching staff’s loyalty this holiday season.

5 Tweets That Told the Tale

That was the best looking opening drive of the season I've seen #TCU QB Kenny Hill have. Great throws and TD run. Frogs up 7-0 over #Texas

— Jeremy Clark (@JClarkHFB247) November 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/2KWHITE5/status/802294097650204673

As we stand right now: #TCU has outscored #Texas by a combined margin of 129-26 in Charlie Strong era. About to go 3-0 in H2H meetings

— Jimmy Burch (@Jimmy_Burch) November 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/CarolineCollier/status/802293811988688896

@TCUCoachP arrived at TCU in 1998. Here's a list of things that have occurred since that time #Stability @Jake_Trotter @jeremycrabtree pic.twitter.com/cWc0zvVyaT

— Alex S (@asanders94) November 26, 2016