Giveaways Lead to the Frogs’ Third Loss 

Former Southwest Conference and Conference USA foe Houston took a 14-13 series lead with a 30-19 win over the Frogs last Friday night.  

Coming into Fort Worth, the Cougars had lost nine consecutive games to TCU, a streak dating back to Halloween night in 1992.  

Houston’s offense, which had been held scoreless in its past two games, was reinvigorated with quarterback Zeon Chriss under center for his first start as a Cougar. 

The Frogs lost the turnover battle 4-0. Quarterback Josh Hoover threw two interceptions, his fifth and sixth of the season. 

“We just made too many mistakes,” said head coach Sonny Dykes postgame. “We’ve got twelve turnovers in the last three ball games. That’s not playing winning football.” 

With the defeat, TCU fell to 1-2 in conference play as they head into a bye week, followed by a Week 8 test at No. 16 Utah.

Here are five takeaways from the Frogs’ third loss of the season. 

Turnovers Haunt the Horned Frogs

Hoover has been among the most electrifying signal-callers in the country this season, pushing out 18 total touchdowns and more than 330 passing yards per game for the Big 12’s No. 2 scoring offense. 

But since throwing to an 8-to-0 TD/INT ratio Weeks 1 through 3, he’s committed six interceptions over 117 attempts. The pair of picks he threw Friday night came in the span of four first-half passes. 

Quarterback Josh Hoover closed last Friday’s loss to Houston with 233 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions on 23-of-37 passing. Photo by Percise Windom

“I’ve obviously made some bad decisions at times,” Hoover said after the game. “Got to get that figured out. Take this bye week and figure out how to move on and how to fix that.”

The sophomore QB also lost a fumble as TCU tried to mount a last-minute comeback. His top target on the night, JP Richardson (nine catches for 98 yards), coughed one up himself in the third quarter. 

The Frogs’ -2.2 turnover margin is third worst in the nation through the midpoint of the regular season. 

Savion Goes Up to Get One

With just over two minutes remaining in the second quarter, 6-foot-5 Savion Williams came down with touchdown catch No. 4 on the season, tying a career-high. 

Fifth-year senior Savion Williams has been a steady presence for the Frogs’ receiving corps, his 31 catches and four touchdown receptions ranking second on the team through six games. Photo by Percise Windom

Williams was included on Bruce Feldman’s College football Freaks List for a second consecutive season in early August. The annual rankings recognize the nation’s exceptionally athletic players. 

Williams’ 40-inch vertical factored into his landing 47th on the list of 101. The leaping ability was evident on his Week 6 TD snag. 

The fifth-year senior also drew a pass interference penalty on a third-quarter end zone target, advancing the Frogs to the 2-yard line to set up Jeremy Payne’s first career touchdown run on the next play. 

Bech is Bound to Break One

You can’t hope to stop him — only to contain him, and temporarily at that.  

Recent Biletnikoff Award watch list addition Jack Bech was held to two catches and 21 yards in the first half but rebounded in the second, strong-arming a Cougar defender and staying on his feet en route to a 29-yard TD reception that pulled the Frogs within eight points with 9:25 to go. 

Bech has gone beast mode this season. The senior is on a 12-game pace for a 78-catch, 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown campaign. 

Jack Bech fought his way into the end zone on this fourth-quarter score. Photo by Percise Windom

Cook Comes to Play

Running back Cam Cook came in hot, opening the night with an 11-yard run en route to a team-high 77 rushing yards on a game-high 14 carries. At 5.5 yards per attempt, it was the sophomore’s most efficient outing of the year. 

The Frogs couldn’t get much else going on the ground, otherwise accumulating minus-11 rushing yards as a team. 

Jordan Jumps Off the Tape

Austin Jordan stepped in at nickelback after Abe Camara was ejected for targeting and backup Jaise Oliver got hurt; the Texas transfer notched his first tackle for loss in two years while tying for fifth on the team with four stops on the night. 

The defense generated another 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including a trio of solo sacks from linebackers Namdi Obiazor and Cooper McDonald and defensive lineman Zachary Chapman. 

Obiazor also led the team in tackles, tying a season-high with 11.  

Individual numbers impressive as they were, the Frogs defense gave up 30-plus points for the third time in the last four games.  

“We just have to stick together,” Obiazor said. “Offense, defense and the coaching staff.” 

 — Corey Smith