What We Noticed:

1. Which Conference Are We In, Again?

TCU brought the running game. The team took many of the good qualities of SEC game play and shoved them in Arkansas’ face. While the Razorbacks were rushing for a measly 37 yards in the first half, two Horned Frogs — the mellifluously named Sewo Olonilua and the tough-as-nails Kyle Hicks were strolling into the end zone. And then Darius Anderson entered the scene with a career-high 106-yard game. The Frogs finished the victory with 195 yards on the ground netting four touchdowns. It might not have been much of a highlight reel for quarterback Kenny Hill, with hand off after hand off, but he maintained solid game management. The team switched things up, letting Hill take a breather with two wildcat formations. Perhaps it’s not the SEC they were channeling, but their inner Miami Dolphin.

2. Oh my, O-Line

We’d be remiss in throwing sunshine at the stellar running game without a hearty nod to the stout effort on the offensive line. The unit’s new position coach is Chris Thomsen ’93, and goodness what a difference a new coach and a new year make. The front five were nearly flawless, opening running lanes as wide as Massachusetts and giving Kenny Hill plenty of breathing room to execute the scoring attack. Kudos, fellas.

3. Physical, Physical

Is Olivia Newton-John on the team because TCU was physical. They set the tone within the first minute with Ben Banogu sacking Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen. With strong attacks on the Razorback quarterback every other snap and the TCU defensive backs unafraid of Arkansas receivers, the Horned Frogs showed off their physicality. Many analysts claim defense wins championships in football and TCU’s has proven valuable, both off the field (fun fact: the defensive line can squat over 700 pounds), and on the field.

4. Did We Just Get Lucky?

Jalen Reagor, the freshman wide receiver from Waxahachie proved himself valuable during TCU’s opener against Jackson State. Photo by Glen E. Ellman

TCU missed two back-to-back scoring options late in the third quarter. But what spoke just as loud, literally, was Arkansas’ failed field goal attempts. We’re not sure Arkansas ever had a chance of winning the game, but they could have ended with 13 points instead of 7.

5. Resiliency

Learning to bounce back after setbacks was a big theme heading into preseason camp. Coach Gary Patterson seemed to suggest that the 2016 Frogs had trouble shaking off mistakes. Even the 2017 team motto, Eyes Up Keep Climbing, embeds a move-it-along mission. This new mentality was put to the test early against Arkansas after the Razorbacks scored a touchdown and TCU suffered a morale-killing interception in the first quarter. The defense in particular shook it off, allowing the Razorbacks a paltry 10 yards in the second quarter. Five of Arkansas’s first seven drives were three-and-outs. The defenders, based on two games, look to be back in classic Horned Frog shape, enacting the other motto: Take everything, give nothing.

And this should terrify the next 10 opponents.

5 Tweets that Told the Tale

Never gets old. #Hicks4Six pic.twitter.com/flP5m6xeSq

— TCU Athletics (@TCU_Athletics) September 9, 2017

I loved how much we ran the ball that drive. So much.

— Frogs O’ War (@FrogsOWar) September 9, 2017

TCU is pounding the rock! Turnover at the goal line the only way the HOGS could stop them. Arkansas being physically whipped. Surprised.

— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) September 9, 2017

Fair to say this was the clincher.@TCUFootball made a statement in Fayetteville. pic.twitter.com/7MPDBWflKt

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 9, 2017

A lot of people mentioned physicality for there reason they pickedArkansas over TCU. They were right but had the wrong team. TCU 💪🏻

— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) September 9, 2017