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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Season Preview: Big 12 Opener at TCU
May 24, 2016 | Football
The Sooners' first Big 12 game of the season will be a challenging one as they travel to Fort Worth to take on a TCU squad that is ranked in the top 20 by multiple national publications. The Horned Frogs are 13-0 at home over the last two years and have outscored their opponents in those games 602-212 (average of 46-16).
Big 12 Opener
TCU is coming off an 11-2 season that culminated with a 47-41 triple-overtime win over Oregon in the Valero Alamo Bowl after trailing 31-0 at halftime. It was the largest comeback victory in a bowl game by any school.
OU is 3-1 against TCU since the Frogs joined the Big 12 in 2012, and is 1-1 in Fort Worth. The Sooners dropped a 37-33 road decision in 2014, but their 24-17 victory at Amon G. Carter Stadium in 2012 clinched a share of the Big 12 title.
Under head coach Bob Stoops, OU is 14-3 in Big 12 openers.
About the Horned Frogs
TCU finished 2015 at 11-2 and tied for second place with a 7-2 Big 12 record. The Frogs were seventh in the final AP Poll.
This year's squad returns 18 starters from a year ago, including all 11 on the defense. Despite a large returning contingent, TCU must replace quarterback Trevon Boykin, who rushed for 612 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing for 3,575 yards and 31 scores through the air on 65 percent passing in just 11 games played. The Horned Frogs offense also loses NFL first-round selection Josh Doctson, who hauled in 79 receptions for 1,327 yards and 14 scores in just 10 games and leading rusher Aaron Green (244 carries, 1,272 yards and 11 TDs).
The Frogs will have a talented duo vying to replace Boykin. Sophomore Foster Sawyer saw action in four games last year, passing for 155 yards and two scores on 11-for-27 passing. They also added Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill. Hill sat out all of 2015, but in 2014 as a freshman passed for 2,649 yards and 23 touchdowns in eight games for the Aggies.
Linebacker Travon Howard led TCU with 105 tackles last year, while defensive end Josh Carraway paced the squad with nine sacks. Both return in 2016.
Stoops and Patterson Two of the Nation's Best
OU's Bob Stoops and TCU's Gary Patterson are two of college football's most successful coaches. Stoops, who is starting his 18th season in Norman, ranks third in active winning percentage (minimum 10 years; .796) with a 179-46 record. Patterson is starting his 17th year as a head coach, all at TCU, and ranks fifth in active winning percentage (.753) at 143-47. Both coaches lead their schools in all-time victories. Stoops is 4-2 against Patterson-led TCU squads.
Last time vs. TCU
Oklahoma's last meeting with the Horned Frogs was a thriller that won't soon be forgotten.
A year ago the Sooners hosted TCU for the last home game of the season at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. OU carried a 30-13 lead over 18th-ranked TCU into the fourth quarter despite losing quarterback Baker Mayfield for the second half due to injury.
The Frogs would rally, however. With less than one minute left in regulation, TCU back-up quarterback Bram Kohlhausen tossed a 14-yard touchdown to Emanuel Porter to make the score 30-29. Needing just an extra point to tie the game, the Horned Frogs elected to go for two, leaving the fate of the game to one play.
Kohlhausen took the shotgun snap and then was forced to evacuate the pocket as Eric Striker rushed off the right side of the TCU line. As Kohlhausen rolled to his right he located a receiver in the corner of the end zone and pulled the trigger. OU's Steven Parker left his man and closed on the QB. The Sooner safety timed his leap perfectly and batted the pass down to secure the OU win.
The Sooners did serious offensive damage on the ground, rushing for 333 yards with the help of a 188-yard effort from Samaje Perine. Joe Mixon added 87 rushing yards and Baker Mayfield 42. OU's Heisman-hopeful quarterback threw for 127 yards and a pair of scores on 9-of-20 passing before exiting the game at the half.?
Three Great Games Last Three Years
Last year's 30-29 thriller was just latest in a three-year string of fantastic football games between OU and TCU. In 2014, Oklahoma made the trip to Fort Worth and came out on the short end, falling 37-33 after a late turnover.
The Horned Frogs jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but OU knotted the score after a rushing TD from Samaje Perine and a 75-yard catch and run from Trevor Knight to Sterling Shepard.
The teams traded another pair of touchdowns and field goals to level the score at 24-24 heading into the half.
Perine scored again for OU in the third, but TCU again had an answer. With 14 minutes remaining in the fourth, TCU's Paul Dawson intercepted a pass and returned it 41 yards for what ended up as the game-winning score. Zack Sanchez returned the blocked PAT, but TCU held on for the 37-33 win.
Oklahoma hosted the Frogs in 2013 and this time it was OU's defense that delivered a Sooners win. Mike Stoops' bunch held TCU scoreless in the first half as the OU offense added two Michael Hunnicutt field goals and an 8-yard TD run from Trey Millard.
TCU rallied in the third quarter, scoring a field goal and touchdown of its own while keeping the Sooners off the scoreboard in the period.
Leading by just three points with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, running back Brennan Clay took a handoff from quarterback Blake Bell 76 yards to pay dirt to give OU a 20-10 lead. TCU scored another TD, but OU's defense would yield no more in the 20-17 victory.
Road Warriors
Oklahoma hasn't lost a true road game since the last time it played at TCU in 2014. Since that 37-33 defeat, the Sooners are 7-0 in true road contests. Dating back to the start of the 2012 season, OU is 18-2 in such outings. The only other true road loss during that span came at fifth-ranked Baylor in 2013. Last year, the Sooners posted road victories over No. 23 Tennessee, Kansas State, Kansas, No. 4 Baylor and No. 9 Oklahoma State.
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