Around the Region College Football Preview: TCU, Texas Tech head north for challenging Big 12 road games

#17 TCU HORNED FROGS (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

Last Week: Won 55-24 vs #18 Oklahoma

This Week: at #19 Kansas (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)

Game Time: 11:00am CT

TV/Radio: FS1/WBAP 820 AM

The Sonny Dykes era at TCU is off to an explosive start, as quarterback Max Duggan and the Horned Frogs’ offense have looked unstoppable through the first month of the season. Last Saturday’s win against the Oklahoma Sooners was the Frogs’ loudest statement yet, a 31-point blowout led by Duggan’s 418 yard, 5 touchdown performance. TCU now heads outside the state of Texas for the first time since their opener at Colorado for a date with the undefeated upstart Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas’ 5-0 start has shattered expectations, and has Lawrence buzzing about something other than basketball for the first time in quite a while. Jayhawks’ quarterback Jalon Daniels has been dominant, accounting for 16 offensive touchdowns with just one interception through KU’s first five games. ESPN’s College Gameday is making its first ever trip to Lawrence for the unexpected battle of unbeatens, but the Horned Frogs are hoping to crash the party. Part of TCU’s dominant offense this season has been a run game that averages 251 yards per game, but Kansas’ stout defense only allowed 26 yards on the ground last week against Iowa State. The TCU offense is like nothing Kansas has seen this season, and the Horned Frogs will look to remind them of that early on Saturday to take the crowd out of the game. 

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)

Last Week: Lost 37-28 at #25 Kansas State

This Week: at #9 Oklahoma State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

Game Time: 2:30pm CT

TV/Radio: FS1/Double T 97.3 FM

Texas Tech continues its exceptionally difficult schedule Saturday with a trip to Stillwater, where the top-10 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys await them. The trip represents the Red Raiders’ fifth consecutive matchup against a ranked opponent, a stretch they’re hoping to finish at 4-2 overall. The 2022 season has been an emotional rollercoaster in Lubbock, with Tech bouncing back and forth over the past four weeks between overtime wins at home and tough road losses. The Red Raiders will be looking to avoid a fifth consecutive road loss dating back to last season, and nothing about doing it in Stillwater will be easy. Oklahoma State shut out Texas Tech last year in Lubbock 23-0, so step one for the Red Raiders will be to get on the scoreboard. Donovan Smith was overwhelmed by the Cowboys’ defense in 2021, finishing with just nine completions and 83 yards passing. Those numbers will obviously need to improve, but there’s plenty of reason to believe Smith is capable. He has passed for more than 300 yards in three of the Red Raiders last four games, and delivered huge plays when Tech needed them against Houston and Texas. Texas Tech’s offensive line has struggled to protect Donovan Smith over the last three games though, leading to 12 sacks and 4 interceptions over that span. The Red Raiders face an uphill battle Saturday against a stingy Oklahoma State defense, and are hoping their rugged schedule to this point has them better prepared for the Cowboys than they were last season. 

BEST OF THE REST AROUND TEXAS

(All games to be played Saturday, unless specified otherwise)

FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION

UCF 41, SMU 19 (Wednesday)

Western Kentucky at UTSA, 5:00pm CT

Appalachian State at Texas State, 6:00pm CT

UTEP at Louisiana Tech, 6:00pm CT

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION

Lamar at Incarnate Word, 4:00pm CT

Texas A&M Commerce at Southeastern Louisiana, 4:00pm CT

Nicholls at Houston Christian, 6:00pm CT

Abilene Christian at Stephen F. Austin, 6:00pm CT

Tarleton State at Southern Utah, 7:00pm CT