Around The Region: Week 2 College Football Primer
Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech Back in Action After 1-0 Starts
TCU Horned Frogs (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last Week: Won 38-13 at Colorado
Despite a slow offensive start and the loss of quarterback Chandler Morris (knee sprain) in the 3rd quarter, TCU outscored the Colorado Buffaloes 31-7 in the second half en route to a comfortable victory. The win was Sonny Dykes’ first as TCU’s head coach.
This Week: vs Tarleton State
Game time: Saturday, September 10 / 7:00pm CT
TV/Radio: Big 12 NOW & ESPN+/ WBAP 820AM
TCU’s home opener Saturday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium sees them take on Tarleton State, an FCS school who finished last season 6-5. Tarleton won their 2022 opener last weekend over Mississippi Valley State, 29-13. The Texans redshirt freshman quarterback Beau Allen (a transfer from Kentucky) made a good impression, throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Horned Frogs will be a massive favorite and are hoping to make an impression on their home crowd in Sonny Dykes’ first game in Fort Worth. With Chandler Morris unavailable to start for the Frogs, it’ll be senior Max Duggan getting the start at quarterback. Duggan is a familiar face to TCU fans – he’s thrown for 5,947 yards in just over 3 seasons, including 41 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. TCU is looking to win its 20th home opener in the last 21 seasons.
#9 Baylor Bears (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last Week: Won 69-10 vs Albany
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, defending Big 12 Champion Baylor handled business against the Albany Great Danes, an FCS foe. Baylor’s offense looked sharp, gaining 573 yards behind an efficient performance by sophomore quarterback Blake Shapen (17/20, 214 yards, 2 touchdowns). Shapen, a Shreveport, Louisiana native, won the job this spring after a competition with former starter Gerry Bohannon.
This Week: at #21 BYU
Game time: Saturday, September 10 / 9:15pm CT
TV/Radio: ESPN/ Baylor Sports Network; SiriusXM Channel 83
Baylor heads on the road this Saturday for what will be a much stiffer challenge in Provo, Utah. BYU has won 16 of their last 17 at home and looked very impressive in a 50-21 drubbing of South Florida on the road last weekend. Baylor hosted the Cougars last season, defeating BYU 38-24. Baylor took the lead for good in the middle of the second quarter in that game, steadily pulling away and leading by as many as 21 points in the second half.
This year, BYU enters the game as a small favorite despite Baylor’s top-10 ranking. One factor working against the Bears is Provo, Utah’s elevation – at 4,551 feet, Baylor will need to adjust to the thin air quickly to avoid tiring out. More than anything, this road trip represents both a test and an opportunity for quarterback Blake Shapen. Should he prove his mettle in a big road win, the Bears will travel a bit more confidently to the tough Big 12 destinations that await them on their schedule.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last Week: Won 63-10 vs Murray State
Texas Tech’s season got off to a bittersweet start in its opening game in Lubbock. The Red Raiders scored touchdowns on their first eight consecutive drives en route to a drubbing of the FCS-level Racers, but lost quarterback Tyler Shough after just 6 completions and a touchdown with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Shough transferred from Oregon to Texas Tech after two years in Eugene but played only four games in 2021 before breaking his left collarbone. Shough is expected to miss at least 2 weeks.
This Week: vs #25 Houston
Game time: Saturday, September 10 / 3:00pm CT
TV/Radio: FS1/ Texas Tech Sports Network; SiriusXM Channel 136 or 200
After Tyler Shough’s injury against Murray State, Donovan Smith looked more than ready to take over – his 14 of 16 performance with four touchdowns and no interceptions was impressive regardless of opponent and will need to translate against a much tougher opponent this Saturday in Lubbock. Houston, a future conference opponent, visits Texas Tech after a nail biting, three-overtime 37-35 win at UTSA to open the season. The game is of massive importance for the Cougars, who face a relatively easy conference schedule in the AAC and could contend for a New Years’ Six bowl if they survive Saturday afternoon.
Last year’s meeting, played at NRG Stadium in Houston, saw Dana Holgorsen’s Cougars blow a 21-7 lead as the Red Raiders outscored Houston 31-0 after halftime. Texas Tech knows they’re in for a challenge against a formidable, revenge-minded Houston team – and need to be careful not to look ahead at next week’s trip to #18 NC State.
