Briles' poaching attempt intensifies. Meanwhile, TCU hoops ignites a stunning comeback, proving resilience and a star big man's vital impact.
TCU fans knew it was only a matter of time. When an assistant coach leaves, the goodbye tour rarely ends with a handshake and a thank you.
Locked on Horned Frogs showed concern over the recruitment of Jerry Meyer III in a recent episode, and it should.
It often turns into a recruiting tug-of-war, and that’s exactly what’s happening now, with South Carolina offensive coordinator Kendal Briles circling back on a quarterback pledge TCU thought it had secured.
The reaction around Fort Worth shouldn’t be panic, but it also shouldn’t be dismissal.
This isn’t petty recruiting, this is business. Briles helped build relationships with many of the same offensive prospects TCU is pursuing, and those relationships don’t disappear just because he changed logos.
If anything, they become more valuable because now he’s offering a second path with a familiar voice attached.
That’s the part fans sometimes miss: commitments aren’t all created equal.
Some kids commit to the school. Many commit to the head coach. And a lot - especially on offense - commit to the coordinator or position coach who sold them the blueprint.
When a coach leaves, the blueprint can leave with him. Even if the prospect still likes TCU, the simple question becomes: Do I like the vision in Columbia more than the one in Fort Worth?
The good news for the Horned Frogs is that Sonny Dykes’ offensive identity gives TCU a sturdy foundation.
A recruit who’s drawn to a modern, aggressive passing approach doesn’t suddenly lose that at TCU just because a coordinator changes.
But TCU does have to re-earn certainty.
While football recruiting heats up, TCU men’s basketball gave fans something they badly needed: proof of life. The comeback win over Oklahoma State mattered beyond the standings because it answered the question every struggling team faces - what happens when the game turns and your back is against the wall?
TCU responded with urgency on both ends, and that’s the formula that travels.
One player worth spotlighting is David Punch. His recent stretch isn’t just nice production. When a big man starts demanding touches, finishing at a high rate, rebounding consistently, and protecting the ball, it stabilizes everything else: shot selection, pace, and late-game execution.
Finally, the Big 12 schedule quirk looming over football is real: TCU’s path includes a rare gauntlet of top-tier opponents. But there’s opportunity baked into that pain.
Big wins erase a lot of narrative.
That’s the theme right now across TCU athletics: pressure creates proof. Recruiting, hoops, scheduling ... none of it is easy. But if TCU responds the right way, it can turn into momentum instead of stress.