TCU is vying for a return to the top of Big 12 and will rely on a group of returners and newcomers to make that a reality.
Following back-to-back 9-4 seasons for TCU, the Horned Frogs are gearing up for a return to the Big 12 title race and a spot in the national spotlight. Since finishing as the national runner-up in Sonny Dykes' first season leading the program, TCU has come short of replicating that success.
Heading into the 2026 season, there are a few new faces in Fort Worth that will need to make an early impact alongside key returners if these high hopes are to pan out.
One of the core departures for Dykes' latest squad was quarterback Josh Hoover, who is bound for Bloomington to take the role left behind by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza at Indiana.
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Hoover spent four seasons as a Frog, including two as the primary starter. He was a spark plug for the TCU offense, totaling close to 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns in each of those seasons. The main issue with Hoover was turnovers, which was addressed by Dykes following his transfer, but he still leaves a large gap to account for.
Enter Jaden Craig, a graduate transfer from Harvard that was brought to be the answer to Hoover's absence. Despite coming from the Ivy League, Craig is no pushover with some impressive numbers over his career. He finished as the Crimson's all-time passing leader with over 6,000 yards and in touchdowns at 52.
Much has been made of the quarterback switch this offseason and it comes as no surprise that TCU will need Craig to bring the talents showcased at Harvard to Fort Worth. While the quarterback normally draws the most attention for any team, there are other Horned Frogs through the lineup that Craig will look to aid his efforts.
Even after losing star wideout Eric McAlister, TCU boasts a pair of veteran receivers that have the potential to be some of the strongest in the Big 12. Jordan Dwyer burst onto the scene last season after transferring from Idaho. He finished with just shy of 750 yards and seven touchdowns on the year.
He'll look to take over the leading target role alongside Major Everhart, who has been with TCU his entire career. The redshirt senior had a solid season after suffering a season-ending injury two years ago. He'll now look to be a main force for the Horned Frogs offense.
Staying with offense, Craig will have some pressure taken off his arm thanks to the return of running back Jeremy Payne. The workhorse came on as the primary rusher late last season and had one of the most memorable moments with his walk-off touchdown to beat USC in the Alamo Bowl. He'll need to continue a strong string of performances in his junior season to prevent the Horned Frogs from becoming one-dimensional.
While these are only a few of the pieces needed for TCU to reclaim its spot as one of the top teams in the Big 12, the Horned Frogs will assuredly turn to them for leadership and will need their talents throughout the season.