The TCU Horned Frogs tumble in rankings with critical matchups ahead against Baylor and West Virginia that will define their Big 12 title hopes.
TCU’s margin for error continues to shrink as the Horned Frogs slipped to No. 17 in the latest Associated Press women’s basketball poll, extending a three-week slide in the national rankings.
The drop follows a narrow loss to Colorado on Feb. 8, a game decided in the final seconds that nonetheless carried real consequences in the eyes of voters.
After entering last week ranked No. 14, TCU now finds itself chasing ground in a crowded Big 12 and national landscape.
Texas Tech, which defeated the Horned Frogs in Lubbock earlier this season, climbed two spots to No. 16 and sits just ahead of TCU. Kentucky also fell in the rankings and trails the Frogs by one spot at No. 18.
Despite the downward movement, the path back toward the top 10 remains open. Head coach Mark Campbell’s team still has several season-defining opportunities ahead, starting with a critical showdown against No. 12 Baylor on Feb. 12.
The Frogs will face the Bears again on March 1, with a road matchup against No. 19 West Virginia on Feb. 15 also looming large.
Additional conference games against Houston, Iowa State, and Cincinnati provide further chances to stack wins and stabilize TCU’s postseason profile.
With only four Big 12 teams currently ranked - Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU, and West Virginia - every league result carries added weight.
Nationally, the top of the poll remains familiar.
UConn holds the No. 1 spot at 25-0, followed by UCLA at No. 2. South Carolina, Texas, Vanderbilt, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Louisville, and Oklahoma round out the top 10, while the SEC leads all conferences with nine ranked teams.
The upcoming clash with Baylor represents more than just another ranked matchup. It’s a rivalry game, a statement opportunity, and potentially a turning point.
If the Horned Frogs want to reassert themselves as Big 12 title contenders, the stretch ahead will determine just how high their ceiling can climb.