Horned Frogs battle the 10-win Sun Belt squad in Albuquerque
The TCU Horned Frogs (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) are in Albuquerque to take on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (10-3, 7-1 Sun Belt) in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After a year away from the post season, the Frogs reached bowl eligibility for the second time in the Sonny Dykes era by winning five of its final six games, closing the regular season in snowy Cincinnati, defeating the Bearcats 20-13. TCU will go into the bowl season without its top two rushers and top two pass catchers as RB Cam Cook entered the transfer portal while WRs Jack Bech & Savion Williams are out with injury. It will be opportunity for new stars to emerge, such as true freshman running back Jeremy Payne and redshirt freshman WR Jordyn Bailey.
This is just the fourth time in its 19 year history that a Power conference program will play in the New Mexico Bowl, with the previous instances being Arizona Wildcats (2012 & 2015) and Washington State (2013) as members of the Pac 12. While TCU fans may have expressed some disappointment with the bowl destination and the missed opportunity that was the 2024 season, this game remains a chance to build for the 2025 season while celebrating the accomplishments of this squad, including the final collegiate game for some legendary Frogs that helped TCU reach the National Championship two years ago.
TCU supporters should know better than most to not disrespect top level teams from G5 conferences. Over the years, the Horned Frogs toiled through the ranks of the WAC & C-USA & Mountain West, toppling major programs off their high pedestals along the way, fueled by that chip on the shoulder. The Frogs & Cajuns have never crossed paths on the gridiron before, but UL earned its way to the major bowl matchup and opportunity to show its mettle vs. the Big 12 program. Louisiana already took down one P4 foe this season, defeating the ACC’s Wake Forest Demon Deacons 41-38 in Winston-Salem thanks to Lou Groza Award Winner Kenneth Almendares nailing a 31-yard field goal in the final minute. The Cajuns then sprinted through the Sun Belt, with its only conference loss coming on a heartbreaking failed two-point try vs. South Alabama. UL won the Sun Belt West and earned the right to host Marshall in conference championship, a game the Thundering Herd thoroughly dominated. While the Cajuns have seen some transfer portal exits ahead of the bowl game, top rushers Bill Davis (775 yards, 9 TDs) & Zylan Perry (646 yards, 4 TDs) join top receiver Lance LeGendre (48 receptions, 814 yards, 6 TDs) as dynamic weapons on the field in Albuquerque.
Which team will be lifting the hand-painted pottery trophy in ABQ and head into the offseason on a high note? Join the conversation in the comment section below as we ride the game day rollercoaster together. Go Frogs!