Quick Look: TCU Horned Frogs vs. Houston Cougars

The Frogs host Houston on Friday with a chance to move to 2-1 in the Big 12.

The Frogs will have a chance to get to 2-1 in Big 12 play and 4-2 overall on Friday with a game against Houston in Fort Worth at 6:30 p.m. Houston is off to a 1-4 start in 2024 with the only win coming against Rice at home. The Cougars have especially struggled in their last two games, losing to Cincinnati and Iowa State by scores of 34-0 and 20-0 respectively. While Houston has not played great football, they gave Oklahoma all they could handle in Norman and no Big 12 game is a given. This should be a win for the Frogs as they look to continue their positive momentum heading into a bye week.

Offense

Donovan Smith has been the starting quarterback for Houston this season. The former Red Raider has had a tough start to 2024, throwing for just 681 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. Smith is completing a solid 65.4 percent of his passes but is not pushing the ball down the field consistently as he averages just 6.4 yards per attempt. Smith has the ability to make plays with his legs and already has over 70 yards and two touchdowns on the ground this season. The Frogs looked better against a mobile quarterback last week in Jalon Daniels and containing the quarterback scramble and running game will again be a focus against Houston.

With the offense sputtering the last two weeks and Smith failing to reach 100 passing yards in either of the last two games, head coach Willie Fritz has given backup quarterback Zeon Chriss more playing time. Chriss is a transfer from the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and has struggled in limited time at Houston, completing three of nine passing attempts for 20 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. Chriss is also a threat in the running game, averaging over six yards per carry in 2023 for a total of 492 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Expect both quarterbacks to play against TCU on Friday.

The two running backs who have received the bulk of the carries so far this season for Houston have been Stacy Sneed and Re’Shaun Sanford. Sneed leads the team with 36 carries for 217 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Sneed is averaging 6 yards per carry and will present a challenge for the TCU run defense with the breakaway speed to create big plays on the ground. Sanford is a solid running back as well and has received 34 carries for 170 rushing yards. The freshman is also a threat in the passing game with eight catches for 96 yards through five games.

Stephon Johnson has been the top receiving threat for the Cougars in 2024 with 15 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown. Johnson is very shifty in open space and the Houston coaching staff makes it a priority to get him the ball in creative ways. Junior wide receiver Joseph Manjack leads the team in touchdown receptions with two in 2024. The former USC Trojan has ten catches for 146 yards and has a wide catch radius, measuring in at 6-foot-3. The main slot target for the Cougars is Georgia transfer Mekhi Mews. Mews has 13 catches for 112 yards this season and has shown to be a field flipping returner. Mews took a punt 75 yards back to the house against Rice earlier this season and the Frogs will need to keep contain in punt coverage to limit big plays on special teams.

The Houston offensive line has been solid this season in run blocking but has been spotty in pass protection at times. Houston quarterbacks have been sacked 14 times through just five games this season. Forcing Houston into obvious passing situations where the pass rush of the Frogs can attack the pass protection unit will be key on Saturday.

Defense

The Houston defense has looked great in some games and average in other games so far this season. Their most impressive performance came on the road at Oklahoma where the defense held the Sooners to just 14 points and 2.6 yards per carry on the ground (Oklahoma scored 16 points total but two points came from a safety). Houston also picked up an interception and three sacks in that game, holding OU to just 250 yards of total offense. The worst game for the Houston defense came two weeks ago against Cincinnati who was able to score 34 points and rack up 360 yards of total offense.

Linebacker Michael Batton has been a very strong player for the Cougars this season, leading Houston in tackles with 36 and tying for the lead in sacks with two. Tied with Batton at two sacks is Tulane transfer defensive lineman Keith Cooper Jr. who has 16 total tackles on the season. Defensive back AJ Haulcy has been an impactful defender as well with 33 tackles and an interception this season.

Overall

I think this is a game the Frogs win fairly easily. Houston’s offense has struggled heavily to start the year and this should be a good opportunity to get the run defense back on track. The Houston passing attack has been bad in 2024 and the Frogs should be able to load the box and count on their cornerbacks to hold up in one-on-one coverage on the outside. Houston’s defense has been solid, but the TCU passing offense will be the most prolific attack they have faced so far and I think the Frogs will be able to have success through the air. I can see TCU struggling to run the ball a bit against a good Houston run defense but the Frogs have shown the ability to put up points despite bad games from the rushing attack.

Final prediction: TCU 34, Houston 14