Texas Christian University hosts Iowa State for the final regular season game on November 26. The Horned Frogs are already set for a showdown in the Big 12 Championship game and even a loss will not stop the Frogs from seeing post-season action this season. History is on the line and momentum carrying the team’s 11-0 record to a perfect finish on the season could be a make-or-break moment for TCU and first-year head coach Sonny Dykes.
TCU is led by long-time starter Max Duggan, who entered this year seeing his starting slot given to a transfer QB from Oklahoma named Chandler Morris. A few months ago, Morris was the rage and the future of this Horned Frogs team, but Week 1 would be his last opportunity of the season when he went down with a knee injury. Dykes chose to roll with Duggan even when Morris was ready for a return.
Duggan has answered the call with top numbers in a variety of categories. Duggan has a total of 2,877 yards passing this season, setting his career record with the Frogs. More important than yards of completion is Duggan’s 26-to-three interception-to-touchdown ratio.
The Horned Frogs’ top receivers this season have been Taye Barber and Quentin Johnson. Johnson has 49 receptions and 764 yards with five touchdown catches. Barber has 567 yards receiving on 31 receptions and three touchdowns. In recent games, Savion Williams and Darius Davis have been getting plenty of action.
Iowa State will come into the game from the opposite end as TCU. The Cyclones are sitting in last place in the Big 12 with a 4-7 overall record.
The Iowa State Cyclones defense has allowed a meager 16.45 points per game this season and has held opponents to just 3.2 yards-per-carry on rushing attacks and holds offenses to just 172.09 yards receiving. Will McDonald IV leads the defense in sacks with five and MJ Anderson and O’Rien Vance both have 3.5 sacks. The pass rush for Iowa State will be vital for the team’s chances against the Frogs who like to go deep several times per game when Duggan has time to throw.
The Cyclones’ secondary doesn’t create many turnovers on interceptions, having recorded just seven this season, but it has created turnovers on forced fumbles. Iowa State has recorded 11 forced fumbles with eight recoveries but has not scored a touchdown on either an interception or a fumble recovery.
The TCU defense has found similar difficulties, having recorded 12 interceptions but just five forced fumbles, recovering only three. No touchdowns have been scored on turnovers by the TCU defense this season.
The Cyclones have a star in the making at quarterback themselves. Hunter Dekkers has 290 completions and is just 62 yards from hitting 3,000 yards. Dekkers’ yards have not resulted in a lot of points largely because of the 13 interceptions he has thrown. Dekkers will need to be responsible with the ball to prevent giving the Horned Frogs opportunities to run up the score early.
TCU and Iowa State will kick off at 3:00 p.m. CT from Fort Worth. ESPN Analytics gives TCU a 73.2 percent chance of winning the game.
