TCU-California Football Gameday for Saturday, September 11, 2021

 

Friday, September 10, is Go Purple Friday: Wear purple on Friday, September 10, and receive discounts and offers from Go Purple partners. More information: here

Game 2 of TCU’s 2021 Football Regular Season: TCU Horned Frogs (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) versus Cal Bears (0-1, 0-0 Pac-12): Saturday, September 11, 2021; 2:30 pm (Central); Amon G. Carter Stadium; Fort Worth, Texas; TV: sEcSPNU (Kevin Brown and Hutson Mason); Radio -- WBAP 820 AM, Sirius 83 (Radio Talent: Brian Estridge, John Denton, Landry Burdine); Spanish Radio: KFZO 99.1 (Radio Talent: Miguel Cruz, Elvis Gallegos).

September 11 Remembrance: This Saturday, September 11, is the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The September 11 attacks, often referred to as 9/11, were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the militant Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States of America on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Almost 3,000 people were killed.

Big 12 Conference Expanding: Big 12 Conference invitations have been accepted by Brigham Young University, the University of Houston, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Central Florida. Additional information: here 

2021 Color Coordination for the TCU-Cal Game: Wear your favorite TCU colors. A facial cover (protective mask) also is recommended because of the COVID surge in Tarrant County. TCU requires that facial coverings be worn in all indoor areas on campus, except for private-access areas. 

TCU Uniform Combination for the Game: Against Cal, the Horned Frogs will wear a purple jersey, white pants and a white helmet with a purple stripe, purple TCU logo and Horned Frog. 

Gary Patterson Press Conference About Cal: here

TCU-Cal Gameday Central: here

The Line for the TCU-Cal Game: TCU is an 11-point favorite. The over-under for total points of both teams is 48 points.

Midnite's TCU-Cal Prediction: TCU 38, Cal 17.

TCU-Cal Hype Video: here

2021 COVID-19 Warning: The COVID-19 pandemic still is with us, with people daily being infected and dying. An inherent risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unvaccinated people and those with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, particularly the delta variant of the virus, although vaccinated people can be infected with the virus, especially the delta variant. Mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing remain highly recommended, and those people who are vaccinated are urged to avoid those people who are not vaccinated. The latest COVID-19 guidelines and information are at the CDC website: here  

TCU Mask Policy: TCU this fall requires face masks to be worn in all indoor campus areas, except when a person is actively eating and/or drinking and except within private-access areas. People who are sick or experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms should stay home and get tested for COVID-19.

2021 TCU Football Fact Book: here

2021 TCU Football Fan Guide: here

2021 TCU Gameday Parking and Traffic Information: here

2021 Gary Patterson Luncheon Series: Gary Patterson/Frog Club luncheons, sponsored by Origin Bank: September 23, September 30, October 21, November 4 and November 18. The luncheons are at noon in the new Legends Club & Suites, located on the east side of Amon G. Carter Stadium.  TCU Frog Club members receive discounts on luncheon tickets. Additional information and tickets: here  

2021 Gary Patterson Radio Show: The 2021 Gary Patterson Radio Show presented by PNC Bank takes place every Thursday of the TCU football season. The show is held in the Railhead Smokehouse on Montgomery Street in Fort Worth. The show is hosted by Brian Estridge. The show airs live from 6 pm to 7 pm CT on 92.1 FM KTFW and 88.7 FM KTCU. TCU fans are welcomed to attend the show.

2021 TCU Store: Gear up for TCU sports: here

2021 TCU Spirit: here  

2021 TCU Athletics Ticket Information: here   

2021 TCU Athletics Staff Directory: here 

2021 TCU Athletics Compliance: TCU is committed and obligated to the principle of institutional control in operating its Athletics Department in a manner that is consistent with the letter and the spirit of the NCAA, Big 12 and University rules and regulations. Additional information: here

2021 Countdown to TCU-Cal Kickoff: Five hours prior to kickoff: donor parking lots open. Three hours prior to kickoff: Frog Alley opens. Two-and-a-half hours prior to kickoff: Frog Walk. Two hours prior to kickoff: gates open. One hour prior to kickoff: TCU Marching Band and Spirit parade. Thirty minutes prior to kickoff: Frog Alley closes and in-stadium pre-game show begins.

2021 Fan Experience for TCU Football at Amon G. Carter Stadium: To provide the safest environment for fans to enjoy TCU football this fall during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Masks are mandated in all indoor facilities on the TCU campus, unless a person is actively eating and/or drinking.
• Tailgating is allowed in all Frog Club parking lots and spaces. Lots open three hours prior to kick off and close following the game.
• Frog Alley has been moved to Stadium Drive. Frog Alley is bigger and better this season, taking up all four lanes on Stadium Drive. It features a Kids’ Zone, a beer garden with TVs, local food trucks and more. Frog Walk also returns this season, as the team will be dropped off at the Frog Alley entrance.
• Amon G. Carter Stadium gates open two hours prior to kick off.
• A refusal to comply with the 2021 TCU Football health and safety guidelines may result in removal from the stadium and/or loss of ticket privileges to future home games.
• Social distancing is recommended at gates, concessions and restrooms. 
• Hand sanitation stations are available in the stadium.
• There are a variety of new concession stands dubbed “The Taste of Funkytown.” These include QUENCH, AGC Pub and a Super Size Stand. 
• On the North Endzone deck, drink rails, picnic tables and lawn games have been installed.
• "WaterMonster" locations are throughout the stadium. A WaterMonster is a 125-gallon tank filled with cold-filtered water, or the equivalent of 1,000 bottles of water. The configuration stands six-feet tall and has six spigots for fans to fill their own water bottles or paper cups.
• Football Pre-Game Happy Hour Specials are available from when gates open, to 30 minutes before kick-off: 
• Beer $4
• 44oz Pepsi: $3
• Large popcorn: $3
• Peanuts: $3
• Nachos: $2.25
• Hot Dog: $2

Digital Seat Media in Amon G. Carter Stadium: Within Amon G. Carter Stadium, fans will find a new feature at their seats that gives them access to items to enhance their football gameday experience. Fort Worth-based Digital Seat Media (DSM) installed on stadium seats a QR code. Fans can scan the QR code with a smart phone and access several features, without having to download an app. The platform runs on mobile web and works on all mobile browsers. 

TCU's Previous Game: On Saturday, September 4, in Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas, TCU defeated Duquesne, 45-3. The game was TCU’s 2021 season-opener.

TCU's Next Game: TCU will enjoy a bye on Saturday, September 18. The Horned Frogs will host SMU (Southern Methodist University) on Saturday, September 25, at a time to be determined, at Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas. Television details are yet to be determined.

Cal's Previous Game: Cal opened its season at home, in Berkeley, California, on September 4, and lost, 22-17, to Nevada. Cal had taken a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Cal's Next Game: Cal will host Sacramento State on Saturday, September 18, in Berkeley.

Previous TCU-Cal Game: TCU entered the 2018 season ranked No. 16 in the AP preseason poll. The Frogs went 7-6, securing a winning season by beating Cal, 10-7, in overtime, on December 26, 2018, in the Cheez-It Bowl, at Chase Field (home of the Major League Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks), in Phoenix, Arizona. The game featured nine interceptions (six in the first half). Jonathan Song’s 27-yard field goal in overtime provided TCU with its winning points. TCU running back Sewo Olonilua ran for 194 yards and a touchdown. During the game, TCU was called for a sideline interference penalty when TCU intercepted a Cal pass in overtime and Horned Frogs Sports Information Director Mark Cohen stepped onto the field to celebrate. When asked about the penalty, TCU head coach Gary Patterson said, “Jiminy Christmas. Have you guys ever known that, in 150 years of football, that the SID gets a penalty?" California's current starting quarterback, Chase Garbers, started against TCU in the Cheez-It Bowl. He completed 12-of-19 passes for 93 yards. He threw three interceptions.

TCU-Cal Rivalry: This game marks the second meeting on the gridiron between the schools. When TCU and Cal played in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl, it was the first meeting between the two football teams. TCU was scheduled to open its 2020 season on September 5 by playing Cal in Berkeley, California. The game was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pac-12 teams played only conference games in 2020.

 TCU-Cal Connections:

• Cal has 13 players from Texas on its roster; none from Fort Worth, but several from the FW-D Metroplex. 
• TCU has 10 players from California on its roster; none from Berkeley.
• Cal is a member of the Pac-12. TCU has a 7-0 record against the Pac-12 under head coach Gary Patterson, including a 31-14 home victory over Stanford in 2008.
• The Horned Frogs have had bowl wins over Oregon (47-41, 3 OT, 2016 Alamo Bowl), Stanford (39-37, 2017 Alamo Bowl) and Cal (10-7, OT, 2018 Cheez-It Bowl) in addition to a 30-21 neutral site (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas) victory over Oregon State in 2010 and road wins at Stanford (38-36, 2007) and Arizona (13-10, OT, 2003).
• California has played in eight Rose Bowl games. TCU has played in one Rose Bowl game
• TCU has played in three Poinsettia Bowl games. California has played in one Poinsettia Bowl game.
• TCU has played in two Alamo Bowl games. California has played in one Alamo Bowl game.
• California has played in two Armed Forces Bowl games in Fort Worth. In 2003, TCU played in the Fort Worth Bowl, which now is the Armed Forces Bowl.
• SMU head coach Sonny Dykes coached Cal from 2013-2016. During the 2017 football season, Sonny Dykes was an offensive analyst for TCU, before becoming SMU's head coach in 2018.
• California's current starting quarterback, Chase Garbers, started against TCU in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl. He completed 12-of-19 passes for 93 yards. He threw three interceptions. 

TCU Missing in Action News: Cornerback Noah Daniels missed the season-opener and has not returned to practice after suffering a season-ending injury in 202o. Offensive guard Wes Harris and defensive tackle Terrell Cooper returned to practice this week after missing the Duquesne game because of injuries. Because of a leg injury, junior wide receiver Mikel Barkley is expected to miss significant playing time in 2021. Defensive tackle George Ellis also will miss playing time this season because of an injury. Defensive tackle Corey Bethley returned to action in the Duquesne game after sustaining a season-ending injury in the fourth game of the 2020 season.

TCU Notables: 

• TCU defeated Duquesne, 45-3, for its 16th season-opening victory in the last 19 seasons. 
• Former TCU head coach Dennis Franchione is fighting cancer for the second time.  
• In the 2021 Associated Press Week 2 Football Bowl Subdivision Top 25 poll, TCU is listed among "others receiving votes," in 26th place, with 80 points.  
• In the 2021 Coaches Week 2 Football Bowl Subdivision Top 25 poll, TCU is listed among "others receiving votes," in 33rd place, with 49 points. 
• Dating back to last season, the Horned Frogs have won their last four games to tie for the eighth-longest active winning streak in the nation. They have also won six of their past seven contests. 
• TCU is looking to open its season with a 2-0 record for the 13th time in head coach Gary Patterson’s 21 seasons.  
• Cal is a member of the Pac-12. TCU has a 7-0 record against the Pac-12 under head coach Gary Patterson, including a 31-14 home victory over Stanford in 2008. 
• The Horned Frogs have had bowl wins over Oregon (47-41, 3 OT, 2016 Alamo Bowl), Stanford (39-37, 2017 Alamo Bowl) and Cal (10-7, OT, 2018 Cheez-It Bowl) in addition to a 30-21 neutral site (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas) victory over Oregon State in 2010 and road wins at Stanford (38-36, 2007) and Arizona (13-10, OT, 2003). 
• After the game against California, TCU's games against Pac-12 teams will continue with upcoming home-and-home series with Colorado (2022-23) and Stanford (2024-27). 
• TCU is opening a season with four straight home games for just the second time (1979) in its history. 
• The Horned Frogs are 93-27 under Patterson at Amon G. Carter Stadium. 
• Against Duquesne, the Horned Frogs improved to 119-5 under Head Coach Gary Patterson when allowing 17 points or less.
• Duquesne's 137 yards of total offense were the fewest by a TCU opponent since Sept. 28, 2019, when Kansas was held to 159. 
• Under Patterson, the Horned Frogs are now 46-0 when holding opponents to 200 yards or less. 
• With the win over Duquesne, TCU improved to 16-5 in season openers under Patterson, with victories in seven of the last eight and 16 of the past 19. 
• The Horned Frogs are now 19-2 in home openers under Patterson with victories in 19 of the last 20 games. 
• Against the Dukes, TCU had 431 total yards of offense; 253 passing yards and 178 rushing yards.
  
• Against Duquesne, TCU scored for the 356th consecutive game. It's the nation's second-longest current streak and fourth all-time in NCAA history. The Horned Frogs haven't been blanked since November 16, 1991, at Texas (32-0). 
• Against Duquesne, TCU led 35-0 at the break and is now 142-19 under Patterson when holding a halftime lead. 
• A sack in the Duquesne game by defensive end Ochuan Mathis gave TCU at least one sack in 87 of its last 92 games. 
• TCU's captains for the Duquesne game were returner Derius Davis, quarterback Max Duggan, defensive end Ochuan Mathis and linebacker Dee Winters. 
• Duggan’s eight-yard, first-quarter touchdown run was the 17th rushing touchdown of his career. He led TCU last season with 10 rushing scores. 
• Duggan completed 14-of-19 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown against the Dukes. Duggan's 207 yards in the air put him over the 4,000-yard career mark. He's now at 4,079 yards, which ranks ninth in TCU history. He passed former TCU quarterback Leon Clay in the school’s all-time yardage list in the first quarter. 
• Running back Emari Demercado’s two-yard touchdown run against Duquesne was the first rushing touchdown of his career. 
• Running back Zach Evans’ two-yard touchdown run against the Dukes gave him a rushing score in his last three games. 
• Running back Kendre Miller had a five-yard touchdown run in the Duquesne game. It was his third career rushing score. 
• Against Duquesne, receiver J.D. Spielman had his first touchdown as a Horned Frog on a six-yard pass from Duggan. It was his first score since November 29, 2019, while playing for Nebraska against Iowa. 
• Receiver Taye Barber’s 34-yard reception against Duquesne put him over 1,000 career yards receiving. He now has 1,027. 
• Quarterback Chandler Morris, a transfer from Oklahoma prior to this season, made his TCU debut against the Dukes and had a 20-yard touchdown pass to Blake Nowell, marking his first career catch and touchdown. 
• In the Duquesne game, cornerback Tre’ViusHodges-Tomlinson had his first career interception.
•  Winters had a team-best seven tackles against Duquesne, giving him 100 tackles in his TCU career. 
• Kicker Griffin Kell’s 18-yard field goal against Duquesne made him 16-of-22 in his career.
• Since 2001, Gary Patterson’s first full season as TCU’s head coach, the Horned Frogs have been the most successful program in the state of Texas: 1. TCU 179-73 (.710); 2. Texas 180-76 (.703); 3. Texas A&M 150-101 (.598); 4. Texas Tech 143-108 (.570); 5. Houston 140-110 (.560). 
• Since 2005, TCU has the best record in Texas among the 12 FBS programs: 1. TCU 147-57 (.721); 2. Texas 137-68 (.668); 3. Houston 125-78 (.616); 4. Texas A&M 125-78 (.616); 5. Texas Tech 111-89 (.555); 6. Baylor 106-93 (.533); 7. SMU 86-111 (.437); 8. UTSA 34-51 (.400); 9. Rice 72-120 (.375); 10. North Texas 68-127 (.349); 11. UTEP 65-127 (.339); 12. Texas State 28-69 (.289). 
  
• Over the last seven seasons, TCU is tied for the Big 12's second-best conference record (38-25) and has the third-best overall mark (59-30). 
• TCU is one of just seven programs nationally to finish with an Associated Press Top-10 final ranking in at least three of the last seven seasons (2014, 2015, 2017). The others are Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Penn State. 
• TCU has three Preseason All-Americans in punt returner Derius Davis, cornerback Tre’Verius Hodges-Tomlinson and defensive end Ochuan Mathis.  
• TCU was the practice site last week for the New Orleans Saints, who were displaced from New Orleans by Hurricane Ida. 
• The Saints are the third NFL team in the last 11 years to practice at TCU. The Dallas Cowboys have utilized the Horned Frogs' Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility. TCU was the host practice site for the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV in Arlington. 
• TCU fans’ tradition of singing "Riff Ram" during sporting events dates back to the 1920s, when the song was first written and introduced to the TCU fan base. These are the words of the song: "Riff, Ram, Bah, Zoo/Lickety, Lickety, Zoo Zoo/Who, Wah, Wah, Who/Give 'em Hell, TCU!"   
• Make It Personal” is the 2021 theme of TCU Football.   
• TCU this season is scheduled to host seven games at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.  
• TCU this season has nonconference home matchups against Duquesne (September 4; 45-3 victory), Cal (September 11, at 2:30 pm Central Time) and SMU (September 25).  
• TCU this season will host four Big 12 home games, against Texas (October 2), West Virginia (October 23), Baylor (November 6) and Kansas (November 20).  
• The Frogs this season will play five Big 12 away games, at Texas Tech (October 9), Oklahoma (October 16), Kansas State (October 30), Oklahoma State (November 13) and Iowa State (November 26).  
• TCU ranks as the fourth-best private college football school of all time, behind Notre Dame, USC, and Miami (Florida). 
• The Horned Frogs are one of only four FBS teams to have played in all six College Football Playoff Bowls, winning all but the Fiesta and Orange.  
• Gary Patterson is the dean of Big 12 coaches. This is Patterson’s 24th season at TCU. It is his 21st season as head coach of the Frogs.   
• sEcSPN ranks Patterson as the 28th best collegiate football coach of the last 50 years.   
• TCU has held its own as a football program in the Big 12, winning a conference championship in 2014, when the Horned Frogs also should have earned a berth in the College Football Playoff. During that season, TCU finished 11-1 and in the top 5 of polls, with notable wins over No. 4 Oklahoma, Minnesota and No. 7 Kansas State, and scoring 82 points against Texas Tech. 
• With the win over Duquesne to open the 2021 season, TCU now is 48-8 in home night games under Patterson.  
• Over the last three seasons, TCU has not had a double-digit-win season. It is the first time during Patterson's tenure that the Frogs have gone three consecutive seasons without a double-digit-win season. 
• Of the 12 teams that have changed or moved into power leagues in the past decade, only Texas A&M in the SEC and Pittsburgh in the ACC have better conference records since switching. In the Big 12, only second-ranked Oklahoma has more league wins than TCU since 2014, the season the Frogs shared the conference title with Baylor before the Sooners won the last six.  
• TCU played in the Big 12 championship game in 2017, losing to Oklahoma, 38-20, in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.  
• Under head coach Gary Patterson, TCU, which is located in the country’s 12th largest city of Fort Worth, has produced seven top-10 teams.  
• Over the last 13 years, the Frogs own six AP top-10 finishes, twice as many as Texas and two more than USC and Washington combined.  
• During Patterson’s tenure, TCU has earned 20 bowl trips. TCU is 13-6 in bowl games played (the 2020 Texas Bowl was canceled).  
• After the 2010 regular season, the Horned Frogs received the first Rose Bowl invitation offered to a team from a non-automatic-qualifying conference during the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) era. The Horned Frogs won the 2011 Rose Bowl, 21–19, over Wisconsin. The win climaxed an undefeated and untied season that earned TCU a No. 2 national ranking.   
• TCU Athletics, as a whole, is coming off an historic year in 2020-21. TCU won three Big 12 championships last year, in baseball, women’s soccer and men’s tennis. Ten of TCU’s 21 sports appeared in the national top 25. And rifle won another national title. 
• Over the past 10 years, TCU has invested more than $400 million in athletics facilities through donor funding. 
• Nearly 100 percent of TCU's more than 500 student-athletes are vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• TCU senior guard Wes Harris (6-4, 321 pounds), is the strongest Frog. Harris bench presses 530 pounds, squats 705 pounds and cleans 470 pounds.  
• TCU quarterback Max Duggan missed the majority of the 2020 preseason camp due to surgery to correct Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, a heart condition he was born with. There were reports that Duggan’s sophomore season was in jeopardy because of the condition and surgery. Duggan didn’t start the Frogs’ delayed 2020 season-opener to Iowa State on September 26, but he courageously played the second half of the 33-31 loss. Remarkably, Duggan started TCU’s final nine games of the season. The Frogs won six of them to finish the 2010 season at 6-4.  
• TCU’s 2020 6-4 regular-season earned the Frogs a trip to the Texas Bowl. The Frogs were scheduled to face former Southwest Conference foe Arkansas on New Year’s Eve. However, the Frogs had to cancel their appearance due "to an increased number of positive COVID-19 tests and other circumstances within the TCU football program."  
• Doug Meacham is TCU’s new offensive coordinator. He replaces Sonny Cumbie, who in 2020 was TCU’s co-offensive coordinator (with Meacham) and quarterbacks coach. Cumbie left TCU to rejoin Texas Tech, his Alma mater, as offensive coordinator.  
• Meacham rejoined the TCU program in 2020 as inside receivers/tight ends coach and became offensive coordinator in 2021, a role he previously held when the Horned Frogs had record-setting offenses. 
• Prior to returning to the Horned Frogs, Meacham was offensive coordinator of the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks. After leaving TCU following the 2016 season, he served as offensive coordinator at Kansas.  
• In each of his first two seasons at TCU (2014-15), serving as offensive coordinator, the Horned Frogs’ attack ranked among the nation’s best. Former TCU quarterback Kenny Hill is the Frogs’ new quarterbacks coach. 
• After concluding his 2017 senior season as TCU's starting quarterback, in which he led the Horned Frogs to an 11-3 record, Big 12 Championship Game appearance and No. 9 final ranking, Hill remained with the Horned Frogs. He served as a student assistant and then graduate assistant, before becoming an offensive analyst in 2020. 
• In his final game at TCU, Hill earned Offensive Most Valuable Player honors in the Horned Frogs' 39-37 Alamo Bowl victory over Stanford. Hill had a rushing, passing and receiving touchdown in the game. Hill set a TCU bowl record with 401 yards of total offense (314 passing, 60 rushing and 27 receiving), while his 314 passing yards and 27 completions were the second-most in a bowl game by a Horned Frog. 
• Hill holds the TCU season (67.3) and career (64.0) completion percentage records. His 269 completions in both 2016 and 2017 tie for second all-time in a season at TCU. He also has the third- and fourth-best single season passing yard totals by a Horned Frog with 3,208 and 3,152 in 2016 and 2017, respectively.  
• As a senior, Hill led the nation with a 67.3 completion percentage on third-down passing. He topped all Big 12 quarterbacks in rushing with 325 yards. He was a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist and Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist.   
• Tim Beck, who was a volunteer assistant for TCU in 2020, is a new offensive analyst for the Frogs. Beck is an experienced offensive coach who before he joined TCU last season spent his entire coaching career (1987-2019) at Pittsburg State (Pittsburgh, Kansas). He was head coach of the Gorillas from 2010-2019 (Patterson coached linebackers at Pittsburgh State in 1988). Duggan in 2020 became the first TCU quarterback with multiple 100-yard rushing games in a season in the Patterson head-coaching era. He rushed for a career-high and team-best 154 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-18 win over Texas Tech, including an 81-yard scoring run that was the longest by a quarterback in TCU history and tied for 10th-best overall.  
• Duggan has been named to this season's watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the outstanding player in college football, to the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award, which is presented to the nation's top quarterback, to the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is presented to the nation's top upperclassman quarterback in college football, and to the watch list for the Manning Award, which is presented to the collegiate American football quarterback as judged by the Sugar Bowl Committee to be the best in the United States (including postseason performance). 
• TCU led the Big 12 in rushing offense in 2020.  
• TCU sophomore running back Zach Evans has been named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie squad. 
• Evans has been named to this season's watch list of the Doak Walker Award. The Doak Walker Award is presented to the nation’s top collegiate running back. TCU Board of Trustees member and Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson won the Doak Walker Award in 2000 as a Horned Frog. 
• Evans, a former five-star signee, had a team-best 7.7 yards per carry average in 2020, his true freshman season. It ranked third for a season in TCU history and was second-best in the Big 12 for a true freshman dating back to 2008. The 7.7 average was also fourth nationally by a true freshman in a Power Five Conference over the last six seasons. 
• Evans placed third on the Horned Frogs with 415 yards rushing, while tying for second with four rushing touchdowns in 2020. He topped 100 yards in two of the final three games. He ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries in a 52-10 win over Louisiana Tech in the regular-season finale. His first career 100-yard game was in a 59-23 victory at Kansas. He had 100 yards on 12 attempts.  
• Quentin Johnson, a 6-4 wide receiver for the Frogs, was one of the best freshmen receivers in college football last season, averaging 22 yards per catch and finishing with back-to-back 100-yard games against Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech. He had 487 receiving yards and caught four touchdown passes during the season.  
• Johnston’s 22.1 yards-per-reception average last season was the highest for a freshman in Big 12 Conference history and the second-highest for any Power 5 freshman receiver since 2008.  
• Redshirt junior center Steve Avila returns to anchor the Horned Frogs’ offensive line.  
• A 2020 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honoree, Avila has been named to the watch list for the 2021 Rimington Trophy, which is given to the nation's top center.  
• A big (literally) addition to the offensive line is left tackle Obinna Eze, a junior transfer from Memphis. Eze, 6-foot-8, 315 pounds, started 25 games over his last two seasons at Memphis, including the 2019 team that won the American Athletic Conference Championship and earned a Cotton Bowl berth.  
• Eze has been named to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. 
• Cornerback Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson was 2020 First-Team All-Big 12 and received All-America honors last season from the Associated Press and Pro Football Focus (PFF). 
• PFF rated Hodges-Tomlinson as the nation's highest-graded cornerback in coverage at 89.1, allowing 12 catches on 45 targets over the final nine games of the season. His 13 pass breakups led the Big 12 and were second nationally. The junior had 26 stops on the season.  
• Hodges-Tomlinson has been named to the Preseason All-Big 12 defensive team, as chosen by media representatives who cover the league, has been named a second-team preseason All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, and has been named a Preseason All-American by Pro Football Focus.  
• Hodges-Tomlinson has been named to the watch list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back.  
• Hodges-Tomlinson has been named to the watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott IMPACT Trophy recognizes the nation's top defensive player in terms of his impact on and off the field.  
• Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of TCU Board of Trustees member and Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson.  
• Last season, defensive end Ochuan Mathis led the Big 12 and ranked 12th nationally in sacks per game at 0.9.  
• A second-team all-conference selection last season, Mathis recorded a team-best nine sacks for the most by a Horned Frog since Mat Boesen had 11.5 in 2017.  
• Mathis in 2020 placed second on TCU with 14 tackles for loss (TFL), which ranked third in the Big 12 and tied for 12th in the FBS. The junior had at least one TFL in nine of 10 games and placed fourth on TCU with 46 tackles. Mathis started all 10 games, marking his second straight season of starting every contest.  
• Mathis has been named to the Preseason All-Big 12 defensive team and was named second-team edge rusher, Pro Football Focus Preseason All-Big 12 team. Hodges-Tomlinson and Mathis have been named to the watch list for the 2021 Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the nation's top defensive player.
  
• The duo also has been named to the watch list for the 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, recognizing college football's defensive player of the year. 
• Mathis and TCU defensive end Khari Coleman have been named to the watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, presented to the nation's top defensive end. TCU is one of four schools nationally to have more than one player on the list. 
  
• TCU punter Jordy Sandy has been named to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, honoring the nation's top collegiate punter. 
• Sandy, from Traralgon, Australia, was Second-Team All-Big 12 last season. His 41.0 punting average, which placed second in the Big 12, was the highest by a Horned Frog since Ethan Perry's 44.5 mark in 2012. He had eight punts of at least 50 yards. 
• The Frogs return Derius Davis, an electrifying kick returner who has been named a Preseason All-American by Pro Football Focus, and a Preseason All-American punt returner by Phil Steele's College Football Preview. 
• Davis has been named to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, recognizing the nation's most versatile player. 
• Davis led the Big 12 and ranked fifth nationally last season in punt return average at 14.5 yards. He was one of only three players in the FBS with two punt returns for touchdowns, reaching the end zone from 67 and 37 yards against Baylor and Kansas, respectively. He is tied for second in TCU history with three career punt return touchdowns on 17 attempts. 
• Evans, Duggan and Johnston have been named to the watch list for the Ninth Annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.  
• The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define 1977 Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity — specifically tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals. In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas high school and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year Division I college in Texas. 
• TCU players on this season's Reese’s Senior bowl watch list are: Eze, Davis, La’Kendrick Van Zandt, Noah Daniels and J.D. Spielman.
• TCU has had at least one player selected to play in the Senior Bowl every year since 2015.   
• It has been four years since TCU finished a season ranked in the Top 25. It’s the longest rankings drought of any point in Patterson’s 21 years as the Horned Frogs head coach. 
• Patterson is TCU's overall winningest head football coach. Patterson's TCU head coaching record is 179-74. 
• Patterson’s 179 victories are the most by an active head coach nationally at his current school. His winning percentage ranks fourth among active FBS coaches (minimum 10 years).  
• Patterson is tied for second nationally among active FBS head coaches in most AP Top-10 finishes with six (2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017). He's also second among active head coaches in most top-25 finishes with 11. 
• Under Patterson, TCU has won six conference championships, in three different leagues -- Conference USA (2002), the Mountain West (2005, 2009, 2010, 2011) and the Big 12 Conference (2014). Patterson also has been named Coach of the Year in each of those conferences. 
• The Horned Frogs have won at least 10 games in 11 seasons under Patterson. Prior to his arrival on campus in 1998, TCU had four 10-win seasons in its history. 
• During his TCU tenure, including three seasons as defensive coordinator (1998-00), Patterson has seen TCU earn 20 bowl trips. TCU is 13-6 in bowl games with Patterson on its coaching staff and 11-6 with him as head coach. Before the Patterson era, the Horned Frogs had only four bowl wins in their history. 
• TCU’s biggest bowl win, and perhaps its biggest win overall, during Patterson’s tenure was the 20-19 victory over Wisconsin in the 2011 Rose Bowl. 
• TCU has 32 active NFL players, with 21 teams having at least one Horned Frog. The Green Bay Packers (Innis Gaines, Vernon Scott, Ty Summers), Houston Texans (Ross Blacklock, Marcus Cannon, Garret Wallow) and Indianapolis Colts (Darius Anderson, Ben Banogu, Joey Hunt) are tied for the most Horned Frogs on the roster with

California Notables:   

• The University of California (Cal) is located in Berkeley, California. 
• Berkeley is a city in Northern California on the east side of San Francisco Bay. 
• The University of California, Berkeley is a public land-grant research. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant university and the first campus of the University of California system.
• Undergraduate enrollment is about 31,000. There are about 12,000 graduate students. 
• Cal is a founding member of the Association of American Universities and is ranked among the world's top universities by major educational publications.  
• Cal-Berkeley was the birthplace of the 1960s Free Speech Movement (FSM). 
• FSM was a massive, long-lasting student protest that took place during the 1964–65 academic year on the campus of Cal-Berkeley. With the participation of thousands of students, the Free Speech Movement was the first mass act of civil disobedience on an American college campus in the 1960s. Students insisted that the university administration lift the ban of on-campus political activities and acknowledge the students' right to free speech and academic freedom. The Free Speech Movement was influenced by the New Left, and was also related to the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement. To this day, the Movement's legacy continues to shape American political dialogue, on college campuses and in broader society, influencing some political views and values of college students and the general public. 
• Since beginning of play in 1886, Cal football has won five NCAA recognized national titles, in 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1937, and 14 conference championships, the last one in 2006. 
• Cal’s main rivals are Stanford and UCLA. 
• Cal’s athletic colors are blue and gold. 
• Cal’s athletic nickname is the Bears. 
• Cal’s mascot is Oski, and Anthropomorphic Bear. 
• SMU head coach Sonny Dykes coached Cal from 2013-2016. During the 2017 football season, Sonny Dykes was an offensive analyst for TCU, before becoming SMU's head coach in 2018.
• Cal head coach Justin Wilcox took over the Bears in 2017. 
• Entering the second game of his fifth season, Wilcox is 21-21 overall, 11-20 Pac-12. 
• Cal’s football head coaching position is called the “Travers Family Head Football Coach.” This past March, the Travers Family Foundation made a $7.5 million commitment to endow the Travers Family Head Football Coach, providing essential resources for Cal football to ensure a world-class program, an exceptional coaching staff and a continued positive impact on student-athletes. In addition, the family has made a $2.5 million commitment to augment its endowment for the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science that supports this preeminent, nationally-ranked department. 
• Colonel Charles T. Travers '32 and his wife, Louise '33, who met as undergraduates in a political science class at Cal during the Great Depression, were the inspiration for the Travers family's latest gifts. In 2004, the former U.S. Army Colonel pledged $16 million to Berkeley — to create an endowment and name the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science and to support core priorities for Cal football.  
• Chuck '58 and Beth Travers '57 said the family's latest gift to the University continues Colonel Travers' transformative commitment to support exceptional experiences for Cal students. 
• In 2020, during a season shortened and hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cal went 1-3. The Bears beat Oregon, in Berkeley, 21-17. Cal lost at: UCLA, 34-10; Oregon State, 31-27; and lost in Berkeley to Stanford, 24-23.  
• On September 4, Cal opened its 2021 season at home with a 22-17 loss to Nevada of the Mountain West Conference.
• Against Nevada, Cal had 330 total yards of offense; 177 yards passing and 153 rushing yards.
• Nevada had 373 total yards of offense against Cal; 312 yards passing and 61 rushing yards.
• Redshirt senior quarterback Chase Garbers (#11) played the entire game at quarterback for Cal. He completed 25-of-38 passes. He threw one touchdown pass and had one pass intercepted. He ran six times for minus-five yards. He was sacked twice.
• Garbers was Cal's starting quarterback against TCU in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl. He completed 12-of-19 passes for 93 yards. He threw three interceptions.
  
•  Cal's leading receiver against Nevada was senior wide receiver Nikko Remigio (#4). He caught seven passes for 22 yards and one touchdown. 
• Senior wide receiver Trevon Clark (#80) and redshirt senior running back Marcel Dancy (#23) each had four receptions. 
• Sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter (#10) and redshirt senior wide receiver Kekoa Crawford (#11) had the longest pass receptions for Cal, 28 and 24 yards, respectively. 
• Cal's leading rusher against the Wolfpack was sophomore running back Damien Moore (#28). He ran 15 times for 79 yards. He scored one rushing touchdown.
• Redshirt sophomore running back DeCarlos Brooks (#25) had 46 yards rushing. He had the Bears' longest run of the game, a 38-yarder.
• Cal's defense allowed two passing touchdowns by Nevada, no rushing touchdowns and three field goals. The Bears recorded two sacks and one interception.
  
• With six tackles, redshirt junior defensive end JH Tevis (#47) was Cal's leading tackler against Nevada. He had 2.5 tackles for loss.
• Redshirt junior linebacker Evan Tattersall (#54) and redshirt defensive lineman Luc Bequette (#93) each had a sack in Cal's loss to the Wolfpack.
• Cal reshirt sophomore safety Miles Williams (#13) intercepted one Nevada pass.
  
• Junior punter/kicker Dario Longhetto (#30) converted one-of-two field goal attempts. He made a 24-yarder and missed a 40-yarder.

2021 TCU Football Fact Book: here

2021 TCU Football Roster: here

2021 TCU Football Schedule: here

2019-2020 TCU Athletics Annual Report: here 

2021 TCU Fall Sports Guide: here

2021 Cal Football Guide: here

2021 Cal Football Roster: here 

2021 Cal Football Schedule: here

Cal Alma Mater: here

Cal Traditions: here

TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium: 2020 marked the introduction of the $100-million Amon G. Carter Stadium premium seating expansion. The project added two new levels of luxury seating above the existing upper deck on the east side of the stadium. The new Legends Club and Suites include 48 loge boxes with two private clubs, over 1,000 club seats and 22 luxury suites.

The 2012 season marked the opening of TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium after a $164 million renovation, which was completely funded through donor support. Six Founders Club suites, located at midfield on the concourse level, were sold at $15 million each to provide lead gifts totaling $90 million. On the west side of the stadium, there are 25 suites, all of which are sold. 

Additional information about TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium: here

Amon G. Carter Stadium Map: here

Amon G. Carter Stadium Rules and Regulations: here

Items Permitted Into TCU Athletic Events: Clear Bag Policy: here

Only the following items are permitted into TCU athletic facilities:  

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and not exceeding 14 inches by 14 inches.
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
• One unopened bottle of water.
• Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bags. 
• Exceptions are made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at the stadium gates. 
• Backpacks, diaper bags and other similar bags ARE NOT permitted.  
• Outside food and drinks ARE NOT permitted.
• Outside seat cushions ARE NOT permitted. 
•  Umbrellas, selfie sticks, artificial noisemakers, strollers, bicycles, fireworks and weapons (including those allowed by permit) ARE NOT permitted.

Additional information: here

sEcSPN College GameDay for September 11, 2021: sEcSPN GameDay will be in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday, September 11, for the Iowa State-Iowa game. The Cyclones will take on the Hawkeyes at 3:30 pm CT, on ABC. During the college football season, GameDay airs live on sEcSPN on Saturdays, from 8 to 11 am (Central). GameDay features Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard and David Pollack.