TCU-Texas Tech Football Gameday for Saturday, October 9, 2021

Friday, October 8, is Go Purple Friday: Wear purple on Friday, October 8, and receive discounts and offers from Go Purple partners. More information: here

Game 5 of TCU’s 2021 Football Regular Season: TCU Horned Frogs (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) versus Texas Tech (4-1, 1-1 Big 12), Saturday, October 9, 2021; 6 pm (Central); Jones AT&T Stadium; Lubbock, Texas; TV: ESPN (Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III, Quint Kessenrich); Radio -- WBAP 820 AM, Sirius 119, XM 200, the new Varsity Network App, and the Riff Ram app (Radio Talent: Brian Estridge, John Denton, Landry Burdine); Spanish Radio: KFZO 99.1 (Radio Talent: Miguel Cruz, Elvis Gallegos).

It’s Homecoming weekend at Texas Tech.

Big 12 Conference Expansion Update: 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.  The schools said the moves will come by July 1, 2024, at the latest. All four of the schools currently are members of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Additional information: here  

TCU Uniform Combination for the Texas Tech Game: Against Texas Tech, the Horned Frogs will wear a white jersey that has purple numerals and lettering, white pants and a white helmet with a purple stripe and a purple Horned Frog logo. 

TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson Press Conference About Texas Tech:  here

Texas Tech Head Coach Matt Wells Press Conference About TCU: here  

The Line for the TCU-Texas Tech Game: TCU is a 1.5-point favorite. The over-under for total points in the game is 61.

Midnite's TCU-Texas Tech Prediction: TCU 35, Texas Tech 31

TCU-Texas Tech Hype Video: here

TCU-Texas Tech Watch Parties: here  

TCU's Previous Game to the Texas Tech Game: On Saturday, October 2, in Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas, the University of Texas ran by TCU, 32-27.

TCU's Next Game after the Texas Tech Game: TCU will play Big 12 foe Oklahoma, on Saturday, October 16, in Norman, Oklahoma. Time and TV broadcast to be determined.

Texas Tech’s Previous Game to the TCU Game: On Saturday, October 2, in Morgantown, West Virginia, Texas Tech slipped by the Mountaineers, 23-20. It was the Red Raiders’ second Big 12 game and their fifth game of the season. Texas Tech opened the season in Houston, on September 4, with a 38-21 victory over Houston. On September 11, in Lubbock, Tech beat Stephen F. Austin, 28-22. On September 18, in Lubbock, Texas Tech smashed Florida International, 54-21. On September 25, Tech was walloped by Texas, 70-35, in Austin.

Texas Tech’s Next Game After the TCU Game: Texas Tech will meet Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday, October 16.

Previous TCU-Texas Tech Game: The Frogs defeated Texas Tech, 34-18, on November 7, 2020, in Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas. With wins over Texas, Baylor and Texas Tech, TCU finished the 2020 season 3-0 against in-state Big 12 opponents. At the time, the victory over the Red Raiders was the 200th win that TCU head coach Gary Patterson had taken part in as a Horned Frog. At the time, he had 175 victories as the head coach, to go along with 25 games the Frogs won when he was their defensive coordinator (1998-00).

TCU-Texas Tech Rivalry:

• Texas Tech holds a 32-28-3 edge over TCU in the all-time series that began with a 28-16 Horned Frogs' win in Fort Worth in 1926.
• TCU is 8-18-3 versus the Red Raiders in Lubbock. 
• TCU has won three straight games in Lubbock, in 2015, 2017 and 2019; the only time in program history that TCU has won three consecutive games in Lubbock. 
• The Horned Frogs are 20-14 against Texas Tech in Fort Worth.
• In 2020, in Fort Worth, TCU beat Tech, 34-18. 
• TCU has won six of the last seven meetings between the two teams: 2014, won 82-27; 2015, won 55-52; 2016, won 63-24; 2017, won 27-3; 2018, lost 17-14; 2019, won 33-31; 2020, won 34-18.
• Since the Horned Frogs began Big 12 play in 2012, the road team of the TCU-Texas Tech series has won six of the nine meetings.
• Patterson and Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells have met twice, with Patterson winning both times: 33-31 in Lubbock, in 2019; and 34-18 in Fort Worth, in 2020.
• TCU and Texas Tech play for the Saddle Trophy, a longtime tradition that was renewed in 2017. The teams used to compete annually in the West Texas Championship for the Saddle Trophy before it went away in the early 1970s. Thanks to M.L. Leddy's Boots and Saddlery of Fort Worth, the Saddle Trophy returned. The Saddle Trophy sits on a stand and includes the logos for TCU and Texas Tech. Scores of the 60-plus years of rivalry are represented on the stand.

TCU-Texas Tech Connections:

• Texas Tech has 87 players from Texas on its roster; two from Fort Worth: senior wide receiver Kaylon Geiger, Sr., of Paschal High School; and sophomore defensive lineman Matthew Daniel, of All Saints Episcopal High School.
• TCU has 75 players from Texas on its roster; one from Lubbock: sophomore wide receiver Blair Conwright, of Coronado High School.
• Former TCU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Sonny Cumbie is Texas Tech’s offensive coordinator. Cumbie was at TCU from 2014-2020. 
• Former TCU offensive lineman T.J. Storment, a senior, is an offensive lineman for the Red Raiders. 
• TCU Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Chad Glasgow was Texas Tech's defensive coordinator in 2011. 
• Texas Tech Associate Head Coach/Special Teams coordinator Mark Tommerdahl was TCU's tight ends/special teams coach from 1998-00, which was Gary Patterson's three seasons as the Frogs' defensive coordinator. 
• Jake Brown, in an offensive quality control position at Texas Tech, was at TCU four years in two different stints (2014-16, 2018) under Patterson.
• TCU’s Patterson and Tech’s Wells first crossed paths in Logan, Utah. Patterson was the secondary coach at Utah State from 1992-94. It overlapped with Wells' first three seasons as an Aggies' quarterback (1992-96). 
• The game in Lubbock marks a homecoming for TCU sophomore wide receiver Blair Conwright, who totaled 105 receptions for 1,540 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior at Lubbock's Coronado High School.                                    

TCU Missing in Action News: In last Saturday’s game against Texas game, defensive end Khari Coleman, the 2020 Co-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American, made his season debut after missing the opening three games due to injury. TCU also returned defensive tackle Terrell Cooper, cornerback Noah Daniels and defensive tackle George Ellis III. Defensive tackle Corey Bethley missed the SMU game and did not play against Texas. He may return against Tech. Safety Bud Clark may return from injury this game. Freshman linebacker Shadrach Banks missed the Texas game because of a death in his family. He should be available this week. Wide receiver Quentin Johnston missed the second half of the Texas game beause of a knee injury. His availability for the Texas Tech game has not been revealed. Because of a leg injury, junior wide receiver Mikel Barkley is expected to miss significant playing time in 2021. TCU has its first player in the NCAA transfer portal during this season. Wide receiver TJ Steele entered the portal this week. Steele, a true freshman from Lubbock Estacado High School, had played this season.

TCU Notables: 

• Dating back to last season, the Horned Frogs have won seven of their past 10 contests. 
• Against Texas, TCU scored for the 359th consecutive game. It is the nation’s second-longest current streak and fourth all-time in NCAA history. The Frogs haven’t been blanked since November 16, 1991, at Texas (32-0).
• TCU is 46-20 in regular-season games following a loss under Patterson.
• Over the last seven seasons, TCU has the Big 12's third-best conference record (38-26) and has the third-best overall mark (60-32).
• Since 2009, TCU is tied for fifth nationally with 44 road wins. The Horned Frogs are 44-20 (.688) in that stretch.
• TCU's 52-26 record (.667) in road and neutral-site games since 2009 is seventh-best nationally.
• TCU's 34-19 mark (.635) in conference road games since 2009 is tied for 11th-best in the FBS.
• During Patterson's time at TCU, all other FBS programs in Texas have had at least four head coaches. 
• Against Texas last Saturday, TCU lost for just the third time in 10 meetings against the Longhorns in Big 12 play. 
• TCU's Patterson fell to 7-4 against Texas. His .636 winning percentage ranks No. 1 nationally among all head coaches, past or present, who have faced Texas at least six times since 1996. The seven victories are tied for second by a head coach against Texas since 1996, trailing only Bob Stoops (11). 
• After the Texas loss, the Horned Frogs now are 94-29 under Patterson at Amon G. Carter Stadium. 
• TCU's captains for the Texas game were receiver Taye Barber, quarterback Max Duggan, defensive end Ochuan Mathis and linebacker Dee Winters. Duggan, Mathis and Winters have been captains in each game this season.
• TCU running back Zach Evans had 15 carries for 113 yards against Texas. He topped the 100-yard mark for the third consecutive game and fifth time in the last seven contests.
• Evans is the first Horned Frog with three straight 100-yard games since Darius Anderson in 2019. 
• Evans had a 12-yard first-quarter touchdown against Texas to give him a rushing score in five of the last six games. 
• Evans leads all active players nationally in career yards-per-carry average at 7.7 yards. 
• TCU wide receiver Taye Barber had three receptions for 37 yards against Texas. He now has 102 career catches. 
• TCU receiver J.D. Spielman had an 11-yard touchdown reception, as part of two catches against Texas, to extend his streak to 40 consecutive games with a reception, second-longest in the nation. It also represents every game in his collegiate career. 
• Against the Longhorns, TCU receiver Derius Davis tied a career-high with six receptions, equaling his total in last season's win over Oklahoma State. 
• Against Texas, offensive  right guard Brandon Coleman and true freshman wide receiver Quincy Brown made their first career starts. 
• Running back Kendre Miller’s two-yard touchdown run against Texas gave him a rushing score in three of four games this season. He's tied with Evans for the team lead with three rushing touchdowns. 
• Against Texas, defensive end Dylan Hortan recorded his first two sacks of the season, giving him three in his TCU career. He is the first Horned Frog with multiple sacks in a game since Ochuan Mathis had two in last year's season finale against Louisiana Tech. 
• Horton totaled a TCU career best and team-high nine tackles against the Longhorns, equaling his combined total of nine stops for the season entering the game. 
• Safety Nook Bradford, making his first start of the season and second of his career, had his first career interception, and eight tackles, including one for loss, against Texas. 
• Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, who made his debut at safety after starting the game against Texas at cornerback, had a career-high in tackles for the second straight game with nine stops. He also forced a fumble. 
• Against Texas, linebacker Jamoi Hodge totaled eight tackles, topping his career total of six stops entering the game.A
• Against Texas, defensive tackle Patrick Jenkins made his first career start. 
• J.D. Spielman had a TCU career-best 87-yard return on the game's opening kickoff. It was the Horned Frogs' longest kickoff return since KaVontae Turpin scored on a 99-yard return against Oklahoma in 2018. 
• Punter Jordy Sandy’s 62-yard punt, the second-longest of his career, was downed at the Texas 1-yard line. 
• Placekicker Griffin Kell’s 25- and 36-yard field goals against the Longhorns made him 5-of-7 on the season and 20-of-28 in his career.
• Duggan has been selected as one of two Big 12 student-athletes to represent the conference on the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connection Group. Duggan will represent the interests of Big 12 football players and college football as a whole.
• TCU is one of 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. 
• After opening a season with four consecutive home games for just the second time in its history, TCU makes its first road trip of 2021 when it travels to Lubbock to face Texas Tech on Saturday.
• For the season, cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is leading TCU with 23 tackles, including two for a loss. He’s tied for the team lead with one interception.
• The Frogs have the ninth-ranked total defense in the 10-team Big 12, allowing an average of 397 total yards per game.
• TCU’s opponents are averaging more than 200 yards rushing against the Frogs.
• TCU’s defense is allowing more than five yards a carry, something a TCU defense hasn’t allowed in a season since 1977.
• TCU has boasted the top-ranked defense in the Big 12 more than half the seasons it’s been in the conference.
• The Frogs have never had worse than the fourth-ranked total defense since joining the Big 12 in 2012. 
• Through four games, TCU ranks eighth in the Big 12 with five sacks. 
• TCU has three 2021 Preseason All-Americans in punt returner Derius Davis, Hodges-Tomlinson and Mathis.
• 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; 34-32) and SMU (September 25; 34-42).  
• TCU this season will host four Big 12 home games, against Texas (October 2; 27-32), 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.
• 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 replaced 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. 
• 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.  
• 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.  
• 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.  
• Avila, a redshirt junior center and a 2020 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honoree, is on 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 is on 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. 
• 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.  
• Last season, Mathis, at defensive end, 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. 
• 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’ Derius Davis, an electrifying kick returner and receiver, 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, Van Zandt, Noah Daniels and 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 170-75. 
• Patterson’s 170 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 three.

Texas Tech Notables:   

• Texas Tech University is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas.
• Established on February 10, 1923, and called until 1969 Texas Technological College, Texas Tech  is the main institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University System.
• The university had an undergraduate enrollment of about 31,000 students.
• On November 30, 2018, Matt Wells was hired as the team's 16th head football coach after former Red Raiders quarterback Kliff Kingsbury was terminated upon conclusion of the 2018 season.
• Kingsbury has been the head coach of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals since 2019.
• In 2019, Wells' first year at Tech, the Red Raiders went 4-8, 2-7 Big 12. 
• In 2020, Wells’ second year at Tech, the Red Raiders went 4-6, 3-6 Big 12.
• After Texas Tech’s 23-20 win over West Virginia on October 2, Tech senior linebacker Colin Schooler (#17) was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Schooler recorded 15 tackles and forced a key first-half fumble. The 15 tackles marked his most tackles as a Red Raider and the 16th time in his career to reach double digits.
• Schooler is the nation's active leader in career tackles and tackles for loss.
• After the Tech win over the Mountaineers, Tech senior placekicker Jonathan Garibay (#46) was named Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. Garibay connected on all three field goals he attempted, including the game-winner from 32 yards out in the closing seconds. It marked the second game-winning field goal of Garibay's career as he previously helped the Red Raiders walk off with a victory against Baylor a year ago. The senior also connected on field goals from 33 and 29 yards in the win over the Mountaineers. Garibay is six-for-six on field goal attempts this season.
• Red Raiders starting quarterback Tyler Shough (collarbone) missed Tech’s game against West Virginia and is out until at least November.
• Texas Tech standout wide receiver and Big 12 leading receiver Erik Ezukanma (concussion protocol) missed Tech’s game against West Virginia.
• The Red Raiders have the fourth-best offense in the Big 12, averaging 438 total yards per game.
• Texas Tech is averaging 294 yards per game through the air.
• The Red Raiders are averaging 144 yards per game on the ground.
• Tech is averaging 35.60 points per game.
• Senior quarterback Henry Colombi (#3) has completed 41-of-58 passes, for 598 yards. He had thrown three touchdown passes. He has been intercepted once.
• In the win over West Virginia, Colombi completed 23-of-34 passes for 266 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass or an interception. He was sacked three times.
• Ezukanma (#13), a junior wide receiver from Keller (Texas) Timber Creek in the Fort Worth, Texas, area, has caught 23 passes in four games for 406 yards. He is averaging 17.65 yards per catch and 101.5 receiving yards per game. He has one touchdown reception. He has a long reception of 75 yards.
• Senior wide receiver Kaylon Geiger, Sr. (#10), of Paschal High School in Fort Worth, has caught 21 passes for 314 yards. He has one touchdown catch. He has a long reception of 75 yards.
• Senior tight end Travis Koontz leads the Red Raiders with two touchdown catches.
• Sophomore running back Tahj Brooks (#28) leads the Red Raiders in rushing, averaging 94.67 yards per game. He has four rushing touchdowns.
• Brooks missed Tech’s last two games, against Texas and West Virginia, because of a leg injury.
• Junior running back SaRodorick Thompson (#4) has three rushing touchdowns. 
• Tech’s offense has given up nine sacks in five games. 
• Tech’s defense giving up an average of 386.8 total yards per game.
• Tech’s defense is allowing an average of 268.2 yards per game through the air.
• Opponents are averaging 118.6 yards per game rushing against the Red Raiders.
• Texas Tech’s defense is allowing 30.8 points per game.
• Through five games, Tech’s defense has recorded 11 sacks and six interceptions.
• Schooler leads Tech’s defense with 44 tackles. He has three tackles for loss and one sack.
• Senior linebacker Riko Jeffers (#6), of Garland, has made 29 tackles. He has one tackle for loss, one sack and one interception.
• Junior defensive linemen Jaylon Hutchings (#95) and Tyree Wilson (#19) each have two sacks.
• Tech punter Austin McNamara (#31) is averaging 45.29 yards per punt. He has a long punt of 54 yards. He has not had a punt blocked.
• Garibay has a long field goal of 34 yards. He has not had a kick blocked.

2021 TCU Football Fan Guide: here

2021 Gary Patterson Luncheon Series: Remaining Gary Patterson/Frog Club luncheons, sponsored by Origin Bank: 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 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 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 Texas Tech Football Guide: here

2021 Texas Tech Football Roster:  here  

2021 Texas Tech Football Schedule: here  

Texas Tech Alma Mater: here  

Texas Tech Traditions: here

Texas Tech’s Jones AT&T Stadium: here 

Texas Tech Athletics Clear Bag Policy: here

sEcSPN College GameDay for October 9, 2021: sEcSPN GameDay will be in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, October 9, at the Cotton Bowl and the State Fair of Texas for the Texas Oklahoma game. The sixth-ranked Sooners will take on the 21st-ranked Longhorns at 11 am CT. ABC will broadcast the game. 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.