TCU Football Week 11 Opponent Preview: Texas Longhorns

The room for margin shrinks to near zero for TCU down their last three games of the year. With bowl eligibility now on the line, TCU looks to get back to .500 against the Texas Longhorns.

The TCU Horned Frogs (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) have no margin left for error. With three games left – two against ranked opponents and another against a rival – the Frogs must win two games to become bowl eligible. Up next is their toughest test of the season in the Texas Longhorns (8-1, 5-1). A loss also closes the book on an outside chance that TCU makes the Big 12 Championship game, officially.

Texas at TCU kicks off Saturday, Nov. 11, at 6:30 p.m. CT at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Catch the game on ABC or on the radio at 88.7 FM KTCU.

TCU's head coach Sonny Dykes makes a face during the Big 12 football game against Texas Tech, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium :: © Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas vs. TCU Series History

Despite a wide series deficit all-time (64-28-1 in favor of the Longhorns), TCU has been an impossible thorn in the side of Texas since joining the Big 12. Since joining the league in 2012, TCU owns an 8-3 lead, including a victory in 2022 and four straight wins from 2014-17. What's more dramatic about this year's matchup is that it may be the last meeting between these two teams, at least for the foreseeable future and as conference rivals.

From 1968-91, when both teams were in the Southwest Conference, Texas won 24 consecutive matchups. The Frogs broke the losing skid in 1992, but lost the final three matchups before the schools parted ways in 1996.

The two teams first met in 1897, where Texas won 18-10 in neutral Waco.

Nov 12, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Christian Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) prepares to throw a pass against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports / © Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Players To Note

Hands down, Texas has the most roster talent in the Big 12, perhaps among the most nationally. Currently, the Horns are operating without starting QB Quinn Ewers, who sprained his AC joint in his throwing shoulder a couple weeks ago. Instead, Maalik Murphy has been starting, throwing for 418 yards and three touchdowns (but also three picks) in two starts.

Whoever starts at QB works with one of the deepest and best receiving corps in the country. Xavier Worthy earned preseason All American honors, but Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell leads the team with eight touchdown receptions. Tight end JT Sanders offers a mismatch for linebackers and safeties alike in coverage, leading starters in yards per reception (17.2).

Texas operates with a two-headed backfield led by Jonathan Brooks and freshman star CJ Baxter. Brooks is a 1,000-yard rusher this season and has forced the fifth-most tackles in the country. They run behind a young but talented offensive line led by 2022 freshman All American Kelvin Banks.

Defensively, the Horns hang their hats on the defensive front. Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat is quickly building an All-Conference resume and edge Ethan Burke leads the team with four sacks. Jahdae Barron and Terrence Brooks anchor the secondary, leading Texas to one of the top passing defenses in the nation.

Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) lifts Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) after his touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns' game against the BYU Cougars at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. Texas won the game 35-6 :: © Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sizing Up The Longhorns

Popular pessimism before the season started began with looking at the talent on Texas' roster and leveraging a recent lack of success on the field. However, through 10 weeks of the season, Texas has put those concerns to bed. They went into Tuscaloosa and beat Alabama, crushed top-25 Kansas, and outlasted Kansas State at home. Their one loss came to arch-rival Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout.

While the Longhorns' offense offers multiple ways to beat teams – and they have against elite defenses like Alabama – it's the defense that's paved the way this year. Four opponents failed to crack 10 points and the front seven removes run games from the equation. This season, Texas is 11th in the nation in yards per rush allowed, having successfully closed the ground game door on top-tier rushing attacks like Alabama and Kansas State.

However, this isn't an impenetrable team. After all, they did allow 34 points in the loss to Oklahoma and 30 in an overtime thriller to Kansas State. Murphy is a steep downgrade at QB from Ewers and has a propensity to both turn the ball over and turtle in big moments.

The Longhorns gave up a 20-point lead to Kansas State almost instantly with careless turnovers. More of those heading into Fort Worth will keep the door wide open for the Frogs, who seemingly have Texas' number this century.

Texas Longhorns defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat (93), center, huddles with teammates during the game against Kansas State at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 in Austin :: © Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Opponent Rundown

Team: Texas Longhorns

Record: 8-1 (5-1 Big 12)

Coach: Steve Sarkisian (3rd season)

Scoring Offense: 34.3 points per game (19th)

Scoring Defense: 17.6 points allowed per game (14th)

Texas 2023 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Result
Sept. 2	Rice	W 37-10
Sept. 9	at Alabama	W 34-24
Sept. 16	Wyoming	W 31-10
Sept. 23	at Baylor	W 38-6
Sept. 30	Kansas	W 40-14
Oct. 7	vs. Oklahoma	L 34-30
Oct. 14	BYE
Oct. 21	at Houston	W 31-24
Oct. 28	BYU	W 35-6
Nov. 4	Kansas State	W 33-30 (OT)
Nov. 11	at TCU
Nov. 18	at Iowa State
Nov. 24	Texas Tech

TCU vs. Texas Game Info

• When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 6:30 p.m. CT
• Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, TX)
• TV: ABC

TCU Football: What Did We Learn From The Texas Tech Game?

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