It will not be straightforward strolling within the footsteps of Gary Patterson, TCU’s legendary head coach. Nonetheless, Sonny Dykes simply may be capable to pull it off.

It is not Patterson’s 181 wins, however Dykes has loved appreciable success at any time when he is arrived on the faculty soccer scene.

And this time he made the drive not far west on the I-90 from SMU in Dallas to the TCU campus in Fort Value, the place he is taking on a program with a fairly good base. Some say it is even worthy of a shock Huge 12 championship this yr.

“TCU is about profitable championships,” mentioned Dykes, a 71-63 head coach with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, California Golden Bears, and — from 2017 till the tip of final season — theSMU Mustangs. “I wish to coach in this sort of atmosphere the place there was that stage of success and there is that stage of expectations, as effectively.”

These expectations start Friday night time in Recreation 1 of TCU’s Dykes period at Folsom Area in Boulder towards the host Colorado Buffaloes.

School Soccer Predictions for Each Recreation in Week 1

The Pac-12 opponent is probably going a transition yr. It is the third one for Karl Dorrell, who’s tasked with attempting to rebuild the Buffaloes after the workforce completed simply 4-8 in 2021 after which misplaced numerous expertise by way of the switch portal.

Main rusher Jarek Broussard (Michigan State), three of their prime 5 receivers — together with jack-of-all-trades Brenden Rice (USC) — and their top-six defensive abilities — together with star cornerback Christian Gonzalez (Oregon) — all transferred, graduated, or declared for the NFL draft.

So the problem is on for Dorrell, whose squad is being picked by many pundits to complete final within the Pac-12. That is a far cry from the positivity placed on TCU heading into the Week 1 matchup.

TCU at Colorado

Kickoff: Friday, Sept. 2 at 10 p.m. ET
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When TCU Has the Ball

Dykes’ first determination is to determine his chief on offense. So who’s it going to be at QB for TCU? 

The very best guess, it will appear, is senior Max Duggan, who’s a 29-game starter for the Horned Frogs. However redshirt freshman Chandler Morris has fairly the résumé with a 531-yard outing from 2021. Then there’s redshirt freshman Sam Jackson tossed one ball final season, however it was a biggie for a 77-yard hook-up with Taye Barber.

“I believe we’re in a great spot,” mentioned Dykes earlier this week, including he intends to make use of all three QBs in video games. “Clearly, Max Duggan has a big résumé. He has performed numerous snaps within the final three years right here at TCU and has performed very effectively … Chandler is identical approach. You have a look at a number of the video games he performed in final yr — he performed distinctive. So that they each have expertise, they usually each have performed it.”

With that type of firepower from the helm — Duggan has thrown for five,920 yards in three seasons — and Dykes on the scene, the Horned Frogs will proceed to showcase a pass-happy assault. And it may effectively be very blissful Friday going through an inexperienced Colorado secondary.

Fifth-year males Derius Davis and Barber, junior Quentin Johnston — who had a team-high 634 pass-catching yards in 2021 — junior Savion Williams, sophomore Quincy Brown, and four-star recruit freshman Jordan Hudson comprise a proficient receiving corps for no matter quarterback is tossing the ball.

It will be a working back-by-committee method, together with senior Emari Demercado, juniors Emani Bailey and Kendre Miller, and redshirt freshman Trent Battle, with Miller having had one of the best numbers final yr — 623 dashing yards — behind the departed Zach Evans, who took his 648 yards to Ole Miss.

And it would not harm to have captain and middle Steve Avila, who’s on a number of award watch lists, anchoring a strong offensive line that’s particularly robust within the inside.

When Colorado Has the Ball

Quarterback selections are nonetheless being made by the Buffaloes, as effectively. Twin-threat sophomore Brendon Lewis, who began each sport final season, and junior JT Shrout are battling for the beginning gig. And like Dykes, Dorrell mentioned they are going to share time.

“There is perhaps a time limit the place both of these guys we’re speaking about may simply find yourself simply taking off and simply taking on — typically that occurs,” Dorrell instructed reporters within the lead-up to the sport. “You simply need to type of decide it sport by sport and see how productive we’re and price all of them.”

Dorrell’s score of final yr’s file induced him to scrub home on offense, as he introduced in coordinator Mike Sanford from Minnesota together with three different assistants on that facet of the ball.

It might appear there’s nowhere to go however up for the Colorado assault, which was run-heavy final season and abysmal general. The proof was in its incapacity to attain, because the 121st-ranked workforce within the nation in that division with simply 18.8 factors per sport. The Buffs have been much more inept transferring the ball, as their 257.6 yards per sport was higher solely than New Mexico final season — and the worst mark in program historical past in 50-plus years.

That places strain on those that did return, together with senior tight finish — and final yr’s main receiver with 307 yards — Brady Russell, offensive linemen Frank Fillip, Jake Wiley, and Casey Roddick, sixth-year working again Alex Fontenot, and pass-catcher RJ Sneed, a switch in from Baylor.

One other newcomer within the highlight is three-star receiver recruit Jordyn Tyson.

However maybe the Buffs offense can earn some fast confidence in lining up towards what was a horrible TCU protection final yr in permitting 461.8 yards per sport (119th), though the early returns have pegged the Horned Frogs — anchored by senior linebacker Dee Winters — as up and coming. It will need to be if it needs that Huge 12 title.

Ultimate Evaluation

If the hype is true about TCU, regardless of a brand new regime, the Horned Frogs have to get pleasure from some confidence themselves in Week 1. And Dykes does have the texture for achievement after main SMU to a 30-18 file in his time on the Dallas college.

“I actually like our preparation,” Dykes mentioned. “I believe our gamers have been dialed in.”

That mentioned it is a lofty perch to show a 5-7 workforce final yr right into a convention winner in 2022.

That mark wasn’t a lot better than what four-win Colorado put up final fall, though there does look like extra to supply in Fort Value than in Boulder, even when Dorrell is touting a .500 season for the Buffaloes.

“We will win this yr,” Dorrell mentioned. “We’re able to win … You’ve got labored arduous (and) educated to win this yr.”

Do not guess on that development starting Friday.

Prediction: TCU 45, Colorado 23

– Written by Todd Saelhof, who’s a part of the Athlon Contributor Community and a sports activities editor/author for Postmedia in Canada. Comply with him on @ToddSaelhofPM at #CollegeFootballFrenzy.