College Football16 min ago1 minute read

Sonny Dykes Shrugs Off Boos as TCU Looks to Rebound

Sonny Dykes brushed aside calls for his firing as TCU sits at 4-4 following a narrow home win over Kansas.

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Frustration in the Stands

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes addressed the growing frustration among supporters following Saturday's game. Some fans chanted for him to be fired and wore bags over their heads during the Halloween matchup against Kansas. Dykes called that reaction the bad part of the profession, though he insisted he did not notice the chants during the contest.

The Horned Frogs pulled out a 22-16 victory when quarterback Jaden Craig scored on a 17 yard run with 1:09 remaining. The stadium was far from full at kickoff. Many fans and most students left after TCU went scoreless in the first half for the first time in eight years.

Defensive Success Amid Close Losses

TCU sits at 4-4 overall and 2-3 in Big 12 play. All four losses have come in one score games against Power Four opponents, decided by a combined margin of 24 points.

The close defeats have overshadowed strong defensive numbers. TCU leads the Big 12 in defense, allowing only 14.1 points and 287.6 total yards per game. On offense, the 22 points against Kansas marked the most the team has scored against a Power Four opponent all year. TCU also holds a 17-6 victory over Baylor this season.

Dykes Defends His Record

Dykes holds a 40-21 record at TCU. In his first season, the program tied a school record with 13 wins, beat Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl, and reached the national title game before losing 65-7 to Georgia. TCU dropped to 5-7 in 2023 before recording consecutive 9-4 seasons capped by bowl wins.

Dykes admitted that a 4-4 record is not good enough. He also noted that similar fan frustration is happening at other programs, including Nebraska, where coach Matt Rhule recently called for patience. Dykes stated that outside noise will not affect his preparation or how hard he works.

What it means for the next game

TCU Horned Frogs at Arizona Wildcats (College Football, Sat, 07 Nov): Arizona Wildcats win 75%, TCU Horned Frogs win 25%; projected score Arizona Wildcats 26, TCU Horned Frogs 17. Our safest pick: Arizona to win.