Here is everything you need to know about the Horned Frogs’ next game in our TCU at Arkansas preview.
Broadcast Info
2:30 p.m. Central Time, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas
TV: CBS (Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Allie LaForce)
Radio: WBAP 820 AM, KTCU 88.7 FM (Fort Worth); Sirius 99/XM 192
Key players
TCU Horned Frogs
RB Kyle Hicks
Hicks didn’t play last week due to injury. But last year he had 141 total yards and two touchdowns in the Horned Frogs’ overtime loss to the Hogs. He is expected to play on Saturday.
LB Travin Howard
The veteran linebacker leads active Horned Frogs in tackles and tackles for loss. He is the unit’s top playmaker.
WR KaVontae Turpin
A wide receiver and return man, he has scoring potential every time he touches the ball. He has 126 yards receiving last year against Arkansas.
Arkansas Razorbacks
QB Austin Allen
Allen was a thorn in TCU’s side last year and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime. He also threw for 223 yards in the victory.
C Frank Ragnow
A center? Really? Well, you’d call him a player to watch if you found out he hadn’t allowed a sack in 2,171 college snaps.
RB Chase Hayden
The freshman rushed for 120 yards last week against Florida A&M, the first true freshman to do that for the Hogs in four years. Sounds like Arkansas may have found its replacement for Rawleigh Williams
Key storylines
TCU Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs allowed a ridiculous 65 yards of total defense against Jackson State last week. That won’t happen against Arkansas, of course. But the Horned Frogs’ defense appears to be primed to play at a high level this season. How will it do against a veteran QB like Allen and new freshman RB Hayden? We’ll see, and it could be an indicator of how good the unit could be in Big 12 action. Offensively the Horned Frogs hope for a great game from QB Kenny Hill, who threw for 377 yards last year vs. the Hogs. Will TCU get that Hill, or the one that gradually declined in the second half of last season?
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Hogs don’t have a player that really stands out defensively, if you look at sheer numbers. Will a playmaker step forward in this game? The emergence of Hayden last week was a godsend for the Hogs, who saw Williams retire due to injury in the offseason. But how will he fare against a much better TCU defense? Head coach Bret Bielema may be in a make-or-break season in Fayetteville and a loss to TCU won’t help him keep his job or maintain team’s momentum with SEC play looming.
Prediction
TCU 31, Arkansas 28
Like last year, the road team wins this one. TCU was pretty banged up last year for this meeting. This time the Horned Frogs are healthy and the Hogs are the ones still trying to work some things out.
