Arizona State defensive coordinator Brian Ward is making bold claims ahead of his team’s showdown with TCU, calling Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover the best signal-caller in the Big 12.
Ward told reporters, “I don’t know if we’ve seen a quarterback like him since 2023, with that murderers’ row of QBs we saw with [Michael] Penix, [Bo] Nix, Cam Ward. He’s definitely an NFL guy. The best guy we’ve seen in the Big 12.”
Ward’s praise comes in the context of rising expectations for both programs. TCU enters the matchup riding momentum behind Hoover, who emerged as a top passer nationally last season. Hoover is listed at 6’2”, 200 lb, and by his junior year had thrown for nearly 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2024. Ward’s comparison to the “murderers’ row” of quarterbacks from 2023, Penix, Nix, Cam Ward, is intended to elevate Hoover into the elite class more swiftly than many anticipated.
But Ward’s comments are risky. He clearly wants to throw psychological weight toward the game, but declaring an opponent’s pivot “the best in the league” might sharpen attention on Hoover’s flaws. The Big 12 is stacked at quarterback, with names like Sam Leavitt, Sawyer Robertson, Rocco Becht, and others already competing for stats and awards. Ward’s hyperbole could be seen as an honest appraisal, or a tone‑setting maneuver to bait TCU’s staff and fans.
For Arizona State, this is also a signal about how seriously they view the matchup. The Sun Devils are banking on Big 12 respectability and national credibility. Taking Hoover seriously is necessary, and writing him off would be a mistake. But public validation from a conference peer raises the stakes. TCU now has moral momentum, and Ward essentially handed Hoover a mandate to deliver under scrutiny.
Where this gets more interesting is the contrast between projection and matchup execution. Hoover will be measured not just by stats but by how he handles Arizona State’s defense. Ward’s praise could become a sword if Hoover throws interceptions, stalls drives, or falters in critical moments. Come game day, that quote will be part of the storyline: Was Ward right, or did he hand Hoover a narrative he couldn’t live up to?
TCU vs. Arizona State is no longer just another Big 12 game. It’s a spotlight moment for Hoover to back up praise from an opposing coordinator. Whether Ward’s claim holds after 60 minutes could influence how Big 12 coaches, media, and NFL scouts view quarterback hierarchy for 2025.
