TCU’s new era post-Josh Hoover kicked off with a brutal 15-10 loss to North Carolina in Dublin, Ireland, and the passing game looked like it hit a brick wall. The Horned Frogs’ offense managed a mere 175 yards through the air, struggling mightily to replace their star quarterback who racked up 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions last season before heading to Indiana. That’s a huge shoes-to-fill situation, and the first game showed how tough that’s going to be.
Jaden Craig’s Rocky Debut Under Center
Jaden Craig was under the microscope, completing 20 of 32 passes but never finding a rhythm that mattered. Think about it: they scored on their first two drives, looked promising early, and then just *stopped*. TCU was held scoreless after that first quarter! Craig couldn’t convert when it counted most, and the entire passing game felt out of sync. Ed Small did catch a career-high nine passes on 11 targets, but those only went for 65 yards, with a long of 17. Only two other receivers even caught more than one pass. That’s not a formula for success, especially when you’re trying to replace a guy now considered a Heisman candidate for the top team in the Sporting News rankings.
Defense Fought Hard, Offense Blew Opportunities
The craziest part? The defense actually put in work. They held North Carolina to 322 yards total offense and kept the Tar Heels out of the end zone after the first quarter. That’s a solid effort! But the offense just couldn’t capitalize. They moved the ball at times, sure, but then turned it over on downs at the North Carolina 10-yard line and, even worse, the 6-yard line on their final two possessions. You just can’t waste those kinds of chances, especially when you’re trying to establish a new identity. This was a far cry from last season’s 48-14 win over UNC, where Hoover threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns.
Now, TCU has a bye week, which feels well-timed to say the least. They need it to get the kinks worked out of this passing game. They’ve got two home games coming up against Grambling State and Arkansas State. These are massive opportunities to figure things out, get Craig comfortable, and find some offensive rhythm before Big 12 play kicks off. The season’s early, but a start like this tells you exactly where the focus needs to be.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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