No. 10 BYU vs. TCU preview: Cougars chase elusive win in Fort Worth
No. 10 BYU takes its unbeaten record into hostile territory Saturday, visiting a TCU team looking to bounce back from a loss. The Cougars (3-0) have not won at Amon G. Carter Stadium since 2006, a streak that looms over an otherwise promising season.
TCU (2-2) enters off a 21-13 loss at UCF, per the Deseret News. BYU is coming off a bye week and a 41-23 win at Colorado State, giving it extra time to prepare for what Cougars coach Kalani Sitake called the fastest team BYU will face this season, according to Sports Illustrated.
BYU vs. TCU game information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Venue: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
- TV/Streaming: ESPN, Disney+
- Series: TCU leads the all-time series 7-6
Cougars outlook
BYU’s offense has been efficient rather than flashy through three games. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has completed 44 of 62 passes for 642 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception, while running back LJ Martin has carried 42 times for 328 yards and three scores. Receiver Legend Glasker leads the passing game with 11 catches for 270 yards and two touchdowns.
Tight end Saleapaga, offensive lineman Sfarcioc and receiver Bachmeier all missed the Colorado State game with minor injuries, but all three are expected to be available against TCU, according to the Deseret News. Bachmeier is projected to start at quarterback, with Martin expected to anchor the ground game.
Horned Frogs outlook
Quarterback Jaden Craig has thrown for 1,213 yards and seven touchdowns but also three interceptions, including two in the loss at UCF, where the Horned Frogs rushed for only 33 yards. Running back Jeremy Payne has 355 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and receiver Ed Small leads the team with 24 catches for 371 yards.
Coach Sonny Dykes said he was “very, very disappointed” in his team’s performance against UCF, per the Deseret News. Craig is projected to start again under center as TCU looks to clean up the penalties and turnovers that plagued it in Orlando.
Key matchup
The Horned Frog’s defense has not allowed more than 15 points in any game this season, a number that will be tested by a BYU offense averaging more than 200 passing yards and 100-plus rushing yards per game behind Bachmeier and Martin. The Horned Frogs showed last year that a stingy defense alone is not enough to slow the Cougars, which hung 44 points on them in Provo. The reverse matchup is just as important: BYU’s defense must contain a Craig-led passing attack that gashed overmatched opponents for 728 yards and seven touchdowns in wins over Grambling and Arkansas State, even though it struggled against the tougher competition UCF and North Carolina provided.
Players to watch
Bear Bachmeier, QB, Cougars
Bachmeier has thrown for 642 yards and six touchdowns against one interception through three games. His ability to extend plays against what Sitake called the fastest defense BYU will face this season could determine whether the Cougars can replicate last year’s 44-point outburst in Fort Worth.
Jaden Craig, QB, Horned Frogs
A transfer who has had wildly different outings depending on the opponent, Craig threw for just 175 yards in a season-opening loss to North Carolina but piled up 728 yards and seven touchdowns against Grambling and Arkansas State. His two interceptions at UCF raised questions about how he handles pressure from a ranked, physical defense like BYU’s.
What to watch
The Cougar’s bid to stay unbeaten carries extra weight with Notre Dame looming on Oct. 17 in Provo. The Cougars also have a history of underperforming at Amon G. Carter Stadium regardless of their record, having lost there as recently as 2023 by 33 points.
TCU is fighting to snap a two-game losing streak against Power Four competition, and a home win over a ranked opponent would be a statement. Weather is expected to be mild, with temperatures near 71 degrees and a 34% chance of precipitation.
Reporting from FOX Sports, Sports Illustrated and Deseret contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).