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'Our Own Worst Enemy...' Sonny Dykes, TCU Go For Pivotal Win Over Kansas
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- 'Our Own Worst Enemy...' Sonny Dykes, TCU Go For Pivotal Win Over Kansas
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
After finally getting over the hump in its Big 12 schedule, TCU headed back to Fort Worth to host West Virginia seeking a late-season surge.
In a back-and-forth contest with the Mountaineers, the Horned Frogs came up short yet again in a 24-20 defeat.
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While it was not a complete reversal to the version seen before the victory over Baylor, some old habits emerged in a way that was impossible to ignore.
Quarterback Jaden Craig tossed for nearly 400 yards, as the offense had its best performance of the year within the Big 12.
However, he also turned the ball over three times himself and snuffed out many chances for the team to pull away, including a fumble in the red zone on the potential game-winning drive.
Off another unfavorable result, TCU has put itself in the precarious position of missing out on a bowl game with the season nearing a rapid conclusion.
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With pressure mounting, the Horned Frogs have the opportunity to earn some much needed breathing room in their latest matchup against Kansas.
READ MORE: TCU Faces Kansas In Must-Win Big 12 Clash As Injuries Mount
Ahead of the potential bowl-or-bust bout with the Jayhawks, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes broke down his early assessment of the opposing team in his weekly media availability .
"Overall a really solid football team that's played a lot of close games similar to us," said Dykes.
TCU enters the weekend sitting at 3-4 and 1-3 in the Big 12, with an unfathomable four losses in one-score games.
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Meanwhile, Kansas is an identical 3-4 with a lone win in the Big 12, which also happens to be against Baylor in another uncanny point linking the teams together.
The Jayhawks have found themselves in less one-score games than the Frogs, with a 1-1 record thus far including the recent win over the Bears.
However, four of their games have been decided by 17 points or less.
"[They are] an explosive offensive team. They're going to show you a lot of different looks, try to confuse you a little bit," continued Dykes.
That assessment from Dykes could be the key to victory or recipe for disaster for TCU, as it is part of the same formula that West Virginia used to eventually upend the Horned Frogs.
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Mistakes from the Horned Frogs might have been the true nail in the coffin against the Mountaineers, but they were still able to put up 24 points in the least dominant defensive performance of the season.
Although it also happened to be one of West Virginia's worst offensive showcases of the season, which only emphasizes the strength of the defense for TCU.
READ MORE: TCU's 75-0 Yardage Pattern Ends In Crushing Home Loss To West Virginia
Despite facing another challenge in conference play, Dykes explained that his team is not ready to call it quits.
"I think we're disappointed. I think we're frustrated. I think we were hurt Saturday. But we're very hopeful and we're very optimistic and we're very determined to get this thing on track and we know we can," he said.
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"I think we've been our own worst enemy this year and we've got to stop doing that."
TCU aims to get one step closer to bowl eligibility and a strong finish to the year by taking down Kansas on Halloween at 2:30 p.m. CT inside Amon G. Carter Stadium.
