Breaking down Colorado football's Week 6 opponent: the TCU Horned Frogs

The Colorado Buffaloes are now 2-3 on the year and 0-2 in the Big 12 Conference with losses to Houston and BYU. The Buffs have lost a significant amount of talent from last year's roster, and this has been evident in their 2025 performance so far.

The departures have left noticeable gaps on both sides of the ball, and the team is still trying to find its identity as new faces assume larger roles. This week, they head down to Fort Worth, Texas, to take on the 3-1 TCU Horned Frogs, where Colorado is nearly a two-touchdown underdog.

TCU is a very intriguing team, and if not for a late field goal made by Arizona State last week, this Horned Frogs team would be 4-0 and perhaps be ranked in the top 15. Here is a breakdown of TCU and what the Buffs should expect to see Saturday evening.

Elite quarterback play

TCU junior quarterback Josh Hoover has quickly established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the Big 12—and possibly in the country. Through four games this season, he's racked up 1,242 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, one rushing score, and four interceptions. He's thrown for at least 242 yards in every outing and plays with a fearless mentality, never hesitating to air it out.

That said, Hoover is coming off his toughest performance of the season in last week's loss to Arizona State. He threw two interceptions and was sacked six times as the Sun Devils effectively disguised their coverages and applied consistent pressure. This week, Colorado will aim to replicate that formula, but slowing down Hoover won't be easy.

Ground game

TCU's running back committee has been unpredictable, to say the least. Kevorian Barnes entered the season as the clear lead back, but an injury in Week 2 has sidelined him ever since. Despite missing the last two games, he still leads the team in rushing with 156 yards, which says a lot about how much the Horned Frogs have missed him.

In his absence, Trent Battle and Jeremy Payne have stepped in with mixed results. While they've managed to keep things afloat, the run game stalled last week against Arizona State. The pair combined for just 50 yards on 15 carries, and the offense struggled to find any real rhythm on the ground.

There's no question TCU is feeling Barnes' absence in the backfield, but there's a bit of optimism, as he returned to practice on Tuesday. Head coach Sonny Dykes addressed the status of both Barnes and wide receiver Eric McAlister, offering a cautious update: "Right now if we had a game today, neither one would play," Dykes said. "I'm hopeful we're saying something different by the time we get to Saturday. I'm hopeful for both of them."

Here is a breakdown of what to expect when the Buffaloes and the Horned Frogs face off Saturday evening.

Pass catchers galore

Josh Hoover has done an excellent job spreading the ball around in this offense, with five different players recording at least 11 catches through the first four games. Leading the charge are wide receivers Eric McAlister, Jordan Dwyer, and Joseph Manjack IV. McAlister has hauled in 13 catches for 320 yards and three touchdowns, Dwyer has 20 receptions for 299 yards and two scores, and Manjack IV has added 15 catches for 236 yards and a touchdown.

As mentioned earlier, McAlister is questionable for this week's matchup against Colorado after suffering an injury in the Arizona State game. Even if he's unable to play, the Buffaloes will still have their hands full trying to contain a passing attack that has been one of the most balanced and explosive in the Big 12.

Suspect defense

The 2025 TCU defense has been what you might expect from a typical Big 12 unit—defense has felt more like a suggestion than a priority. Through four games, they've been surprisingly underwhelming. They held a struggling North Carolina team to just 222 total yards in the opener, but things have gone downhill since. TCU gave up a concerning 453 yards to Abilene Christian, 384 yards to SMU and nearly 500 yards of total offense to Arizona State in their only loss of the season. These are not the kind of numbers that inspire confidence, as opposing offenses have largely been able to move the ball at will.

When it comes to points allowed, the trend hasn't been encouraging either. After giving up just two touchdowns in Week 1, they allowed 21 points in Week 2 and 24 points in each of the last two games against SMU and ASU.

Colorado should be able to find some success on offense in this matchup. The bigger question is whether their defense can do enough to slow down Josh Hoover and the Horned Frogs' high-powered passing attack.

X factors and injury questions

If TCU wide receiver Eric McAlister and running back Kevorian Barnes are active for this game, it's hard to imagine Colorado being able to slow down this Horned Frogs offense. The run game has clearly struggled without Barnes, and his physical presence has been sorely missed. A return against the Buffs could be a game-changer, as he has the potential to dominate on the ground. McAlister adds another dynamic playmaker who, if healthy, can create problems for any defense throughout the game.

It's a big "if" whether both are available, but even if they're not, Josh Hoover has proven he can keep the offense rolling by spreading the ball to a deep group of receivers.

As for Colorado, someone in the receiving corps (I'm looking at you, Omarion Miller) needs to step up and make a significant impact. Just last week, former Buff turned Sun Devil Jordyn Tyson torched this TCU defense with eight catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. The flaws in the Horned Frogs' secondary are real, and Kaidon Salter and the Buffaloes would be wise to make the passing game a focal point. There's a real opportunity to exploit TCU through the air.

Kickoff is set for 5:30 PM MT, with the game streaming live on Fox.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado vs. TCU: What to expect from the Horned Frogs