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College Football
Preview
Arizona at Texas Christian
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 23, 2024
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas

TCU brings the best passing game in the Big 12 into Saturday's matchup against Arizona in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Horned Frogs (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) rank sixth nationally with 329.6 passing yards per game, and they have some momentum, winning three of their past four games. Josh Hoover directs a big-play passing game, having completed 256 of 378 passes for 3,233 yards, with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Wide receiver Jack Bech has 982 receiving yards, with 16 catches going for at least 20 yards. He has nine touchdown catches.

Arizona (4-6, 2-5) ended a five-game losing streak Friday night with a 27-3 home win over Houston to keep alive its bowl hopes. But the Wildcats will have to pivot this week from playing against the worst passing team in the Big 12.

The Wildcats came up with three turnovers and four fourth-down stops against Houston, but they are playing without three key defenders due to season-ending injuries - defensive backs Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado, and linebacker Jacob Manu.

The Wildcats tweaked some things offensively last week, inserting Joey Capra as the new right tackle, increasing the use of five-receiver sets and relying more on quarterback Noah Fifita to deliver quick passes.

"We've been really diligent the last couple of weeks of putting him on the clock every play and giving him that feedback in practice in the moment," coach Brent Brennan said of Fifita. "I think we were also a little more consistent up front. ... The concept where the ball has to get out fast is what we're trying to do."

TCU coach Sonny Dykes said Tuesday that three defenders - linebacker Cooper McDonald, nose tackle Markis Deal and defensive lineman Hakeem Ajijolaiya - are expected to be available this week after missing one or multiple games.

The Frogs' goal will be to slow down Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan (69 catches, 1,136 yards, 7 TDs).

"Right now, they have the leading receiver in college football," Dykes said. "The guy's putting up big numbers, Has a huge catch radius, can really run. He's a big play waiting to happen, so it will be a big challenge for us."

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W‑L Strk PF PA Home Away Grass Turf Conf
Arizona 4-6 W1 22.6 28.3 3-3 1-3 3-5 0-0 2-5
Texas Christian 6-4 W1 33.2 27.6 3-2 3-2 5-3 0-0 4-3
Last Meeting
Arizona Texas Christian
Date Away Home Tot Rus Pas Tot Rus Pas
9/27/03 TCU 13 ARIZ 10 309 33 276 452 206 246
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Passing Player COMP % YDS TD INT
Arizona K. Heavner 48.3 276 1 3
Texas Christian B. Hassell 50.0 246 1 0
Rushing Player CAR YDS AVG TD
Arizona C. Farmer 13 32 2.5 0
Texas Christian R. Merrill 31 148 4.8 0
Receiving Player REC YDS AVG TD
Arizona R. Williams 5 131 26.2 0
Texas Christian R. Harrell 4 127 31.8 1
Touchdowns Player TD
Arizona S. Fleming 1
Texas Christian R. Harrell 1
Season
Passing Player COMP % YDS TD INT
Arizona N. Fifita 60.8 2548 15 11
Texas Christian J. Hoover 67.7 3233 22 8
Rushing Player CAR YDS AVG TD
Arizona Q. Conley 127 677 5.3 8
Texas Christian C. Cook 107 414 3.9 8
Receiving Player REC YDS AVG TD
Arizona T. McMillan 69 1136 16.5 7
Texas Christian J. Bech 56 982 17.5 9
Touchdowns Player TD
Arizona Q. Conley 9
Texas Christian J. Bech 9
Quickchart Matchup
Arizona Arizona Off vs  Texas Christian Texas Christian Def
Arizona 371 yards
Texas Christian 358.6 yards
Arizona 4 yards/rush
Texas Christian 4.3 yards/rush
Arizona 7.1 yards/attempt
Texas Christian 6.3 yards/attempt
Texas Christian Texas Christian Off vs  Arizona Arizona Def
Texas Christian 439.6 yards
Arizona 388 yards
Texas Christian 3.7 yards/rush
Arizona 4.8 yards/rush
Texas Christian 8.5 yards/attempt
Arizona 7.3 yards/attempt