Aug 293 min read

Launching the Season Out West: TCU, Stanford

The Stanford Cardinal will host the TCU Horned Frogs on Aug 30. in their first game as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Fans of both schools have plenty to be excited about this season, and this Week 1 matchup will kick it all off. TCU, supporters are excited to get the ball rolling in the new-look Big 12 Conference. These two teams last played in 2017 in the Alamo Bowl, with TCU prevailing.

The Stakes

Stanford wants to start its first year in the ACC on the right foot. A win would be huge for the Cardinal, but they are not favored in this game. The Horned Frogs are currently a 9.5-point favorite per FanDuel. A loss for either team would not be world-ending, as neither team is favored in its conference, but the winning team will begin its season on a positive note.

Key Players: Stanford Cardinal

Watch out for quarterback Ashton Daniels and wide receiver Elic Ayomanor on the offensive side of the ball. If these two get going early in the game, the Cardinal might cover that 9.5-point spread. While Stanford has not confirmed that Daniels will be the starter, the media projects he will be QB1. Last season, Daniels finished the year off strong after a rocky start. His touchdown to interception ratio was not pretty, but he improved as the season progressed. Daniels finished with 2,247 yards, 11 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. The Daniels-to-Ayomanor connection sparked last season, with Ayomanor racking up 1,013 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Defensively, the key players for the Cardinal are linebacker Gaethan Bernadel and cornerback Zahran Manley. Bernadel was the leading tackler for Stanford a season ago, with 87, to go along with a ½ sack. Going into their first season in the ACC, the Cardinal hopes Bernadel will step up again. Manley is an experienced member of the Cardinal's secondary and will be a key player in their defensive schemes this season. In 2023, he caught 2 interceptions with 5 passes defended and 30 tackles. If that type of production is seen in this game, the Horned Frogs' offense may have difficulty throwing in his direction.

Key Players: TCU Horned Frogs

Two key players leading the way for the Horned Frogs on offense are QB Josh Hoover and running back Trey Sanders. Hoover will likely be the starting QB for TCU. He started the last six games last year, throwing for 2,206 yards, 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Similar to Stanford's Daniels, Hoover was plagued by turnover issues, but TCU hopes his experience will solve the interception problem. Sanders transferred to TCU from Alabama last season, putting up 6 touchdowns with 176 yards. Last year's leading rusher, Emani Bailey, is gone. It is now Sanders' opportunity to shine.

On defense, safety Bud Clark and Cal transfer LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr are stalwart players to watch. Clark is also one of the best returners for the Horned Frogs. He was extremely productive last year, racking up 21 solo tackles, 3 interceptions and 5 passes defended. He is expected to be an impact player for the Horned Frogs week in and week out. Elarms-Orr had 92 total tackles, an interception and a sack last year for the Golden Bears and should make an immediate impact for the Horned Frogs, who desperately need improved play on defense.

Trends to Watch

With this being the first game for both teams, TCU and Stanford are hoping to trend up and improve upon underwhelming records last season. TCU wants to get back to its 2022 form, and Stanford wants to bounce back from its disappointing season last year. A blowout win for TCU would give the Horned Frogs momentum and confidence as they prepare to play in the newly expanded Big 12. An upset for Stanford would start the Cardinal's first ACC season with a bang and demonstrate that this isn't the Cardinal of last year.