It’s rarely a surprise when a quarterback is the lead story before a big game, but Josh Hoover might feel an even bigger spotlight on him when TCU faces BYU in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday night.
Hoover, a redshirt freshman, will make his first collegiate start in the Big 12 Conference matchup after starter Chandler Morris sprained his left medial collateral ligament last weekend during a 27-14 loss at Iowa State.
The Horned Frogs fell to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play with their second straight defeat.
They were down 17-7 in the third quarter when Morris went down with the same injury that he sustained in the 2022 season opener. Hoover’s first three plays included recovering his own fumble for a 6-yard loss and a 10-yard loss on a sack. A short punt set up Iowa State for a touchdown and a 24-7 lead.
Hoover was picked off on the next possession. Iowa State went on a 72-yard drive for a field goal and a 27-7 advantage.
“When he got in the game Saturday, he threw an interception and tried to force the ball downfield,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “I think given the circumstances of the game and the fact that we were behind, it’s probably a throw he doesn’t make had it not been the situation.
“I thought he played well once he settled down. I thought he did some good things, I think he showed a lot of poise and I know our players have a lot of confidence in him.”
Hoover completed 11 of 19 passes for 119 yards with one touchdown and the pick last weekend.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake said TCU’s 2022 season — which featured a trip to the College Football Playoff championship game — is enough proof not to take the Horned Frogs lightly, even with a backup quarterback.
“Chandy got hurt last year, too, … and the last guy they had that was a backup took ’em all the way to the championship game,” Sitake said. “We need to make sure that we’re on top of everything defensively to handle the best that they got.”
The Cougars (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) are coming off a bye week. They defeated Cincinnati 35-27 in Provo, Utah, on Sept. 29 despite being outgained 498 yards to 295.
BYU’s defense forced the game’s only two turnovers, including Jakob Robinson’s 42-yard pick-6.
Cougars quarterback Kedon Slovis threw for two touchdowns, giving him 10 for the season, matching his total in 11 games at Pitt last season.
