Recruiting news?

[FroggleRock]

Also held offers from Tech, Utah, KSU, SMU, Miss St, Minnesota, Duke, and UH

 

[Virgil Cain]

I love TCU, just like many of y’all do, but there is nearly -0- chance they would ever be invited to the SEC/B10 or any kind of super conference.
TCU barely has 100k living alumni globally & only 20% live in DFW, so they certainly don’t deliver any recruiting market. The small alumni base gives generously, but they are nowhere close to what would be needed to be competitive at a higher level than the B12. Even in the B12, we’re just a mid-level competitor.

This is where I come out on this. How many other schools with fewer than 100k alumni are locks to be added to the BIG/SEC? Notre dame is it. I recall Rutgers and Maryland being added to the BIG because their network received some financial value per TV subscriber in those regions justifying their inclusion. That is an outlier and not the norm for schools that are making moves - think UT/OU/MIZ/Oregon etc. these are large state universities looking to maximize revenue and hit new NIL highs to fund competitive/championship level programs. Notre dame and USC are altogether different though due to a century of blue blood status.

Love TCU but we’re kidding ourselves just assuming that we get picked up because the school is located in a metro area that we don’t come close to dominating. Our best hope appears to be the ACC imploding and the Big 12 snagging leftovers. That would grant the league a few extra playoff spots and increased TV payouts. It likely would stabilize things for 1-2 decades before the BIG/SEC break off and do whatever they want.

And lastly - go watch Georgia vs. Florida or Oregon vs. Penn state - do our players look much like those guys? Does our stadium atmosphere resemble anything like that? How many big 12 players are taken in the first round of the NFL draft? It sucks but we are falling behind and theres no indication that it will change.

 

[82 Frog Fever]

SMU also has a [ Finebaum ] stadium which is mostly empty. Money won’t change that.

Your grief is only beginning, as you’re currently in the in the denial/anger phase.
SMU’s 2025 average attendance was 105% of capacity.
Money will absolutely change the stadium size. SMU is actively exploring enlargement to 45,000 by enclosing the horseshoe shape, adding luxury boxes, and club level seating.

 

[Dogfrog]

Your grief is only beginning, as you’re currently in the in the denial/anger phase.
SMU’s 2025 average attendance was 105% of capacity.
Money will absolutely change the stadium size. SMU is actively exploring enlargement to 45,000 by enclosing the horseshoe shape, adding luxury boxes, and club level seating.

No grief, SMU is an afterthought. They need more fans like you.

 

[froginmn]

Your grief is only beginning, as you’re currently in the in the denial/anger phase.
SMU’s 2025 average attendance was 105% of capacity.
Money will absolutely change the stadium size. SMU is actively exploring enlargement to 45,000 by enclosing the horseshoe shape, adding luxury boxes, and club level seating.

They jumped up to 33,500 average attendance, which was a huge increase because of their move to the ACC.

It's still 10K fewer than our average.

They absolutely done a lot (mostly spend money) to attract interest, but they're not what TCU is. TV viewership is drastically different (TCU obviously had the UNC game but also had a much stronger brand).

 

[Virgil Cain]

They jumped up to 33,500 average attendance, which was a huge increase because of their move to the ACC.

It's still 10K fewer than our average.

They absolutely done a lot (mostly spend money) to attract interest, but they're not what TCU is. TV viewership is drastically different (TCU obviously had the UNC game but also had a much stronger brand).

I just don’t see SMU as a threat to us. It’s great for them that they’ve raised huge amounts and are more competitive than ever but you can’t whipe off 30 years of stink in so short a time. They’ll have to sustain success for long, long periods of before they are thought of nationally as a contender. And they’ll likely need that level of success to get average fans in the seats. It’s great that the money guys are pouring capital into their program but having armies of unaffiliated fans is a huge positive that typically only blue bloods/large state U’s can boast about. The ponies (and frogs) don’t have that.

Plus, they aren’t out recruiting UT/OU/A&M with their increased funding so the NIL issue isn’t overly impactful at this juncture. If in the next few years they start stringing together top 5 recruiting classes it would change my view, but the decades of suck has damaged their long term viability.

 

[82 Frog Fever]

No grief, SMU is an afterthought. They need more fans like you.

You‘re an idiot. I’m a 3rd generation TCU grad and my sons are the 4th.
Grow up.

 

[froginmn]

Love TCU but we’re kidding ourselves just assuming that we get picked up because the school is located in a metro area that we don’t come close to dominating. Our best hope appears to be the ACC imploding and the Big 12 snagging leftovers. That would grant the league a few extra playoff spots and increased TV payouts. It likely would stabilize things for 1-2 decades before the BIG/SEC break off and do whatever they want.

Do you really think whether or not we "dominate" the market is a factor?

I may be missing something but it seems to me that the appeal of us (or SMU) being here is the TV market it opens up, the local coverage of games where Big 10 schools would be playing, etc. is the reason for the appeal.

I've always assumed that getting airtime/attention in the DFW market for teams like Michigan, tOSU, etc. is why they would want us as a member (so they could recruit better here).

I don't disagree that Big 10 membership may still not be in the cards and being part of the "third" conference may be the best option.

And as for me I really hate where this had all gone and is going. It's why I so cherished the experiences we have had over these last 20 years.

 

[Virgil Cain]

Do you really think whether or not we "dominate" the market is a factor?

I may be missing something but it seems to me that the appeal of us (or SMU) being here is the TV market it opens up, the local coverage of games where Big 10 schools would be playing, etc. is the reason for the appeal.

I've always assumed that getting airtime/attention in the DFW market for teams like Michigan, tOSU, etc. is why they would want us as a member (so they could recruit better here).

I don't disagree that Big 10 membership may still not be in the cards and being part of the "third" conference may be the best option.

And as for me I really hate where this had all gone and is going. It's why I so cherished the experiences we have had over these last 20 years.

For a school the size of TCU that doesn’t have a large national following (ie Notre Dame) dominating DFW would absolutely change the calculus around us and would make us entirely more attractive. The fact we have to fight UT/OU/A&M/Tech for interest in our backyard is not a positive for a school trying to gain an invite to a super league.

And exposure for Big/SEC schools in DFW is no issue. I can pick up 11+ games for most BIG/SEC teams per year on TV and can likely go see them play in DFW or elsewhere at points during the season. It doesn’t seem to matter much recruiting wise either as those leagues can pluck kids from the metroplex easily.

 

[TopFrog]

Going to the B1G would mean playing tOSU and Mich at Jerry’s World. But we would make that home game up with a game against Kilgore College.

 

[Dogfrog]

You‘re an idiot. I’m a 3rd generation TCU grad and my sons are the 4th.
Grow up.

Get a life. Thanks for the info. Just going by your posts.

 

[helcap]

This is where I come out on this. How many other schools with fewer than 100k alumni are locks to be added to the BIG/SEC? Notre dame is it. I recall Rutgers and Maryland being added to the BIG because their network received some financial value per TV subscriber in those regions justifying their inclusion. That is an outlier and not the norm for schools that are making moves - think UT/OU/MIZ/Oregon etc. these are large state universities looking to maximize revenue and hit new NIL highs to fund competitive/championship level programs. Notre dame and USC are altogether different though due to a century of blue blood status.

Love TCU but we’re kidding ourselves just assuming that we get picked up because the school is located in a metro area that we don’t come close to dominating. Our best hope appears to be the ACC imploding and the Big 12 snagging leftovers. That would grant the league a few extra playoff spots and increased TV payouts. It likely would stabilize things for 1-2 decades before the BIG/SEC break off and do whatever they want.

And lastly - go watch Georgia vs. Florida or Oregon vs. Penn state - do our players look much like those guys? Does our stadium atmosphere resemble anything like that? How many big 12 players are taken in the first round of the NFL draft? It sucks but we are falling behind and theres no indication that it will change.

Notre Dame has 151K living alumni according to the school. But your point is still valid

 

[thefrogking]

 

[Wexahu]

I don't see either TCU or SMU getting into one of the two big leagues, ever.

And SMU has done well in recent years, but to say we are not in their league (figuratively, of course, I know they are in the ACC, lol) and nowhere near their status? Please.

 

[82 Frog Fever]

I don't see either TCU or SMU getting into one of the two big leagues, ever.

And SMU has done well in recent years, but to say we are not in their league (figuratively, of course, I know they are in the ACC, lol) and nowhere near their status? Please.

This has become a little blown out of proportion.
What I was trying to convey is neither TCU or SMU has the alumni base to deliver the DFW area as a media or recruiting stronghold for any conference. Neither of these two schools will ever be invited to participate in the SEC/B10 or any potential Super Conference.
If a Super Conference forms, the 26 or so schools remaining in the B12/ACC and possibly a few other G6 schools will be forced to form some kind of a B-league.
Whoever is left in the G6 will have a very hard time surviving.

 

[82 Frog Fever]

View attachment 19133

Showing Braylon Deal as being unranked and unrated just shows how terrible all these rating services have become.
They call and talk to a coach or two and look at some stats, and that’s the extent of their player review/research.
Braylon Deal has 13 P4 offers. He’s at least a mid - high 80s grade.

 

[Wexahu]

This has become a little blown out of proportion.
What I was trying to convey is neither TCU or SMU has the alumni base to deliver the DFW area as a media or recruiting stronghold for any conference. Neither of these two schools will ever be invited to participate in the SEC/B10 or any potential Super Conference.
If a Super Conference forms, the 26 or so schools remaining in the B12/ACC and possibly a few other G6 schools will be forced to form some kind of a B-league.
Whoever is left in the G6 will have a very hard time surviving.

Agree that those who think SMU or TCU will "deliver the DFW market" to the Big 10 or any other conference for that matter are pretty delusional.

I live 40 minutes from campus and TCU is at least 5th in terms of media coverage here behind UT, A&M, Tech, and SMU. And we are probably 6th behind OU right with Baylor. I understand that in FW it a difference but still, most people outside of this region don't even know where TCU is.

 

[Palliative Care]

Showing Braylon Deal as being unranked and unrated just shows how terrible all these rating services have become.
They call and talk to a coach or two and look at some stats, and that’s the extent of their player review/research.
Braylon Deal has 13 P4 offers. He’s at least a mid - high 80s grade.

I am so tired of all the beat down talk. Take it else where guys. Good pick up with Deal which is what this recruiting site is about.

 

[The Bad Guy]

Notre Dame has 151K living alumni according to the school. But your point is still valid

They also gain a ton of Catholic fans who never went there. I went to an all-male catholic high school in the Northeast and I'd say 75 percent or more are Notre Dame fans.

 

[Chongo94]

They also gain a ton of Catholic fans who never went there. I went to an all-male catholic high school in the Northeast and I'd say 75 percent or more are Notre Dame fans.

No doubt! West Texas is full of small Catholic communities that freaking love Notre Dame. Hate that scheiss.