TCU on SI: Jeremy Payne Needs One Thing to Unlock TCU's Offense

[TopFrog]

Jeremy Payne Needs One Thing to Unlock TCU's Offense​

Jeremy Payne proved he can carry TCU's offense late last season. In 2026, one statistic may reveal whether the Horned Frogs truly believe he's their feature back.

Aiden Reed

The image that will follow Jeremy Payne into 2026 isn't a stat line. It's a sideline tightrope walk: 35 yards, overtime, the Alamo Bowl on the line, with three USC defenders attempting to take him down. But the number that best tells the story of Payne's sophomore season came a few weeks earlier, buried in the box score against Cincinnati: 26 carries, 174 yards, two touchdowns, and TCU's best rushing performance since Kendre Miller in 2021.

Read the rest at https://www.si.com/college/tcu/football/jeremy-payne-carries-tcus-offense

 

[cctcu]

Definitely hope this comes true, and if it pans out, could be a special season ahead. I think after three games and a little game-time experience, we'll have a good idea where we're headed.

 

[TopFrog]

Bring the Payne.

 

[lowfrog]

The play wasn't supposed to be a sideline tightrope. SD admitted after the game that the play was designed to get TCU into a better position for a kick. But after getting the pass from Seals, JP saw there might be a way to get down the sideline. He made the split second decision to go for the endzone. His skills did the rest and resulted in a touchdown. That TCU coaches have given the players the freedom to make critical decisions in a game says a lot.

 

[82 Frog Fever]

Yes, Payne needs 18 carries a game. That will help his rhythm.
But even more so, the success of our run game, and maybe our entire offense, will depend on the improvement of our OTs. Taylor-Whitfield, Van Hoy, Harvey, Steppes, & possibly Hughes have major weight riding on their shoulders.