TCU hosting LIU in its home opener and only game not against a P4 opponent
TCU quarterback Josh Hoover (10) passes under pressure by Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman (28) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Norman, Okla. Credit: AP/Alonzo Adams
LIU (0-1) at TCU (1-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
BetMGM College Football Odds: No line.
Series record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
TCU plays its home opener, and the only game on its schedule this season that is not against Power Four opponent. The Frogs opened last week on the road with a 34-27 win at Stanford, the former Pac-12 team that is now in the ACC. LIU, a sixth-year FCS team, has twice before played a Big 12 team. The Sharks lost 30-7 at Baylor last year and 66-0 at West Virginia in 2021.
KEY MATCHUP
LIU running Ludovick Choquette against the TCU defense. Choquette, a graduate transfer from Western Illinois, ran for a career high 128 yards on 15 carries and had four catches for 22 yards and a touchdown in his debut with the Sharks. In their first game with Andy Avalos as defensive coordinator, the Frogs held Stanford to 286 total yards (121 rushing and 165 passing) had four sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels (14) scrambles and completes a pass against TCU in Stanford, Calif., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. Credit: AP/Santiago Mejia
PLAYERS TO WATCH
LIU: QB Luca Stanzani completed 20 of 31 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns despite rain showers in a 27-21 loss at Albany in the season opener. The Sharks led 21-17 after Stanzani's 11-yard TD pass to Choquette early in the third quarter.
TCU: The receiving trio of Savion Williams, Jack Bech and JP Richardson, who combined for 331 of TCU's 353 passing yards in the opener against Stanford, marked the first time in school history they had three receivers with at least 85 yards in the same game. Williams, the fifth-year Frog, tied a career high with 11 catches for 165 yards. Former Oklahoma State transfer Richardson had his second 100-yard game since joining the Frogs and former LSU transfer Bech had a career-best 139 yards, including catches of 43 and 46 yards.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Sharks are 12-35 overall since Long Island University merged its two athletic programs: Division I non-football LIU Brooklyn and Division II football-sponsoring LIU Post. They are coming off back-to-back 4-7 seasons. ... Josh Hoover is the first TCU quarterback since at least 2005 to have at least 300 yards passing in six of his first seven career starts. ... Frogs safety Jamel Johnson has 11 tackles in the season opener, a year after he had 19 tackles while playing in 10 games as a freshman.
