TCU Football receives votes in opening AP Poll, makes Top 25 of teams actually playing

With so much chaos in College Football this fall, many teams are taking the mantra of “why not us?”. TCU can certainly be one of the teams that surprises national pundits (QB situation be damned) and have gotten at least enough attention this off-season to find themselves amongst the Top 25(ish) with Monday’s first release of the AP Poll.

So, technically the Horned Frogs are in the receiving votes category, not the official rankings, but if you eliminate the programs from conferences that are not competing this fall, all of the sudden you are looking at a Top 25 program in Fort Worth:

One of several Big 12 teams to make the cut, TCU’s program was filled with promise just a few days ago, before the shocking announcement that quarterback Max Duggan’s season was in jeopardy after team medical staff discovered a congenital heart issue. With no established quarterback at the ready, the Frogs go from sneaky good to a little bit unsure on offense, but return two of the best safeties in the country and one of college football’s best linebackers on D. The Frogs also benefit from the addition of JD Spielman at wide receiver and a host of talented young running backs working behind a retooled offensive line.

To the surprise of no one, the Sooners are the conference’s top ranked team, coming in at #4. Texas is 10th to start the season — just a single spot behind A&M — and Oklahoma State, a dark horse Big 12 contender, is 11th. Iowa State is 15th and Baylor 24th in the adjusted poll.

TCU will open their season on September 12th against SMU at Amon G Carter Stadium, with Big 12 play beginning on the 26th verses Iowa State. TCU is expected to allow 12,000 fans into the stadium, including 4,000 students.