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TCU Remains In Fort Worth For The Second Week, Sticking Around To Host Nicholls

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Football

TCU Football is back home for the second straight week as the Horned Frogs host Nicholls on Saturday evening. The Frogs and Colonels are meeting for the first time on the gridiron.

A TCU record crowd of 53,294 was on hand for last week's season opener against Colorado. It shattered the previous mark of 50,307 for a 2009 contest against Utah. Another record was set for student attendance with 6,663, representing 54.3 percent of TCU's enrollment. It was the sixth time in the last seven home games for a new mark for TCU students.

The Horned Frogs are playing on Sept. 9 for the first time since a 28-7 win at Arkansas in 2017. TCU is 13-0 under Head Coach Sonny Dykes when ahead or even in turnover margin. TCU's eight-game home winning streak, which was the sixth-longest among Power 5 programs, was snapped in the Colorado game. Four of TCU's opening five games this season are at home, part of seven Amon G. Carter Stadium dates overall. The Horned Frogs will play nine of 12 regular-season games in Texas and not leave the state until an Oct. 7 contest at Iowa State.

Last year's Horned Frogs became the first program from the state of Texas to reach the College Football Playoff and first from the Big 12 to play in the CFP National Championship. With its 51-45 semifinal victory over Michigan in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, TCU is one of just seven programs nationally to have won a CFP game.

A Look At TCU By The Numbers
•TCU's 541 yards versus Colorado were its most in a game since totaling 668 in last year's 55-24 win over Oklahoma.
•TCU's 42 points were its most in a loss since a 52-46 defeat to Oklahoma in 2016.
•The 55 yards rushing by Colorado were the fewest allowed by TCU since holding Texas to 28 in last season's 17-10 win in Austin. 
•Emani Bailey's career-high 164 yards rushing against Colorado were the most by a Horned Frog since Kendre Miller ran for 185 at Texas Tech in 2021.
•Bailey's 74-yard run doubled his previous career-long carry of 37 yards.
•In his TCU debut, Trey Sanders became the first Horned Frog to rush for three touchdowns since Miller at Texas Tech in 2021.
•Also in his first game as a Horned Frog, JP Richardson had a team-best six receptions for 63 yards.
•TCU's special teams played a role in two touchdowns in the Colorado game. Namdi Obiazor's blocked field goal led to a TCU score on the ensuing series, while Major Everhart's 86-yard kickoff return set up a touchdown that gave the Horned Frogs a fourth-quarter lead.

About The Nicholls Colonels
Nicholls will be looking to snap its current seven-game losing streak against FBS opponents while claiming its fifth FBS win since 2000. The last victory for the Red and Gray came in an overtime win at Big 12 member Kansas to start the '18 season. The Colonels lost the following year at Kansas State and then went 0-2 in '21 and '22, falling to Memphis and Louisiana, and then South Alabama and ULM. Although Nicholls fell short against the Ragin' Cajuns in '21, they took UL down to the wire in a 27-24 loss. The Colonels also had close calls in 2016, dropping a 26-24 game at No. 9 Georgia before their 41-40 overtime loss at South Alabama. The other three victories were against Arkansas State ('01), Rice ('07) and Western Michigan ('13).

The Colonels are coming off a 38-24 home loss to No. 10/8 Sacramento State last Thursday to open the 2023 campaign. The Hornets built a 17-0 advantage before Nicholls made it a 17-10 game in the third quarter. Sac State countered by scoring three straight touchdowns before the Colonels added a pair of late scores to make the final. In his first start as a Colonel, quarterback Pat McQuaide threw for 196 yards which included an 84-yard touchdown to Terry Matthews. Despite finishing with less than 100 yards as a team, both backs had solid outings as Collin Guggenheim totaled 74 yards rushing and Jaylon Spears had 42 yards and a touchdown. The defense picked up a big turnover in the third quarter as newcomer Kershawn Fisher had an interception and return to the Sac State 12, setting up a rushing TD by McQuaide. But the Hornets went on to outgain Nicholls in total yards, 441-293, for their 20th straight regular season victory.