Upset Alert: 5 college football teams in danger of losing in Week 9

3. Texas Longhorns

Rank: 15 | Opponent: TCU Horned Frogs | Time: Saturday, Oct. 26, 3:30 p.m. ET

Over their past four games, we’ve more or less seen that the TCU Horned Frogs are not as good as we once thought they’d be. All three of their losses have come in their past four games, falling at home to SMU — who is admittedly still unbeaten — at Iowa State and at Kansas State. However, when you look at those three losses, the most intriguing when considering a matchup against the Texas Longhorns is the loss to SMU.

What stands out about the matchup with the Longhorns as it relates to that loss to the Mustangs is the style of play. Whereas Iowa State and Kansas State (on the road, no less) are two of the more defensive-minded teams in the Big 12, both Texas and SMU are teams with a tendency to rely almost solely on their offense and that have no problems getting into shootouts. That’s why TCU put up only 24 and 17 points against the Cyclones and Wildcats, respectively, put up 38 and only lost by three against SMU.

To further that point, Texas is coming off of two uninspiring efforts, losing in the Red River Showdown to Oklahoma and then escaping a home game against lowly Kansas in which they allowed 48 points to the Jayhawks. That does not bode well for a road game against Gary Patterson’s team, a coach that has always gotten his teams up for high-profile games.

There is talent in this Horned Frogs offense with freshman Max Duggan and wide receiver Jalen Reagor, among others. They have the horses to get into a shootout with the Longhorns and once again push Texas to the brink. And with this game in Fort Worth under Patterson’s watch, Texas’ woes could well continue on Saturday.