Jimbo Fisher on TCU's CFP run: 'When they got to the SEC, it changed, didn't it?'

TCU became the story of the college football world last year when it rattled off a run to the national championship. The Horned Frogs, led by first-year coach Sonny Dykes and quarterback Max Duggan, went 13-1 before losing to Georgia in the title game.

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher certainly noticed what conference TCU’s final opponent played in, and he made note of that Wednesday night at a Fort Worth A&M Club event.

“They stayed healthy, they had a lot of experience and they got to where they had to get to,” Fisher said, via Carter Karels. “And then when they got to the SEC, it changed, didn’t it?”

Of course, it’s safe to say Fisher new his audience. TCU, which lost the Big 12 Championship to Kansas State last season, is located in Forth Worth. Karels also noted it was a lighthearted moment with some Texas A&M alumni who live in the area.

Georgia was also the only SEC team in TCU’s schedule. The Horned Frogs knocked off Michigan to get to the national championship game, and Colorado was their only Power 5 opponent — a 38-13 win to open the season.

Now in the second year under Dykes, TCU is looking to build off its impressive 2022 season. The Horned Frogs underwent plenty of changes this offseason, though. In addition to losing Duggan, Quentin Johnston and Kendre Miller to the 2023 NFL Draft, offensive coordinator Garrett Riley left to take the same position at Clemson under Dabo Swinney. That led Dykes to hire Kendal Briles to the role after he spent the last three years as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas.

As for Fisher and Texas A&M, the Aggies are coming off a rough 2022 season. They went 5-7 and missed out on a bowl game despite bringing a highly touted recruiting class. The struggles led Fisher to make some staff changes — none bigger than at offensive coordinator. Fisher reached into the FCS rankings to bring in former Missouri State head coach Bobby Petrino for the role.

Petrino — who was gearing up to work in the same capacity at UNLV before Fisher hired him — is no stranger to the SEC. He coached at Arkansas from 2008-11 before being fired amid a scandal. After stops at Western Kentucky, Louisville and Missouri State, Petrino is back in the SEC and will try to help Fisher’s offense bounce back from its down year.