Sonny Dykes pinpoints an important reason for TCU's success

Do the dirty work, it’ll pay off. Sonny Dykes and the TCU football program are reaping the benefits from doing just that all season long. One win separates the Horned Frogs from the national championship, and Dykes revealed how his team has nearly pulled off the impossible.

“I think our strength and conditioning group has a lot to do with [our success]. I think Kaz Kazadi and his group are outstanding. Those are things we’ve talked about every single day, and talked about every single day since I got the job there,” Dykes said. “There’s always some kind of sports psychology associated with our lifting, talking about adversity, talking about handling success, and treating them just the same, and doing the little things that we can do to make sacrifices.

“Because, look, what that comes down to, that comes down to confidence. And confidence is the result of hard work and doing things that other people aren’t willing to do. And our guys have done that. And so I think that’s what gives us that confidence to be down in games and not panic and a belief in each other.”

In football, you count on all 11 people to so their job at the same time. One missed read could cause the entire operation to sink, so having that confidence – in yourself and in your teammates – is something TCU has proven to do all season long.

The defense trusts the offense, the offense trusts the defense. That’s why TCU was able to come back from multiple deficits this season and pull off win after win. There’s a general belief in one another in the Horned Frogs locker room, and that all strings from the hard work, dedication and doing things the right way when nobody is watching.

TCU will compete for the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship Monday night against the reigning champion Georgia Bulldogs. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET inside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. ESPN will carry the national broadcast.