After being left out of the 2014 College Football Playoff despite an 11-1 record, the TCU Horned Frogs have a chip on their shoulder heading into 2015.

TCU, who were co-champions of the Big 12 with the Baylor Bears in 2014, head into this season with many returning players. They lost two players to the draft, one from the offensive line and one from the linebacking corps. Paul Dawson (3rd round, 99th overall) and Tayo Fabuluje (round 6, 183rd overall) both left for careers in the NFL, with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Chicago Bears respectively. Besides that, and the loss of running back B.J Catalon to graduation, the Horned Frogs have almost all of their starters returning. The offense, which was spectacular last year, should be great again, led by quarterback Trevone Boykin. In 2014, TCU never scored less than 30 points and their lone loss, to Baylor, was a 61-58 shootout. So, barring any surprises, it won’t be the offense that fails for TCU this year.

The 2014 defense was off and on for the Horned Frogs. They surrendered 61 points in the loss to Baylor along with 30+ points three other times, including the game in which they gave up 30 points to the abysmal Kansas Jayhawks. If the defense plays like that during the season, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the Horned Frogs to make a run for the national championship. However if the defense plays like it did for the first three games of 2014 (7 points per game) or the last 3 games of 2014 (5.3 points per game), then TCU should be regarded as one of the teams to beat in 2015.

TCU plays a fairly tough schedule but has easy games sprinkled in. Their opener will be a good test as they take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers, a team that finished ranked No. 25 in the nation last year. After that, they get to relax with a pair of games against Stephen F. Austin, and the Southern Methodist Mustangs. Assuming TCU is as good as they’re supposed to be, those games shouldn’t be a problem for the Horned Frogs. They follow those games up with a pair of games against in-state rivals: the Texas Tech Red Raiders, followed by the Texas Longhorns.

Kansas State follows the Texas game and, after finishing in the top 15 in the nation last year, will be a huge test for TCU. After that, TCU will play Iowa State whom they destroyed 55-3 in the regular season finale last year. A bye week follows and with it brings an opportunity for the Horned Frogs to prepare extensively for a grueling finish to their schedule.

They start the second half against West Virginia, whom they defeated by a single point in 2014, followed by Oklahoma State. TCU defeated the Cowboys handily (45-9) in 2014, but Oklahoma State always brings an excellent program.

They follow that up with a game against Kansas, normally a bad team but also a squad that pushed TCU to the limits in a 34-30 game last season. They play Oklahoma a week later. Oklahoma is always an excellent team and TCU defeated them by just four points a year ago. Their regular season finale will be against Baylor in a game that could very well decide the Big 12 Championship. The Big 12 doesn’t have playoffs so the team with the best regular season record is declared champions. Many speculate that the lack of a conference championship is a big reason why no Big 12 teams made it to the College Football Playoff last season.

TCU has the talent to bring home a national championship but a college football season is incredibly tough. A single loss can ruin your season so the Horned Frogs better come to play every single week, especially down the stretch.