TCU Baseball Impresses in Opening Weekend Wins Over Ranked SEC Foes

Despite a loss to Oklahoma, the Horned Frogs showed grit and talent in taking two of three games against top-25 competition.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The TCU Horned Frogs baseball team opened their 2026 season with a 2-1 record, including impressive wins over two ranked SEC opponents. While they suffered a loss to Oklahoma in the weekend's finale, the Frogs demonstrated the "it factor" with gutsy, one-run victories on Friday and Saturday, showcasing their talent, mental fortitude, and ability to close out games.

Why it matters

TCU entered the season ranked #10 nationally and with high expectations to make a deep postseason run. These early results against tough competition suggest the Horned Frogs have the potential to live up to the hype, though the writer cautions against overreacting to just three games. With a looming series against #1 UCLA, this opening weekend performance has given TCU and its fans confidence heading into the meat of the schedule.

The details

On Friday and Saturday, TCU earned one-run victories over #23 Vanderbilt and another ranked SEC opponent. While the offense struggled at times, the Horned Frogs found a way to win, showcasing their grit and mental toughness. In the Sunday finale against Oklahoma, TCU suffered a run-rule loss, with some early pitching struggles from newcomers. However, the writer notes that a 2-1 start against this caliber of competition is still an impressive feat that fans should be excited about.

  • The 2026 TCU baseball season opened on February 14, 2026.
  • The Horned Frogs went 2-1 over the opening weekend of February 14-16, 2026.

The players

Lucas Franco

The freshman shortstop for TCU who expressed confidence after narrowly missing a home run, then hitting one on his next at-bat.

Lance Davis

The TCU pitcher who made his collegiate debut in the Sunday loss to Oklahoma.

Kirk Saarloos

The head coach of the TCU baseball team.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The TCU Horned Frogs will face the #1 ranked UCLA Bruins in a weekend series starting on February 21, 2026.

The takeaway

This opening weekend performance has given the TCU baseball team and its fans confidence heading into a tough upcoming schedule, as the Horned Frogs showed the grit, talent, and mental fortitude to compete with top-ranked opponents. While they suffered one loss, the two wins over ranked SEC foes suggest this TCU squad has the potential to make a deep postseason run, though it's still early in the long baseball season.