What Is 1970 TCU Horned Frogs football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1970 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University during the 1970 NCAA University Division season, finishing with a 4–7 record under head coach Fred Taylor. They competed in the Southwest Conference and scored 184 points across 11 games.

Key Facts

Finished the season with a 4–7 overall record
Posted a 3–4 record in the Southwest Conference
Scored 184 total points, averaging 16.7 per game
Fred Taylor was head coach in his fifth season
Played home games at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth

Overview

The 1970 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. Competing in the Southwest Conference (SWC), the team struggled to find consistency, finishing with a losing record under head coach Fred Taylor, who was in his fifth year at the helm.

Playing their home games at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, the Horned Frogs faced a challenging schedule that included several ranked opponents. Despite flashes of offensive potential, the team’s defense and overall execution faltered at key moments, contributing to a sub-.500 season.

Record: The team finished with a 4–7 overall record, marking one of the more difficult seasons in the early 1970s for TCU football.
Conference performance: In Southwest Conference play, the Horned Frogs went 3–4, placing them in the lower half of the league standings.
Scoring: TCU scored 184 total points across 11 games, averaging 16.7 points per game, which ranked near the bottom of the conference.
Head coach:Fred Taylor led the team in his fifth season, having previously guided TCU to a national championship appearance in 1959.
Stadium: All home games were played at Amon G. Carter Stadium, which had a capacity of approximately 46,000 at the time.

Season Performance

The 1970 season was marked by inconsistent play, with the Horned Frogs showing promise early but failing to maintain momentum. Several close losses indicated a team that was competitive but lacked the depth or execution to finish strong.

Season opener: TCU defeated North Texas State 28–14 in their first game, providing early optimism for the season.
Key loss: A 17–14 defeat to Texas Tech in October proved pivotal, as it dropped the Frogs to 1–2 in conference play.
Defensive struggles: The team allowed an average of 23.5 points per game, with the defense giving up over 30 points in four separate games.
Rivalry game: In the annual TCU–Baylor matchup, the Frogs lost 21–14, continuing a streak of poor results in the rivalry.
Final game: The season ended with a 31–14 loss to Texas, a game that underscored the team’s offensive inefficiency and defensive vulnerabilities.
Notable player: Running back Bob Griffin led the team in rushing with 487 yards, though no TCU player earned All-SWC honors that year.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1970 TCU team to other Southwest Conference squads highlights their struggles in both offense and defense.

Team	Overall Record	SWC Record	Points For	Points Against
TCU	4–7	3–4	184	259
Arkansas	9–3	6–1	277	167
Texas	10–1	7–0	298	107
Baylor	4–7	3–4	177	221
SMU	5–5	3–4	209	214

The table shows that TCU ranked near the bottom in both scoring and defense compared to conference rivals. While they matched Baylor in record, their point differential was worse, indicating less competitive performances overall. Only SMU allowed more points, but SMU also scored more, suggesting better offensive balance.

Why It Matters

The 1970 season is a notable chapter in TCU football history, reflecting a transitional period before the program’s resurgence in later decades. It underscores the challenges of maintaining competitiveness in a tough conference during an era of evolving college football dynamics.

Historical context: The 1970 season occurred during a period of decline for TCU, which had not reached a bowl game since 1959.
Coaching impact: Fred Taylor’s tenure ended after the 1970 season, with his overall record at 29–30–3 over five years.
Recruiting shifts: The team’s struggles highlighted the growing importance of national recruiting, which TCU lagged behind in compared to Texas and Arkansas.
Stadium legacy: Amon G. Carter Stadium remained a central part of TCU’s identity, even during down years.
Conference dynamics: The Southwest Conference was highly competitive, and TCU’s performance reflected the gap between top and bottom teams.
Future improvements: The 1970 season laid groundwork for future coaching hires and program reforms in the 1970s and 1980s.

Though not a banner year, the 1970 TCU Horned Frogs season remains a case study in perseverance and program evolution. It reminds fans that even in difficult seasons, the foundation for future success can begin to form.