TCU and coach Gary Patterson mutually agreed to part ways Sunday ending Patterson's 22-year tenure leading the Horned Frogs. The move appears to have come, at least in part, amid a desire to have a leg up in what should be a competitive coaching search following the 2021 college football season.
With Texas Tech having fired coach Matt Wells last week, TCU saw an opportunity to open its position and "compete" with its in-state Big 12 rival for candidates. With the Horned Frogs and Red Raiders already battling over players, they will now go head-to-head looking to bring in a program-altering coach.
TCU's primary target is SMU coach Sonny Dykes, sources tell CBS Sports.
Dykes and UTSA coach Jeff Traylor are believed to be among the top names being considered by Texas Tech. Traylor on Sunday signed new 10-year deal with the Roadrunners. It's unknown whether his new $7.5 million buyout would be enough to turn a Power Five program away from looking at Traylor.
Dykes, whose Mustangs are 7-1 to star the season, has history with Texas Tech as it's the program where his father, Spike, became a coaching legend leading the Red Raiders for 13 seasons as they transitioned from the Southwest Conference to the Big 12.
If Dykes was to leave for either program, he favors TCU over Texas Tech at the moment, sources tell CBS Sports.
TCU also has interest in Traylor, and elsewhere on its list is Louisiana coach Billy Napier, who is 35-12 in his fourth season leading the Ragin' Cajuns. Louisiana finished the last two seasons 21-4 overall with two bowl victories and has been biding his time waiting for the right Power Five opportunity.