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The next in our series looking at 20 teams who could win it all in 2012 examines TCU.

Colleague Ryan McGee tackled the Frogs (always a treacherous task) and tried to determine their chances.

The biggest reason TCU could win it all? An elite passing game and running game.

[Casey] Pachall returns along with his three top receivers from one year ago -- Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter. They are battle-scarred from a season that included more than a few offensive track meets. In other words, this passing game has a chance to be scary good. And they won't get gassed during Big 12 shootouts. ...

If for some reason throwing the ball gets bogged down, then the Frogs' running attack should be more than capable of shouldering the load. TCU is the only team in the nation to return three backs who rushed for 700 yards in 2011.

The biggest reason TCU won't win it all? The defensive backfield and a welcome to the Big 12.

Five of the nation's seven most prolific passing attacks from 2011 are on the Horned Frogs' schedule in 2012, including four in consecutive weeks from October 13 through November 3 (at Baylor, versus Texas Tech, at Oklahoma State, at West Virginia). TCU's pass D better be much improved, or have an offense capable of winning every shootout, if it hopes to survive that stretch.

Want more on the Frogs? Check out the piece. You'll also see a stat projection from Football Outsiders' Brian Fremeau, including the most likely result and the projection window for the best- and worst-case scenario.

Another spring camp is opening, and it's time to take a closer look. Today, the TCU Horned Frogs get started.

Schedule: Practice opens Friday at 5 p.m. ET and will conclude on April 5. Various practices may be open, but the plan has not been officially announced. TCU does not host a formal spring game.

What's new: The task ahead, mainly. You'll see a renewed sense of purpose this spring at TCU. The Horned Frogs know they have to be better to compete for a Big 12 title. In the Big 12, you put it on the line every week, and everybody can beat everybody. Ask Baylor and Kansas about that one. Or Iowa State and Oklahoma State. One win can't make a season, and 1-2 games don't decide a conference title like they do in the Mountain West.

New faces: TCU is welcoming four new faces to campus this spring as early enrolling freshmen: Quarterback Tyler Matthews, running back B.J. Catalon, transfer cornerback Keivon Gamble, and receiver Kolby Listenbee, who also made our 2012 Recruiting All-Name team.

Rekindling old flames: Former safeties coach Chad Glasgow returned to his post in Fort Worth after a season as the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech. He helped TCU lead the nation in total defense in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Those days are over for the Horned Frogs in the offense-heavy Big 12, but TCU fell to 15th last season in the Mountain West. Finishing there in the Big 12 in 2012 would be huge.

Big shoes to fill: Linebacker Deryck Gildon. Tank Carder (and his armbands) wrapped up their eligibility last year, but hopes are high that the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Gildon can be the man to hold TCU's defense together at the linebacker spot. His importance is amplified by the exit of Tanner Brock, who is among four players "separated" from the team while the legal process plays out following their drug sting arrests.

Breaking out: Receiver Brandon Carter. You probably already know about Josh Boyce and maybe Skye Dawson. But Carter, a freshman, could join them for a pretty dangerous third weapon in TCU's passing game for quarterback Casey Pachall. Among Carter's biggest catches last year was the game winner against Boise State, but this could be a big spring for him. And to think, Oklahoma only wanted him as a cornerback.

All eyes on: Player conduct. Four players were arrested in a drug sting by local police and reports indicated that five players tested positive for marijuana while 11 others showed trace amounts in a surprise Feb. 1 drug test administered by the team. However, comments from players to undercover police in police affidavits suggest that usage was much higher. Either way, the microscope is firmly on what's otherwise been a spotless program before these recent troubles.

Time for what's probably our final checkup on TCU before the Horned Frogs join the Big 12.

Record: 11-2 (7-0 Mountain West)

National rank: No. 18 in the BCS standings. No. 16 in the AP poll. No. 15 in the USA Today poll.

Last result: Beat Louisiana Tech 31-24 in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

What to know: Anybody who watched could tell TCU was a bit uninspired, perhaps disappointed it narrowly missed out on a third consecutive trip to the BCS.

Either way, the Horned Frogs erased a 24-17 fourth-quarter deficit to win 31-24.

Skye Dawson hauled in a 42-yard touchdown pass from Casey Pachall on a rollout to take the lead for good with 4:26 left to play.

The secondary struggled, and TCU couldn't get off the field for much of the first half, but managed to tie the game at 10 after after a Greg McCoy interception.

We saw plenty of those secondary struggled against Baylor early in the season, but the Horned Frogs rebounded in the second half.

"It didn't turn out the way we expected or how we wanted it to but we came out with a win," Dawson said.

He finished with 85 yards on four catches to earn MVP honors.

Pachall finished 15-of-29 for 206 yards and broke Andy Dalton's single-season school records for completions (228) and passing yards (2,921).

For frame of reference, five Big 12 quarterbacks had more completions, and Missouri's James Franklin needs just five completions to make it six. Five Big 12 quarterbacks had more yards, and Franklin needs 182 yards passing to make it six.

A couple local takes on the game:

• TCU wakes up, smells Poinsettia after stinky start
• Fourth-quarter comeback proves a tune-up for Big 12

What's next: The move to the Big 12.

Ironically, TCU is a combined 10-0 against the SEC, Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC.

Against the Big 12, it is just 6-6. The Horned Frogs have won 11 games in seven of the past nine seasons, and in the Big 12, that pace figures to slow as they adjust to more grueling week-to-week schedules. Still, most of the offense returns next year, including several contributors. TCU's quarterback (Pachall), leading rusher (Waymon James), top receiver (Josh Boyce) and sacks leader (Stansly Maponga) will all come back next year as juniors.

There's no reason TCU can't contend for a Big 12 title in 2012.

Casey Pachall highlighted a record-setting game with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Skye Dawson with 4:26 left to lift TCU (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 16 AP) to a 31-24 victory against Louisiana Tech in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

This one isn't going to win Best in Show. Four turnovers. Costly penalties (should you really be getting 12-men-in-the-huddle penalties in the 13th game of the year?). At times, neither really looked the part of a conference champion. But credit TCU for overcoming a lethargic start and credit Louisiana Tech for scrapping and pushing the No. 18 team in the land. Here's how it all went down in San Diego:

How the game was won: With the teams locked at 24-24, TCU got the ball at its own 31 with 6:24 left in the game. Unlike in their previous scoring drive that tied the game (read on), quarterback Casey Pachall moved the Horned Frogs 69 yards in just 1:58, connecting with Skye Dawson on a 42-yard scoring strike. The defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive and the offense was able to run out the final 3:33.

Turning point: Trailing 24-17, TCU put together its longest drive of the season -- an 18-play, 72-yard march that sucked up 9 minutes, 21 seconds of clock. The Frogs converted two fourth-and-1s and picked up a pass-interference call in the end zone, setting up Luke Shivers' 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 24-24.

Stat of the game: 100 percent — TCU's fourth-down conversion rate. The Horned Frogs were bad on third down — just 2-of-11 until late in the game — but they kept two scoring drives alive by converting all three fourth-and-1s.

Player(s) of the game: TCU's offensive line did a fantastic job keeping Pachall sack-free and holding off one of the better pass rushes in the country. It helped the Horned Frogs to 190 yards on the ground and on the final drive that ran out the clock, the line looked like it had worn down the Bulldogs' defensive front.

Unsung hero: Pachall's barber. Not too many quarterbacks can pull off the shaved writing in the hair.

What it means: TCU closes out its Mountain West Conference tenure with a sixth consecutive win for the conference in the Poinsettia Bowl. Coach Gary Patterson picks up his 109th career victory at TCU, tying Dutch Meyer for most wins in school history. TCU is now 6-1 in its past seven bowl games.

Time for our weekly checkup with the league's new members. We'll kick off the first West Virginia update later today. But first, keeping up with the Horned Frogs so you don't have to.

Yet, anyway.

Record: 6-2 (3-0 Mountain West)

National rank: Receiving votes in AP, USA Today polls. Unranked in BCS standings.

Last result: Beat BYU, 38-28, at Cowboys Stadium on Friday night.

What to know: While you were busy watching Game 7 of the World Series, Gary Patterson's crew was busy beating up on BYU inside JerryWorld. Another prospective Big 12 member was across the sidelines, but for a fourth consecutive season, the Horned Frogs emerged as winners. TCU led 35-10 until a late charge made the final score respectable.

The crowd was late-arriving, but despite the unfortunate timing of the game, an announced crowd of 50,094 showed up at Cowboys Stadium for the game. TCU scored on a 48-yard pass to speedy, shifty Skye Dawson (He'll be one of the most fun players to watch in the Big 12 next year. Trust me on that.) on the second play of the game, and didn't look back. Casey Pachall finished with 147 yards and two scores on 13-of-23 passing. Ed Wesley had 59 yards on 12 carries.

A rolling snap meant an illegal kick from BYU, who also had a punt blocked by the Horned Frogs. BYU's punter dropped a snap on another punt to set up another TCU score. Big day for the Frogs' special teamers.

Up next: at Wyoming (5-2) on Saturday