TCU inked five junior college transfers in December 2015, including 4-star defensive end Mat Boesen (Long Beach C.C.

Four of the five junior college transfers enrolled at TCU in January 2016, will participate in spring practice and will be eligible to play in 2016.

The January freshmen enrollees include 4-star wide receiver Isaiah Graham (Bastrop, LA), 4-star athlete (running back and linebacker) Sewo Olonilua (Humble Kingwood), 3-star tight end Artayvious Lynn (Milford Academy), and 3-star quarterback Brennen Wooten (San Angelo Central).

[16][17] The 2016 staff was completed with the promotion of graduate assistant Jake Brown as the new director of high school relations and recruiting.

Despite an intense public effort by Longhorns' head coach Charlie Strong, Cumbie declined the offer and elected to remain in his role at TCU.

[1][27] Over the course of the 15 practices in 5 weeks, Patterson praised the efforts of all junior college transfer early enrollees[28] and addressed concerns at defensive tackle and noted development at linebacker with players' return from or experience gained as a result of others' injury.

[30] After the spring game on April 1, highlighted by the play of defensive ends and cornerbacks,[31] starting quarterback contenders Kenny Hill and Foster Sawyer both remained listed as possible starters on the post-spring depth chart.

[34] The Frogs were also picked by the Big 12 media to finish second in the conference standings and received 2 first place votes, with the remainder going to top-picked OU.

[36] Head coach Gary Patterson named redshirt sophomore Kenny Hill the starting quarterback on August 25, 2016.

The 2016 Horned Frogs opened their season at home versus Division I–FCS opponent South Dakota State.

In 2014, a late pick-six helped TCU secure a victory, and the Frogs went on to split the 2014 Big 12 title with Baylor.

In 2015, Oklahoma deflected a go-ahead TCU two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds of the game in Norman, and the Sooners went on to win the Big 12 title and represent the conference in the College Football Playoff.

The Frogs were 4–0 versus the Jayhawks in Big 12 Conference play, but despite being a heavy favorite in each matchup, they had only won the four meetings by a combined 34 points.