TCU football is moving closer to its 2026 season opener against North Carolina in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 29. As the Countdown to Kickoff continues, we’ll highlight a former Horned Frog whose jersey number coincided with the number of days remaining until the opener. At No. 16 is former TCU quarterback Jeff Ballard!
Ballard played in 24 games over his final three seasons with the Horned Frogs. He became the team’s starter in 2005, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes and throwing for 1,801 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions. In 2006, his final season at TCU, Ballard completed a career-high 61.9 percent of his passes and threw for a career-best 2,394 yards. Ballard, who threw for 13 touchdowns on five interceptions in 2005, was a playmaker with his legs as well. Across 2005 and 2006, Ballard rushed for 737 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Ballard turned in a 19-2 record over 21 games as TCU’s starting quarterback. He helped the Horned Frogs to an 11-1 record, a Mountain West Conference championship and a victory over Iowa State in the 2005 Houston Bowl. The following season, Ballard aided the Horned Frogs to an 11-2 record and a win against Northern Illinois in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl. He was named an All-Mountain West Conference Second Team selection his senior year.
Ballard was named TCU’s MVP two years in a row, becoming the first player to do so since LaDainian Tomlinson.