If you’ve ever driven the 90-mile stretch of I-35 between Waco and Fort Worth, you know the vibe. It is dusty, often under construction, and absolutely dripping with college football history. This isn't just about two schools playing a game; it is the Baylor vs TCU football rivalry, a feud so old and so deep that people actually fought over it before the campuses even moved to their current spots.
They call it the Bluebonnet Battle now, a formal name minted in late 2023 to replace the much more chaotic—and honestly cooler—informal title: The Revivalry.
Whatever you call it, the 2025 edition proved this series hasn't lost its edge. In a game delayed by massive lightning strikes and soaked in Texas rain, TCU walked away with a 42-36 win that nearly slipped through their fingers in the final thirty seconds.
The Chaos of the 2025 Matchup
Let’s talk about that most recent Saturday in Fort Worth. It was October 18, 2025. Amon G. Carter Stadium was packed until the weather decided to take a turn. We saw three separate lightning delays. That’s enough to kill the momentum of any team, but somehow, these two kept the energy high for nearly six hours.
TCU’s Josh Hoover was surgical. He threw for three touchdowns, finishing 22-of-31 for 231 yards. On the other side, Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson was airing it out like his life depended on it, racking up 318 yards. But those three interceptions? They were the killer.
Baylor actually outgained TCU in total yardage—439 to 427. Usually, when you move the ball that well, you win. But football isn't played on a spreadsheet.
"Our players know how to win. It wasn't pretty, but I really don't care," TCU coach Sonny Dykes said after the game.
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That quote basically sums up the entire history of Baylor vs TCU football. It’s rarely pretty. It’s almost always a scrap.
Breaking Down the 2025 Stats
The ground game really tipped the scales for the Frogs. Kevorian Barnes was a beast, rushing for 106 yards and two scores. His 14-yard touchdown run right after the final weather delay put TCU up 42-21.
You’d think a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter would be safe. You’d be wrong. This is the Bluebonnet Battle. Baylor’s Keaton Thomas scooped up a fumble for a 24-yard touchdown, and suddenly it was a game again. When Robertson hit Kole Wilson for a 35-yard strike with 30 seconds left, Waco was holding its breath.
It took a Namdi Obiazor interception with 13 seconds on the clock to finally put the Bears to bed. TCU moved to 5-2, and Baylor dropped to 4-3.
Why They Call It the Revivalry (and Why That Name Is Better)
The "Revivalry" nickname stems from the religious roots of both schools—Baylor being Baptist and TCU being the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). But it also refers to how this rivalry has been "revived" across different conferences. They played in the Southwest Conference for decades. Then the SWC collapsed, and they were separated for a long time.
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When they finally reunited in the Big 12 back in 2012, it felt like the natural order of the world had been restored.
- The 61-58 Game: You cannot talk about this rivalry without mentioning 2014. No. 5 Baylor vs. No. 9 TCU. Baylor was down 21 points with ten minutes left. They scored 24 unanswered points. Chris Callahan kicked a field goal as time expired.
- The 2022 "Bazooka" Kick: Remember Griffin Kell? No timeouts, the clock running, and the TCU field goal unit sprinting onto the field like a fire drill. He nailed it. TCU won 29-28 and kept their undefeated playoff run alive.
These aren't just games; they are core memories for anyone wearing green or purple.
A History Born in Fire and Waco
The first game happened in 1899. It ended in a 0-0 tie. Exciting, right? But the real drama started when TCU was actually located in Waco. Both schools shared the same city for years.
In 1910, a fire destroyed TCU’s main administration building. There are still conspiracy theories floating around about how that fire started, but the result was TCU packing up and moving to Fort Worth. Ever since then, there’s been a "you left us / we’re better off without you" dynamic that fuels the fan bases.
Currently, TCU leads the all-time series 60-54-7. It is the most-played college football rivalry in the state of Texas. More than Texas-Texas A&M. More than the Red River Rivalry.
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What to Watch for in the Next Chapter
The 2026 meeting is already circled on calendars. Because the Big 12 is constantly shifting, these legacy rivalries are the only thing keeping the "old school" feel of the conference alive.
If you're betting on or analyzing the next Baylor vs TCU football game, look at the trenches. In 2025, TCU won because they averaged 5.2 yards per rush while Baylor only managed 3.3. Baylor has become a "quick strike" team under their current offensive philosophy, but if they can't establish a run game, they become one-dimensional.
Actionable Tips for Fans and Analysts
- Monitor the Turnover Margin: In the last five meetings, the team that wins the turnover battle has won the game four times.
- Watch the Weather: Both McLane Stadium (Waco) and Amon G. Carter (Fort Worth) are prone to autumn storms. As we saw in 2025, a two-hour delay can completely change a team's rhythm.
- Home Field Isn't Everything: Interestingly, Baylor had a five-game road winning streak snapped in Fort Worth in 2025. These teams know each other's stadiums so well that the "home crowd" advantage is often neutralized by the sheer familiarity of the 90-mile trip.
The Bluebonnet Battle isn't going anywhere. It’s a testament to Texas football culture that even with a corporate name change, the raw, unbridled dislike between these two programs remains exactly the same. Next year will likely be just as stressful, just as loud, and hopefully, just as close.