If you’ve ever spent a Saturday in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex when the Horned Frogs and Mustangs are clashing, you know it’s not just a game. It’s a literal civil war fought over a piece of kitchenware.
But honestly? The TCU vs SMU football rivalry is in a weird spot right now. We just watched what might be the final chapter for a very long time, and the vibes are, well, complicated.
The two schools have played over 100 times since 1915. They’re separated by about 40 miles of I-30, but they might as well be on different planets. You’ve got the private, high-society "Pony Ex-press" energy of SMU in Dallas and the gritty, "Prodigal Son" energy of TCU in Fort Worth.
The Iron Skillet: More Than Just a Kitchen Utensil
Most people ask: why a skillet? It sounds kinda random, right?
The legend goes back to 1946. Apparently, an SMU fan was tailgating and decided to fry up some frog legs—a direct shot at the TCU Horned Frog mascot. A TCU fan saw this, got understandably heated, and suggested that the winner of the game should get the skillet and the legs.
SMU won that day. They took the pan home.
Eventually, it became an official traveling trophy. Since then, the Battle for the Iron Skillet has become the centerpiece of DFW sports. But if you look at the history, it’s been a series of runs. TCU leads the all-time series 54-43-7, but the last few years have seen the Mustangs claw back into it.
The Sonny Dykes Factor (And That Wild 2024 Blowout)
You can't talk about TCU vs SMU football without talking about Sonny Dykes. The man is essentially the main character of this rivalry’s modern era.
Dykes was the head coach at SMU. He built them up, made them relevant again, and then—in a move that SMU fans still haven't forgiven—he packed his bags and moved to Fort Worth to coach the Frogs.
👉 See also: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
It was drama. Pure, unadulterated college football drama.
In 2024, things got absolutely out of hand. SMU, playing at home in Gerald J. Ford Stadium, didn't just beat TCU; they dismantled them. The final score was 66-42.
It was the most points either team had ever scored in the history of the series. To make it even more cinematic, Sonny Dykes actually got ejected from the game. He picked up two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties early in the second half and had to watch the rest of the blowout from the locker room.
The Mustangs scored three non-offensive touchdowns that day—a fumble return, a punt return, and an interception return. It felt like everything that could go wrong for TCU did.
The 2025 Finale: A Temporary Goodbye?
The most recent meeting on September 20, 2025, felt different. There was a sense of finality in the air at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
TCU managed to get some revenge for the previous year’s embarrassment. Behind a massive performance from quarterback Josh Hoover, who threw for 379 yards and 5 touchdowns, the Horned Frogs took down SMU 35-24.
It was a classic back-and-forth battle, but TCU pulled away in the fourth quarter. When the clock hit zero, the Frogs hoisted the Iron Skillet, and for now, it stays in Fort Worth.
But here’s the kicker: there are currently no more games scheduled.
✨ Don't miss: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
Why is the Series Ending?
This is where fans get really frustrated. TCU decided to "pause" the series indefinitely after the 2025 season.
TCU Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati has been pretty open about the reasoning, even if SMU fans don't buy it. Basically, with the Big 12 moving to a nine-game conference schedule, TCU wants more home games.
By cutting SMU, they can schedule "buy games"—lower-tier teams that will come to Fort Worth for a check without requiring a return trip to their stadium. It’s a business move.
SMU, on the other hand, was desperate to keep it going. Now that they’ve moved to the ACC, they have the "Power Four" status they lacked for decades. They want the respect of playing their cross-town rival every year.
Rhett Lashlee, the SMU head coach, hasn't been shy about his disappointment. He’s essentially called out TCU for ducking a team that’s become a legitimate threat.
The Cultural Impact: Dallas vs. Fort Worth
The TCU vs SMU football game was always a bellwether for the city.
- SMU represents the "Park Cities" crowd—wealthy, flashy, and traditionally associated with the "Pony Express" era of the 80s.
- TCU represents the "Cowtown" grit—historically the underdog that fought its way into the BCS and eventually the College Football Playoff.
When they don't play, the Metroplex loses its best annual argument. It’s one of the few games where the fans actually live and work together. Your boss might be a Mustang while you’re a Frog. That water-cooler talk is basically dead for the next few years.
Misconceptions About the Rivalry
A lot of national media think this is just a "regional" game that doesn't matter. They’re wrong.
🔗 Read more: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
In 1935, this game was called the "Game of the Century." Both teams were undefeated, and the winner (SMU) went to the Rose Bowl. Both teams eventually claimed a national title that year.
People also think TCU has always dominated. While they’ve won 18 of the last 24 meetings, SMU actually had a 15-game winning streak from 1972 to 1986. The history is much more balanced than the recent "Power Five vs. G5" dynamic suggested.
What Happens Now?
So, is the Iron Skillet gone forever? Probably not.
College football is cyclical. Realignment is still happening. There’s a world where these two end up in the same conference again, or where the playoff format changes enough that TCU feels the need to schedule a "strength of schedule" game like SMU again.
For now, TCU's future schedules are filled with names like North Carolina and Arkansas State. SMU is focused on proving they belong in the ACC.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're a fan of either team and you're feeling the void of the TCU vs SMU football rivalry, here is how you can stay engaged with the DFW football scene:
- Support the "Secondary" Rivalries: TCU still plays Baylor every year (the Revivalry), which is just as old and arguably more bitter.
- Watch the ACC/Big 12 Trajectory: Keep an eye on the win-loss records of both programs. If SMU continues to outpace TCU in the win column, the pressure on TCU to resume the series will become deafening.
- Check the Bowl Tie-ins: There is always a chance these two could meet in a bowl game. The Alamo Bowl or even a first-round Playoff game are the only ways we see this matchup before 2030.
- Voice Your Opinion: Athletic directors do listen to big-money boosters. If enough people want the Skillet back, the "business decision" might eventually flip.
The skillet might be cooling off on a shelf for now, but in Texas, nothing stays quiet for long.