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Rivalry

Battle for the Iron Skillet

vs.

SMU vs. TCU. First played in 1915.

TCU leads 54–42–7 in Battle for the Iron Skillet through 2025. TCU won the last meeting, 35–24, in 2025.

All-time54–42–7TCU's record, 103 meetings
Last 107–3TCU's record
Since 200019–5TCU's record
Current streak1TCU win
First meeting1915TCU 43–0

Who's won the Battle for the Iron Skillet lately?

  1. 2015TCU56–37
  2. 2016TCU33–3
  3. 2017TCU56–36
  4. 2018TCU42–12
  5. 2019SMU41–38
  6. 2021SMU42–34
  7. 2022TCU42–34
  8. 2023TCU34–17
  9. 2024SMU66–42
  10. 2025TCU35–24

TCU won the last one, in 2025. Over the last 10 meetings, TCU is 7–3.

What's the Battle for the Iron Skillet trophy?

Iron Skillet: an iron frying pan that has gone to the winner since 1946; SMU's version of the story starts with a fan frying frog legs before the game.

How did Battle for the Iron Skillet start?

TCU beat SMU 43-0 in 1915, and the Dallas and Fort Worth schools played for decades as Southwest Conference opponents. The Iron Skillet dates to 1946; SMU says it began as a fan's joke involving frog legs, while TCU's magazine calls the origin a mystery. In 1935 both teams came in 10-0, and SMU won 20-14 in Fort Worth on a fake punt that became a touchdown pass from Bob Finley to Bob Wilson, clinching the Southwest Conference title and a Rose Bowl invitation. TCU chose not to renew the series, so the 2025 game, a 35-24 TCU win, is the last one for the foreseeable future.

What are the most famous Battle for the Iron Skillet games?

  • 1935: Game of the CenturyBoth teams were 10-0, and SMU won 20-14 in Fort Worth on a fourth-quarter fake punt pass from Bob Finley to Bob Wilson.Final: SMU 20–14
  • 2000: 62 pointsTCU won 62-7, the most points in a game in the series.Final: TCU 62–7
  • 2011: OvertimeSMU won 40-33 in overtime.Final: SMU 40–33

How has the Battle for the Iron Skillet series swung?

565628281915: TCU 43–01916: TCU 48–31917: TCU 21–01921: TCU 13–61922: tie, 0–01923: SMU 40–01924: SMU 6–01926: SMU 14–131927: SMU 28–61928: TCU 15–61929: tie, 7–71930: TCU 13–01931: tie, 0–01932: TCU 8–01933: TCU 26–61934: SMU 19–01935: SMU 20–141936: tie, 0–01937: TCU 3–01938: TCU 20–71939: SMU 14–71940: SMU 16–01941: TCU 15–131942: TCU 14–61943: SMU 20–01944: SMU 9–61945: SMU 34–01946: SMU 30–131947: tie, 19–191948: tie, 7–71949: TCU 21–131950: TCU 27–131951: TCU 13–21952: TCU 14–71953: TCU 13–01954: SMU 21–61955: TCU 20–131956: TCU 21–61957: TCU 21–01958: SMU 20–131959: TCU 19–01960: TCU 13–01961: tie, 28–281962: TCU 14–91963: TCU 22–151964: TCU 17–61965: TCU 10–71966: SMU 21–01967: SMU 28–141968: SMU 21–141969: SMU 19–171970: TCU 26–171971: TCU 18–161972: SMU 35–221973: SMU 21–191974: SMU 33–131975: SMU 28–131976: SMU 34–141977: SMU 45–211978: SMU 45–141979: SMU 27–71980: SMU 17–141981: SMU 20–91982: SMU 16–131983: SMU 21–171984: SMU 26–171985: SMU 56–211986: SMU 31–211989: TCU 28–101990: TCU 42–211991: TCU 18–101992: SMU 21–91993: SMU 21–151994: TCU 35–141995: TCU 19–161996: SMU 27–241997: TCU 21–181998: SMU 10–61999: TCU 21–02000: TCU 62–72001: TCU 38–102002: TCU 17–62003: TCU 20–132004: TCU 44–02005: SMU 21–102007: TCU 21–72008: TCU 48–72009: TCU 39–142010: TCU 41–242011: SMU 40–332012: TCU 24–162013: TCU 48–172014: TCU 56–02015: TCU 56–372016: TCU 33–32017: TCU 56–362018: TCU 42–122019: SMU 41–382021: SMU 42–342022: TCU 42–342023: TCU 34–172024: SMU 66–422025: TCU 35–24192019401960198020002020 SMU won ↑TCU won ↓ 565628281915: TCU 43–01916: TCU 48–31917: TCU 21–01921: TCU 13–61922: tie, 0–01923: SMU 40–01924: SMU 6–01926: SMU 14–131927: SMU 28–61928: TCU 15–61929: tie, 7–71930: TCU 13–01931: tie, 0–01932: TCU 8–01933: TCU 26–61934: SMU 19–01935: SMU 20–141936: tie, 0–01937: TCU 3–01938: TCU 20–71939: SMU 14–71940: SMU 16–01941: TCU 15–131942: TCU 14–61943: SMU 20–01944: SMU 9–61945: SMU 34–01946: SMU 30–131947: tie, 19–191948: tie, 7–71949: TCU 21–131950: TCU 27–131951: TCU 13–21952: TCU 14–71953: TCU 13–01954: SMU 21–61955: TCU 20–131956: TCU 21–61957: TCU 21–01958: SMU 20–131959: TCU 19–01960: TCU 13–01961: tie, 28–281962: TCU 14–91963: TCU 22–151964: TCU 17–61965: TCU 10–71966: SMU 21–01967: SMU 28–141968: SMU 21–141969: SMU 19–171970: TCU 26–171971: TCU 18–161972: SMU 35–221973: SMU 21–191974: SMU 33–131975: SMU 28–131976: SMU 34–141977: SMU 45–211978: SMU 45–141979: SMU 27–71980: SMU 17–141981: SMU 20–91982: SMU 16–131983: SMU 21–171984: SMU 26–171985: SMU 56–211986: SMU 31–211989: TCU 28–101990: TCU 42–211991: TCU 18–101992: SMU 21–91993: SMU 21–151994: TCU 35–141995: TCU 19–161996: SMU 27–241997: TCU 21–181998: SMU 10–61999: TCU 21–02000: TCU 62–72001: TCU 38–102002: TCU 17–62003: TCU 20–132004: TCU 44–02005: SMU 21–102007: TCU 21–72008: TCU 48–72009: TCU 39–142010: TCU 41–242011: SMU 40–332012: TCU 24–162013: TCU 48–172014: TCU 56–02015: TCU 56–372016: TCU 33–32017: TCU 56–362018: TCU 42–122019: SMU 41–382021: SMU 42–342022: TCU 42–342023: TCU 34–172024: SMU 66–422025: TCU 35–24192019602000 SMU won ↑TCU won ↓

Each bar is one meeting. Bars above the line are SMU wins and bars below it are TCU wins; the taller the bar, the bigger the margin. Over the last 10 meetings TCU is 7–3. The widest margins are SMU 40–0 in 1923 and TCU 56–0 in 2014.

How do SMU and TCU compare this season?

SMUTCUSP+ overall21st42ndSP+ offense19th83rdSP+ defense32nd13thSuccess rate18th59thSuccess rate allowed26th5thExplosive play rate27th111thBig Uglies: offensive line78th127thBig Uglies: defensive front11th46thTakeaways a game120th63rdGiveaways a game75th122nd1st (best)138th

SMU is the better team this season by SP+ (21st to 42nd), and it's ahead on 7 of these 10 stats. Each row is one stat: the dots are each team's national rank out of 138, printed by the dot, and further left is better.

National rankSMUTCU
SP+ overall21st42nd
SP+ offense19th83rd
SP+ defense32nd13th
Success rate18th59th
Success rate allowed26th5th
Explosive play rate27th111th
Big Uglies: offensive line78th127th
Big Uglies: defensive front11th46th
Takeaways a game120th63rd
Giveaways a game75th122nd

Compare them on 75+ stats in the head-to-head

What are the records in Battle for the Iron Skillet?

Biggest SMU win
1923, 40–0
Biggest TCU win
2014, 56–0
Longest streaks
SMU, 15 straight (1972–1986); TCU, 7 straight (2012–2018)
Most points
SMU, 66 in 2024
Ties
7

Who has the most yards in Battle for the Iron Skillet?

Best single gameMost in the series
PassingTrevone Boykin (TCU), 454 passing yards in 2015, with 5 TDsTrevone Boykin (TCU), 961 passing yards in 4 games (2012–2015)
RushingAaron Green (TCU), 164 rushing yards in 2015, with 2 TDsDarius Anderson (TCU), 332 rushing yards in 4 games (2016–2019)
ReceivingEric McAlister (TCU), 254 receiving yards in 2025, with 3 TDsEric McAlister (TCU), 368 receiving yards in 2 games (2024–2025)

From the box scores of the 20 meetings since 2004 on CollegeFootballData.com. Older games don't have player stats.

Battle for the Iron Skillet results: every game since 1915

YearWinnerScoreHome
2025TCU35–24TCU
2024SMU66–42SMU
2023TCU34–17TCU
2022TCU42–34SMU
2021SMU42–34TCU
2019SMU41–38TCU
2018TCU42–12SMU
2017TCU56–36TCU
2016TCU33–3SMU
2015TCU56–37TCU
2014TCU56–0SMU
2013TCU48–17TCU
2012TCU24–16SMU
2011SMU40–33TCU
2010TCU41–24SMU
2009TCU39–14TCU
2008TCU48–7SMU
2007TCU21–7TCU
2005SMU21–10SMU
2004TCU44–0TCU
2003TCU20–13SMU
2002TCU17–6TCU
2001TCU38–10SMU
2000TCU62–7SMU
1999TCU21–0TCU
1998SMU10–6SMU
1997TCU21–18TCU
1996SMU27–24SMU
1995TCU19–16TCU
1994TCU35–14SMU
1993SMU21–15TCU
1992SMU21–9SMU
1991TCU18–10TCU
1990TCU42–21SMU
1989TCU28–10TCU
1986SMU31–21SMU
1985SMU56–21TCU
1984SMU26–17SMU
1983SMU21–17TCU
1982SMU16–13SMU
1981SMU20–9TCU
1980SMU17–14SMU
1979SMU27–7TCU
1978SMU45–14SMU
1977SMU45–21TCU
1976SMU34–14SMU
1975SMU28–13SMU
1974SMU33–13TCU
1973SMU21–19SMU
1972SMU35–22TCU
1971TCU18–16SMU
1970TCU26–17TCU
1969SMU19–17SMU
1968SMU21–14TCU
1967SMU28–14SMU
1966SMU21–0TCU
1965TCU10–7SMU
1964TCU17–6SMU
1963TCU22–15TCU
1962TCU14–9SMU
1961Tie28–28SMU
1960TCU13–0SMU
1959TCU19–0TCU
1958SMU20–13SMU
1957TCU21–0TCU
1956TCU21–6SMU
1955TCU20–13TCU
1954SMU21–6SMU
1953TCU13–0TCU
1952TCU14–7SMU
1951TCU13–2TCU
1950TCU27–13SMU
1949TCU21–13TCU
1948Tie7–7TCU
1947Tie19–19SMU
1946SMU30–13SMU
1945SMU34–0TCU
1944SMU9–6SMU
1943SMU20–0TCU
1942TCU14–6SMU
1941TCU15–13TCU
1940SMU16–0SMU
1939SMU14–7TCU
1938TCU20–7SMU
1937TCU3–0TCU
1936Tie0–0TCU
1935SMU20–14TCU
1934SMU19–0SMU
1933TCU26–6TCU
1932TCU8–0SMU
1931Tie0–0SMU
1930TCU13–0SMU
1929Tie7–7SMU
1928TCU15–6SMU
1927SMU28–6TCU
1926SMU14–13SMU
1924SMU6–0TCU
1923SMU40–0SMU
1922Tie0–0SMU
1921TCU13–6SMU
1917TCU21–0TCU
1916TCU48–3SMU
1915TCU43–0TCU

Results from CollegeFootballData.com. The schools' official series records can differ by a game or two (vacated wins, disputed early games).

Questions about Battle for the Iron Skillet

Who leads the Battle for the Iron Skillet series?

TCU leads 54–42–7 through the 2025 game, with 7 ties, in the 103 meetings on record since 1915.

Who won the last Battle for the Iron Skillet?

TCU beat SMU 35–24 on Sep 20, 2025 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

When was the first Battle for the Iron Skillet?

1915. TCU won 43–0.

What's the trophy for the Battle for the Iron Skillet?

Iron Skillet: an iron frying pan that has gone to the winner since 1946; SMU's version of the story starts with a fan frying frog legs before the game.

What's the biggest win in the Battle for the Iron Skillet?

TCU won by 56 in 2014, 56–0. SMU won by 40 in 1923, 40–0.

What's the longest winning streak in the Battle for the Iron Skillet?

SMU won 15 straight from 1972 to 1986. TCU won 7 straight from 2012 to 2018.

Who has won the Battle for the Iron Skillet lately?

TCU won the last one, in 2025. Over the last 10 meetings, TCU is 7–3.

Who has the most passing yards in a Battle for the Iron Skillet game?

Trevone Boykin (TCU), 454 passing yards in 2015, with 5 TDs, the most in one game since 2004. The most in the series: Trevone Boykin (TCU), 961 passing yards in 4 games (2012–2015).

Who has the most rushing yards in a Battle for the Iron Skillet game?

Aaron Green (TCU), 164 rushing yards in 2015, with 2 TDs, the most in one game since 2004. The most in the series: Darius Anderson (TCU), 332 rushing yards in 4 games (2016–2019).

Who has the most receiving yards in a Battle for the Iron Skillet game?

Eric McAlister (TCU), 254 receiving yards in 2025, with 3 TDs, the most in one game since 2004. The most in the series: Eric McAlister (TCU), 368 receiving yards in 2 games (2024–2025).

What is the Battle for the Iron Skillet?

Battle for the Iron Skillet is the SMU–TCU rivalry, first played in 1915. TCU leads 54–42–7 through 2025, and the winner takes home the Iron Skillet.

What happened in the 1935 Battle for the Iron Skillet?

Game of the Century: Both teams were 10-0, and SMU won 20-14 in Fort Worth on a fourth-quarter fake punt pass from Bob Finley to Bob Wilson. Final: SMU 20–14.

What happened in the 2000 Battle for the Iron Skillet?

62 points: TCU won 62-7, the most points in a game in the series. Final: TCU 62–7.

What happened in the 2011 Battle for the Iron Skillet?

Overtime: SMU won 40-33 in overtime. Final: SMU 40–33.

Where can I watch SMU vs. TCU, and what time is it?

SMU and TCU don't play each other in 2026. The last meeting was in 2025, a 35–24 TCU win.

When is the next Battle for the Iron Skillet?

SMU and TCU don't play each other in 2026. The last meeting was in 2025, a 35–24 TCU win.

Who has the Battle for the Iron Skillet?

TCU has it. TCU won the 2025 game, 35–24.

What was the score of the last SMU vs. TCU game?

TCU won 35–24 on Sep 20, 2025.

What's the SMU vs. TCU record in the last 10 years?

TCU is 5–3 in the 8 meetings since 2016.

SMU vs. TCU player stats: who starred in the 2025 game?

For TCU, Josh Hoover threw for 379 yards and 5 TDs; Trent Battle ran for 60 yards; Eric McAlister had 254 receiving yards and 3 TDs. For SMU, Kevin Jennings threw for 290 yards and 3 TDs; TJ Harden ran for 56 yards; Yamir Knight had 69 receiving yards and 1 TD.

Who won the 2025 Battle for the Iron Skillet?

TCU beat SMU 35–24 on Sep 20, 2025 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Who won the 2024 Battle for the Iron Skillet?

SMU beat TCU 66–42 on Sep 21, 2024 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

Who won the 2023 Battle for the Iron Skillet?

TCU beat SMU 34–17 on Sep 23, 2023 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Who won the 2022 Battle for the Iron Skillet?

TCU beat SMU 42–34 on Sep 24, 2022 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

Who won the 2021 Battle for the Iron Skillet?

SMU beat TCU 42–34 on Sep 25, 2021 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

When was the last time SMU won the Battle for the Iron Skillet?

2024, 66–42. TCU has won all 1 meetings since.

When was the last time TCU won the Battle for the Iron Skillet?

2025, 35–24, the most recent meeting.

Related

History and trophy sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org.

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