The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Battle for the Iron Skillet

SMU42-54-7TCU
National Program I#34 of 138▲Power Program III#26 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
3 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

TCU leads the all-time series 54-42-7. They've met 103 times since 1915. SMU once took 15 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

SMU
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -19
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan thinks Kevin is not playing as well as before
Kevin Jennings 2nd half was embarrassing. Guy needs competition in camp next year
Verified verbatim
TCU
Win total
5.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-7
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -9
What fans are saying · program direction
fans believe the team's performance is disappointing
Frogs aren’t just losing, they’re losing in boring ways. The coaching carousel is too wild this year, but next year has to be make or break for Sonny.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1915–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeSMUTCUevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: SMU won, gray: TCU won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

SMU was the more pass-heavy program — then TCU took it over.

SMU threw it more in 16 of 18 seasons, 2004–2021. Since 2022, TCU has led 3 of 5. Real exceptions: 2015, 2016, 2022, 2025.

more passmore runSMUTCU2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262022SMU 6.5 ptsTCU won 42-342015TCU 5.8 ptsTCU won 56-372025SMU 2.0 ptsTCU won 35-24
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was TCU by 56 in 2014. The biggest crowd, 51,243, was in 2023.

The coaching duels

Madison Bell vs Dutch Meyer4-4-3
June Jones vs Gary Patterson1-6
Bill Meek vs Abe Martin1-3-1
Hayden Fry vs Abe Martin1-4
Ron Meyer vs F. Dry5-0
Tom Rossley vs Pat Sullivan3-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
60-98
TCU leads
1st-rounders
4-9
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
SMUTCU
1960s6-4
1970s6-5
1980s20-10
1990s4-8
2000s3-21
2010s12-27
2020s9-23

Best picks, either side

1983Eric Dickerson Running Back · Los Angeles RamsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2001LaDainian Tomlinson Running Back · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1984Russell Carter Defensive Back · New York JetsRd 1, pick 10#10 overall
1970Norman Bulaich Running Back · Baltimore ColtsRd 1, pick 18#18 overall
2020Jalen Reagor Wide Receiver · Philadelphia EaglesRd 1, pick 21#21 overall
2023Quentin Johnston Wide Receiver · Los Angeles ChargersRd 1, pick 22#21 overall
2016Josh Doctson Wide Receiver · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 22#22 overall
1986Roderick Jones Defensive Back · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 25#25 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

SMU1.29×its own average home crowd
TCU1.11×its own average home crowd
2025TCU35-24
2024SMU66-42TCU — TCU routed by 24
2023TCU34-17
2022TCU42-34
2021SMU42-34
2019SMU41-38TCU — decided by 3
2018TCU42-12
2017TCU56-36
2016TCU33-3
2015TCU56-37
2014TCU56-0
2013TCU48-17
2012TCU24-16
2011SMU40-33

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is SMU’s chance to win through that meeting. SMU is 1-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025TCU 35-24SMU lost 24-35 at TCU. Chance to win started at 26%, low under 1%, high 49%.Busy
2024SMU 66-42SMU won 66-42 vs TCU. Chance to win started at 46%, low 46%, high better than 99%.Steady
2023TCU 34-17SMU lost 17-34 at TCU. Chance to win started at 36%, low under 1%, high 48%.Quiet
2022TCU 42-34SMU lost 34-42 vs TCU. Chance to win started at 33%, low 2%, high 34%.
2021SMU 42-34SMU won 42-34 at TCU. Chance to win started at 25%, low 24%, high 99%.
2019SMU 41-38SMU won 41-38 at TCU. Chance to win started at 39%, low 37%, high 96%.
2018TCU 42-12SMU lost 12-42 vs TCU. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 32%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “SMU definitely has a secondary of all-time”
    A TCU fan

Meetings with their own story page

10 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.