SMU and TCU are set for their final showdown in the storied Battle for the Iron Skillet, kicking off at 11 a.m. on September 20 in Fort Worth with national TV coverage set for ESPN or ESPN2.
Officials announced earlier in the week that the highly anticipated matchup will begin at 11 a.m. CT at TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Tickets for the final Iron Skillet matchup have already sold out, and remaining seats are only available on secondary markets.
Although it is unlikely that either team will enter this matchup ranked in the College Football Top 25, both are set to enter with major goals on their minds.
SMU is attempting to build upon an impressive season in 2024, with the team looking to once again make the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoffs.
The Mustangs are coming off a narrow overtime loss against Baylor, which dropped the team outside the Top 25 for the first time this season.
This week, SMU will travel to Missouri State to take on the Bears in a game that should help the Mustangs regain momentum and a victory before this pivotal matchup.
Meanwhile, TCU is looking to accomplish a similar feat this season, as the team aims to compete for the Big 12 Conference Title behind quarterback Josh Hoover, who is already receiving early buzz about a potential Heisman Trophy campaign.
TCU is coming off a dominant victory against the Bill Belichick-led UNC Tarheels in Week 1 and a bye week, as the Horned Frogs will look to enter this matchup against SMU with an undefeated record.
This year’s annual clash between the Mustangs and Horned Frogs marks the end of an era, closing out a rivalry that dates back to 1915.
Both universities have already confirmed that the 104th meeting would be the last for some time due to scheduling changes and shifting conference priorities.
Overall, the Horned Frogs have led this matchup against the Mustangs in wins, with TCU holding an all-time record of 53-43-7 against SMU.
However, SMU dominated this matchup last season, walking away with the 66-42 victory.
Located just 35 miles apart in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, SMU and TCU have battled nearly every season, with the winner claiming the coveted iron skillet trophy in a tradition that began in the 1940s.
Now, this year’s matchup will determine which university gets to claim the right to the Iron Skillet for the foreseeable future.