After a tough loss on Saturday to UCF, TCU football aims for a third straight victory over SMU this Saturday, seeking to keep the Iron Skillet in Fort Worth.
While both schools agree the Iron Skillet rivalry began in 1946, fans from each side tell different stories about how the name originated.
SMU claims a Mustang fan was frying frog legs in an iron skillet before the game when a TCU fan suggested the winner should keep both the pan and the frog legs. Conversely, TCU says the name came from the SMU student council’s decision to create a trophy for the rivalry.
Regardless of which story is true, the cross-town rivalry has continued consistently ever since.
SMU’s expectations
The Mustangs made notable adjustments following their three-point loss to BYU two weeks ago. Quarterback Preston Stone lost his starting role to sophomore Kevin Jennings after a rough start against the Cougars. Stone was benched after just three possessions, completing two of four passes for a total of four yards.
Head coach Rhett Lashlee said the team was not moving the ball well with Stone, so he put Jennings in. SMU moved the ball with the switch, but he said they could not find the end zone.
Jennings lacked efficiency, completing 15 of 32 passes for 140 yards and throwing one interception. SMU failed to score an offensive touchdown against BYU, with all 15 of their points coming from field goals.
Typically, a wide receiver or running back would be labeled as the star of the show, but kicker Collin Rogers was the star for the Mustangs.
Rogers tied his single-game record on made field goals, making all five attempts. He set a new personal best with a 53-yard kick.
The Pro Football Focus (PFF) comes out with a list every year ranking players in each conference, and SMU had six of the top 10 players.
“We didn’t have a single player in the top 30 in the Big 12,” head coach Sonny Dykes said. “So, you know, their running back right now is the number one ranked running back in football according to PFF.”
SMU running back Brashard Smith has rushed for 253 yards and three touchdowns through three games, with his current season-high of 108 against Houston Christian. It’s critical for TCU’s defense to shut him down, or he could be lethal on the gridiron.
TCU’s expectations
TCU’s special teams shined against UCF, blocking three kicks. This aggressive unit could pose a challenge for SMU’s veteran kicker, who was the team’s only source of points against BYU.
“You have to do things right over and over and over again,” Dykes said. “What it does is it exposes the weaknesses and allows you to make plays.”
Quarterback Josh Hoover was in top form, throwing for over 400 yards in the loss to UCF. His receiving core, led by Savion Williams and Jack Bech, has been equally impressive.
Williams and Bech have been Hoover’s go-to targets. Williams made an incredible touchdown catch against UCF, pulling it in despite tight coverage from two defenders.
Bech also had a stellar game, recording 200 receiving yards and a touchdown. His career-high performance earned him the East-West Shrine Bowl’s Texas Star of the week.
If TCU falls short against the Mustangs, scrutiny of the coaching staff will intensify. Defensive coordinator Andy Avalos’ unit was exposed by UCF, and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles faced criticism for questionable play calls late in the fourth quarter.
During TCU’s second-to-last possession, Hoover attempted three passes without success, opting not to run the ball, which left fans frustrated, especially with the game on the line.
Head coach Sonny Dykes acknowledged UCF’s run game wore down the defense but stressed the need for more discipline. A crucial red zone drive early in the fourth quarter was derailed by a false start penalty on 3rd-and-1 by offensive lineman Remington Strickland.
Following the loss, fans voiced their frustrations with the play-calling on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Up next
TCU will go head-to-head with SMU on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 4 p.m. CDT. The Iron Skillet rivalry will be televised on The CW network.
