In a surprising turn of events, TCU has announced that it will indefinitely pause its longstanding football series with SMU after the 2025 season. The news was revealed by college football insider Brett McMurphy, who tweeted about the decision. The two Christian universities, located just 35 miles apart, have been playing each other since 1915, making their rivalry one of the oldest in college football.
The upcoming game between TCU and SMU, scheduled for this season on September 23, will be the 102nd meeting between the Horned Frogs and the Mustangs in the Iron Skillet Rivalry. TCU currently holds the lead in the series with 52 wins, while SMU has 42 wins and there have been 7 ties.
The decision to pause the series comes at a time when the landscape of college football is undergoing significant changes. With realignment, NIL legislation, and other factors coming into play, the future of many rivalry games is uncertain. One example is the Bedlam Series between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, which will not continue once Oklahoma leaves the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.
SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee expressed his disappointment at the news but remained hopeful that the rivalry would continue. He stated, “The game has been played over 100 years. I don’t know why we wouldn’t play. We are always willing to play them. I think it’s good for Texas football, I think it’s good for the Dallas Metroplex to have Dallas’ team and Fort Worth’s team playing.”
Fans of the Iron Skillet rivalry will have to make the most of the next few years, as the series will be put on hold indefinitely after the 2025 season. The game between TCU and SMU this season will be one to watch, as it could potentially be one of the last meetings between the two teams for the foreseeable future.
As college football continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how many other longstanding rivalries will be affected. For now, fans can look forward to the upcoming game between TCU and SMU and hope that the rivalry will eventually resume in the future.
How does the potential discontinuation of the Iron Skillet Rivalry reflect the uncertain future of other long-standing college football rivalries
In a shocking twist of events, TCU has dropped a bombshell announcement that they will be pressing pause on their historic football series with SMU following the 2025 season. The surprising news was brought to light by college football insider Brett McMurphy, who took to Twitter to share the decision. These two neighboring Christian universities, located a mere 35 miles apart, have been battling it out on the football field since 1915, making their fierce rivalry one of the oldest in all of college football.
The next face-off between TCU and SMU, which is set to take place on September 23rd this season, will mark the 102nd meeting between the Horned Frogs and the Mustangs in the renowned Iron Skillet Rivalry. With 52 victories, TCU currently holds the lead in the series, while SMU trails behind with 42 wins and 7 ties.
This shocking pause in the rivalry series comes at a time when the landscape of college football is undergoing substantial changes. Realignment efforts, the introduction of NIL legislation, and other factors are all contributing to the uncertain future of many beloved rivalry games. Just take a look at the Bedlam Series between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, which is set to discontinue once Oklahoma departs from the Big 12 conference to join the Southeastern Conference.
Upon hearing the news, SMU’s head coach, Rhett Lashlee, expressed disappointment but remained hopeful that the rivalry would persist. Lashlee stated, “The game has been a tradition for over a century. I can’t fathom why we wouldn’t continue to play. We’re always up for the challenge. I firmly believe it’s vital for Texas football and the Dallas Metroplex to have both teams from Dallas and Fort Worth competing against each other.”
For all the fervent fans of the Iron Skillet rivalry, the countdown to 2025 has now begun. After that season, the series will be indefinitely put on hold, leaving a great void in the college football world. As for the upcoming showdown between TCU and SMU, it promises to be a nail-biter, with the potential to be one of the last meetings between these two teams for the foreseeable future.
As college football continues to evolve and change, the fate of other long-standing rivalries remains up in the air. But for now, fans can eagerly anticipate the upcoming clash between TCU and SMU, holding onto the hope that this cherished rivalry will eventually be reignited.
