The Zeitgeist List · rivalries

Battle for the Iron Skillet

SMU42–54–7TCU
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.

Stature & the series, 1915–2025

Both programs’ standing over time in their colors, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won.

program stature over timeSMUTCUevery meeting (bar height = margin, colored by winner)192019401960198020002020
all-time
42–54–7
TCU leads
streak
1
TCU in a row
longest run
15
SMU
biggest win
56
TCU, 2014
first met
1915
103 meetings
biggest crowd
51,243
2023

The coaching duels

Bill Meek vs Abe Martin1–3–1

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
1960s6–4
1970s6–5
1980s20–10
1990s4–8
2000s3–21
2010s12–27
2020s9–23

Best picks, either side

1983Eric Dickerson Running BackRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2001LaDainian Tomlinson Running BackRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1984Russell Carter Defensive BackRd 1, pick 10#10 overall
1970Norman Bulaich Running BackRd 1, pick 18#18 overall
2020Jalen Reagor Wide ReceiverRd 1, pick 21#21 overall
2023Quentin Johnston Wide ReceiverRd 1, pick 22#21 overall
2016Josh Doctson Wide ReceiverRd 1, pick 22#22 overall
1986Roderick Jones Defensive BackRd 1, pick 25#25 overall

Recent meetings

2025TCU35–24
2024SMU66–42
2023TCU34–17
2022TCU42–34
2021SMU42–34
2019SMU41–38
2018TCU42–12
2017TCU56–36
2016TCU33–3
2015TCU56–37
2014TCU56–0
2013TCU48–17
2012TCU24–16
2011SMU40–33