The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Revivalry

TCU61-50-5Baylor
Power Program III#26 of 138–National Program I#33 of 138▲
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

TCU leads the all-time series 61-50-5. They've met 116 times since 1903. TCU once took 8 straight.

Current season

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

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
Baylor
Win total
7.0
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+3
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +3
What fans are saying · injury availability
One fan thinks his injuries have held back his full potential
As long as he isnt the 4th coming of Charlie Brewer it will be a bright future. Still buying the Lagway stock considering the 333 yards he got while injured.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1903–2026

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 timeTCUBaylorevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: TCU won, gray: Baylor won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Baylor has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), TCU led 9 and Baylor led 14.

more passmore runTCUBaylor2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262006Baylor 29.7 ptsTCU won 17-72009Baylor 20.1 pts2020Baylor 12.8 ptsTCU won 33-23
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Baylor by 52 in 1910. The biggest crowd, 48,129, was in 2016.

The coaching duels

Jim Wacker vs Grant Teaff3-6
Abe Martin vs John Bridgers6-2
F. Dry vs Grant Teaff1-5
Gary Patterson vs Art Briles3-3
Dutch Meyer vs Morley Jennings3-2
Sonny Dykes vs Dave Aranda4-1

The draft ledger

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

Draft picks
98-105
Baylor leads
1st-rounders
9-10
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
TCUBaylor
1960s4-3
1970s5-14
1980s10-29
1990s8-11
2000s21-7
2010s27-27
2020s23-14

Best picks, either side

2009Jason Smith Offensive Tackle · St. Louis RamsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2012Robert Griffin III Quarterback · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2001LaDainian Tomlinson Running Back · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1977Gary Green Defensive Back · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 10#10 overall
1982Walter Abercrombie Running Back · Pittsburgh SteelersRd 1, pick 12#12 overall
1990James Francis Linebacker · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 12#12 overall
2016Corey Coleman Wide Receiver · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 15#15 overall
1970Norman Bulaich Running Back · Baltimore ColtsRd 1, pick 18#18 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

TCU1.06×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2026TCU17-6Baylor — Baylor routed by 11
2025TCU42-36
2024Baylor37-34
2023TCU42-17
2022TCU29-28
2021TCU30-28
2020TCU33-23
2019Baylor29-23
2018TCU16-9
2017TCU45-22
2016TCU62-22Baylor — Baylor routed by 40
2015TCU28-21
2014Baylor61-58TCU — both ranked, decided by 3
2013Baylor41-38

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is TCU’s chance to win through that meeting. TCU is 3-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2024: loud. Fans of both teams were loud at once in 2024. The bracket marks where.

2026TCU 17-6TCU won 17-6 at Baylor. Chance to win started at 32%, low 29%, high better than 99%.Busy
2025TCU 42-36TCU won 42-36 vs Baylor. Chance to win started at 67%, low 39%, high better than 99%.Quiet
2024Baylor 37-34TCU lost 34-37 at Baylor. Chance to win started at 48%, low under 1%, high 85%.Loud
2023TCU 42-17TCU won 42-17 vs Baylor. Chance to win started at 78%, low 61%, high better than 99%.Busy
2022TCU 29-28TCU won 29-28 at Baylor. Chance to win started at 55%, low 9%, high better than 99%.Loud
2021TCU 30-28TCU won 30-28 vs Baylor. Chance to win started at 30%, low 17%, high 86%.
2020TCU 33-23TCU won 33-23 at Baylor. Chance to win started at 61%, low 54%, high better than 99%.
2019Baylor 29-23TCU lost 23-29 vs Baylor. Chance to win started at 41%, low under 1%, high 83%.
2018TCU 16-9TCU won 16-9 at Baylor. Chance to win started at 52%, low 32%, high 95%.
“Way too much clock 😅”
A TCU fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “Lagway got paid $200,000 for this game”
    A Baylor fan
  • 2025
    “If I had a TCU diploma I'd keep it in a drawer instead of hanging it on a wall.”
    A Baylor fan

This season’s plays, TCU and Baylor

Official highlights with our numbers, from the 7 plays on film when they met.

  1. Q3, 14:16 · TCU up 1Jaden Craig finds Ka'Morreun Pimpton for an 8-yard touchdownTCU at Baylor, week 7Q3, 14:16 · TCU 14, Baylor 6▲18%TCU’s chance to win, 46% to 64%▲18%TCU’s chance to win, 46% to 64%J.Craig pass complete short left to K.Pimpton caught at BAYLOR00, for 8 yards to the BAYLOR00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  2. Q1, 6:14 · TCU tiedJaden Craig finds Ed Small for a 25-yard touchdownTCU at Baylor, week 7Q1, 6:14 · TCU 7, Baylor 0TCU opened the scoringTCU opened the scoringJ.Craig pass complete short right to E.Small caught at BAYLOR09, for 25 yards to the BAYLOR00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  3. Q2, 2:24 · TCU up 1Micah Gifford intercepts Jaden Craig and returns it 6 yardsTCU at Baylor, week 7Q2, 2:24 · TCU 7, Baylor 6▼12%TCU’s chance to win, 51% to 39%▼12%TCU’s chance to win, 51% to 39%J.Craig pass intercepted by M.Gifford at BAYLOR40 M.Gifford return 6 yards to the BAYLOR46 (J.Denman), out of boundsWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  4. Q3, 13:12 · Baylor down 8Koron Hayward sacks D.J. Lagway for a 6-yard lossTCU at Baylor, week 7Q3, 13:12 · Baylor 6, TCU 14Koron Hayward's third sack of the gameKoron Hayward's third sack of the gameD.Lagway sacked for loss of 6 yards to the BAYLOR41 (K.Hayward)Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
  5. Q1, 1:41 · Baylor down 7Koron Hayward sacks D.J. Lagway for an 8-yard lossTCU at Baylor, week 7Q1, 1:41 · Baylor 0, TCU 7▼6%Baylor’s chance to win, 47% to 41%▼6%Baylor’s chance to win, 47% to 41%D.Lagway sacked for loss of 8 yards to the TCU35 (K.Hayward)Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
  6. Q3, 1:19 · Baylor down 11Jamel Johnson intercepts D.J. LagwayTCU at Baylor, week 7Q3, 1:19 · Baylor 6, TCU 17▼4%Baylor’s chance to win, 19% to 15%▼4%Baylor’s chance to win, 19% to 15%D.Lagway pass intercepted by J.Johnson at BAYLOR50 J.Johnson return 2 yards to the BAYLOR48, out of bounds at BAYLOR48Watch from this playCFB ON FOX

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.