TCU Keeps Iron Skillet Away from Rival SMU Mustangs, 34-17 (Overview, Photos)

Prior to the TCU-SMU football game, the early-morning Midnite Madness Tailgate featured several amazing brunch entrees and a Golden Frog award-winning performance by TCU alum Barry Johnson (holding the Golden Frog) and his wife, TCU alum Cathy Johnson (left). Cathy and TCU alum Bob Dixon (seventh from right, back) celebrated birthdays at the tailgate.

Highlights of TCU's win over SMU: here

Final Stats of TCU's win over SMU: here

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes talks about TCU's win over SMU: here

TCU quarterback Chandler Morris talks about TCU's win over SMU: here

TCU cornerback Josh Newton talks about TCU's win over SMU: here

TCU tight end Jared Wiley talks about TCU's win over TCU: here

TCU linebacker Namdi Obiazor talks about TCU's win over TCU: here

SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee talks about SMU's loss to TCU: here

Game Story and Photos by Tom C. "Midnite" Burke

Fort Worth always has been the better side of the mighty Trinity River.

As the popular saying goes, “Life’s too short to live in Dallas.”

That again was proven on Saturday, September 23, as TCU battered SMU 34-17 on a summer-like first day of fall before a sellout crowd of 51,243 people in Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.

Despite a midday temperature that was hot enough to fry a mosquito, the game’s attendance was the second-largest in TCU history, surpassed only by the 53,294 who attended the Frogs’ September 2 season-opener against the University of Colorado.

The sellout was TCU’s second-straight and fifth in its past seven home games dating back to last season.

TCU ranks first nationally among Power Five programs with its attendance at 108.4 percent of capacity. TCU is second overall, behind Appalachian State (127.1), in percent of capacity. The Horned Frogs have an average crowd this season of 49,849 in their cozy and lavish 46,000-seat Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Fittingly, the Iron Skillet trophy, which annually goes to the winner of the TCU-SMU game, stays in Cowtown for a second consecutive year.

Last year, the Horned Frogs defeated the Ponies 42-34 in Dallas, a city which SMU claims, but it’s not certain that the city claims SMU.

Since saying adios to Dallas and SMU and crossing over the Trinity to Fort Worth and TCU prior to the 2022 football season, Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes is 2-0 against the Mustangs.

With the win over its Metroplex rivals, TCU improved to 3-1. The Frogs are 1-0 in the Big 12.

Dykes has become the fastest TCU head coach to win 16 games since Francis Schmidt was 16-0-2 in his opening 18 contests from 1929-30. Dykes is 16-3 at TCU, including 13-2 last season.

The Frogs, with 17 points, are 32nd in this week’s Associated Press (AP) poll. They are 28th in this week’s Coaches poll, with 54 points.

With the loss to the Frogs, SMU dropped to 2-2 overall, 0-0 in the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

Elsewhere in the Big 12 on Saturday, Texas and Oklahoma began their final Big 12 Conference seasons before departing for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Both are undefeated.

The Longhorns (4-0, 1-0), who are ranked third in this week’s Associated Press poll, easily defeated the cellar-dwelling Baylor Bears, 38-6, in Waco.

UT is 4-0 for the first time since 2012. Texas’ AP ranking is its highest since the Longhorns played for the national championship in 2009.

Baylor is 1-3, 0-1, with its lone victory coming against an FCS school, Long Island University. The Bears are averaging less than 17 points per game against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) competition this season.

The 14th-ranked Sooners (4-0, 1-0) ruined Cincinnati’s (3-1, 01) entry into the Big 12 with a 20-6 road victory over the Bearcats.

OU is 4-0 for the 17th time since 2000, the most among FBS teams.

Kansas remained undefeated (4-0, 1-0) with a home win over BYU, 38-27, in the Cougars’ first Big 12 Conference game. Kansas has started 4-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1914-15 seasons. The soaring Jayhawks are ranked 24th in both polls.

UCF (3-1, 0-1) lost its inaugural Big 12 game, 44-31, to Kansas State (3-1, 1-0) in Manhattan, Kansas.

All four Big 12 Conference newcomers have lost their inaugural conference games. On September 16, the University of Houston lost its first Big 12 game, to TCU, 36-13.

Texas Tech’s (1-3, 0-1) season declined even further on Saturday, with a 20-13 loss to West Virginia (3-1, 1-0) in Morgantown. During the game, the Red Raiders’ starting quarterback, Tyler Shough, broke the fibula in his left leg and reportedly will undergo season-ending surgery.

Iowa State improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12 with a 34-27 win over Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-1).

Houston completed its non-conference schedule with a 38-7 victory over Sam Houston State.

The 2023 TCU-SMU game may be the next-to-last contest between the two D/FW Metroplex rivals.

This annual rivalry game, which dates back to 1915, is scheduled to be put on pause following the 2025 season. With the exception of four years, TCU and SMU have played every season since 1925. In two of those seasons (1987-88), the Mustangs did not field a team.

SMU is TCU's second-most played series. The Horned Frogs' 102 meetings with the Mustangs trail only Baylor (118 games).

TCU leads the series with SMU, 53-42-7, including having won 13 of the last 16 games, 19 of the past 23 games and 26 of the last 34 match-ups.

Even without injured linebacker Johnny Hodges, the Horned Frogs’ defense was impressive for the third consecutive game.

After not allowing touchdowns in TCU wins over Nicholls State and Houston, the defense allowed the first two touchdowns since the Colorado loss, but it secured two takeaways (interceptions) against the Mustangs.

TCU did not allow an offensive touchdown for nearly 10 quarters before SMU reached the end zone with 2:54 left in the first half. The Mustangs’ other touchdown came with 1:47 remaining in the game.

SMU scored the first points of the game, on a 24-yard field goal midway through the first quarter. That was the last time the Mustangs led the Frogs.

Since giving up 45 points to Colorado, the Horned Frogs’ defense has allowed an average of only 12 points a game.

TCU’s defense gave up yardage to SMU, including 258 passing yards and 158 net rushing yards, but the Frogs were able to stop drives by the Mustangs by holding them to five-of-15 third-down conversions and one-of-three fourth-down conversions.

On fourth-down attempts this season, TCU opponents are just three-of-11.

Besides the two interceptions, TCU defenders recorded three sacks, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and six pass break-ups.

The Horned Frogs are tied for second nationally with 16 sacks.

Against SMU, linebacker Namdi Obiazor had a team-best and career-high 11 tackles, bettering his previous top mark of nine tackles in the Frogs' win over Nicholls on September 9. He also had his first career sack. It came on a third-and-one at the TCU five-yard line to force SMU’s field goal in the first quarter. Obiazor also had one tackle for loss.

Cornerback Josh Newton and safety Bud Clark had the Frogs' interceptions.

For Newton, it was his first interception of the season, fourth as a Horned Frog and seventh of his career.

Clark’s interception gave him an interception for the second straight game. His two interceptions lead the Frogs this season and his seven career interceptions top current Horned Frogs.

Safety Mark Perry recorded eight tackles, one shy of a TCU career-best.

Linebacker Jamoi Hodge had seven tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, with three quarterback hurries.

Defensive lineman Damonic Williams had his second sack of the season, and cornerback Channing Canada recorded his first career sack.

Offensively, TCU scored for the 386th consecutive game, the second-longest streak in NCAA history. Number one is Florida, at 439 games (1988-present). The Horned Frogs haven't been blanked since November 16, 1991, at Texas (32-0).

Through four games this season, the TCU offense is averaging 38.2 points per game.

Horned Frogs quarterback Chandler Morris continues to enhance his performances. Against SMU, he totaled 299 yards of offense. He completed 23-of-32 passes for 261 yards and a career-best three touchdowns (Morris has passed for at least two touchdowns in each game this season.)

Morris did not throw an interception in the victory over SMU. He added 38 yards rushing on six carries.

Morris ranks first in the Big 12 and ninth in the country in total offense at 326.3 yards per game.

Running back Emani Bailey’s team-best 126 yards rushing gave him his third 100-yard game in four contests this season. His 25 carries were the most by a Horned Frog since Kendre Miller had 29 carries in last year’s regular-season win over Kansas State.

Bailey leads the Big 12 in rushing and is seventh nationally with an average of 120.8 yards per game.

Tight end Jared Wiley tied a career-high with his team-best five receptions for 37 yards. He also had five catches earlier this season against Colorado and in last year’s regular-season win over Kansas State.

Wiley had scoring receptions of nine and two yards. This was the first multiple-touchdown game of his career.

Wiley has a team-best three touchdown receptions on the season. Seven other Horned Frogs have one scoring catch.

Tight end Chase Curtis scored his first career touchdown on a 36-yard reception. He had two catches for 55 yards in the game.

The National Football Foundation has announced that Curtis is as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award.

Through four games this season, Curtis has five receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. He played in all 15 games last year and was among the team leaders in special teams tackles.

Curtis is a graduate student at TCU. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics. He was First-Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2022.

Tight end Blake Nowell’s three catches tied a career-high set against Tarleton last season.

Receiver/returner Major Everhart had a career-best in receptions for the second straight game. He had four catches against SMU, after recording three catches at Houston the previous week.

Kicker Griffin Kell added to the Frogs’ offensive punch with two field goals, of 35 and 24 yards. He is seven-of-10 on field goal attempts this season.

TCU returns to Big 12 play this Saturday, September 30, when the Frogs host West Virginia, at 7 pm (Central), in Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

The Horned Frogs are 8-1 in home games under Dykes.

TCU's 10-game winning streak in Big 12 regular-season play, is tied for 11th-longest in conference history.

TCU and West Virginia are facing each other for the 13th time. The Mountaineers hold a 7-5 series lead. All but one meeting has come since the schools began Big 12 play together in 2012.
That was a 31-14 Mountaineers' win in the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl at the Astrodome in Houston.

Dykes is 1-0 as a head coach against West Virginia. Last year, TCU defeated West Virginia 41-31 in Morgantown.

Prior to last season's win, the Horned Frogs had dropped their previous four games to the Mountaineers, with the last victory having come in 2017 when Dykes was on the TCU football staff as an offensive analyst.

TCU is 2-3 against the Mountaineers in Fort Worth.

West Virginia is led by Neal Brown, who is in his fifth year as the Mountaineers’ head coach. He has a 25-26 overall record, including 3-1 (1-0 Big 12) this season.

Brown is noted as the last opposing head coach to beat former TCU head football coach Gary Patterson in Fort Worth.

West Virginia beat TCU 29-17 on October 23 during the 2021 season. It was Patterson's final home game as head coach of TCU. Patterson resigned just over a week later, after the Frogs lost, 31-12, to Kansas State, in Manhattan, Kansas, on October 30.

West Virginia was voted to finish in last place in the 2023 preseason Big 12 media poll, but since losing its season-opener at Penn State, 38-15, West Virginia has won three straight home games: 56-17 over Duquesne; 17-6 over Pitt; and 20-13 over Texas Tech.

Offensively, the Mountaineers are averaging 27 points, 159 passing yards and 189.5 rushing yards per game. The Mountaineers have allowed seven sacks.

Until hurting an ankle and missing the last two games, junior Garrett Greene was West Virginia’s starting quarterback. Redshirt freshman Nicco Marchiol has been Greene’s replacement.

Greene (#6) has completed 26-of-47 passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns. He has not thrown an interception. He has rushed 21 times for a net 105 yards and one touchdown.

Marchiol (#8) has completed 25-of-44 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. He has thrown two interceptions. He has rushed 29 times for a net 78 yards and one touchdown.

West Virginia’s rushing attack is ranked in the country’s top 50.

The leading rusher is sophomore running back CJ Donaldson Jr. (#4), a converted tight end who is 6-1, 240 pounds. He has gained a net 287 yards on 64 rushes. He has scored three rushing touchdowns and has a long run of 17 yards.

Redshirt sophomore running back Jaylen Anderson (#0) has carried the football 36 times for a net 135 yards. He has one rushing touchdown and a long run of 15 yards.

Leading West Virginia’s receiving corps is redshirt freshman wide receiver Hudson Clement (#84). He has caught seven passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns. He has a long catch of 70 yards.

Junior tight end Kole Taylor (#87) has 11 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He has a long reception of 29 yards.

The only other Mountaineer with a receiving touchdown is redshirt sophomore wide receiver Preston Fox (#29), who among his five catches has one touchdown reception.

West Virginia’s offensive line is anchored by three outstanding, experienced linemen – junior Zach Frazier (#54), who is 6-3, 310 pounds, junior Wyatt Milum (#74), who is 6-6, 312 pounds, and senior Doug Nester (#72), who is 6-7, 319 pounds.

Defensively, the Mountaineers are holding opponents to 18.5 points, 201.25 passing yards and 109.8 rushing yards per game.

West Virginia has limited opposing quarterbacks to completing less than 50 percent of their passes, registered seven sacks and intercepted five passes.

The Mountaineers also are allowing opponents to convert only 25 percent of their third-down attempts (14-of-56).

Senior linebacker Lee Kpogba (#1) leads the team with 29 tackles. He has 1.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Trey Lathan (#19) has 25 tackles, including one tackle for loss, six quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Redshirt senior cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (#11) is third on the team in tackles (21) and leads the team with two interceptions and five pass break-ups.

Redshirt defensive lineman Tomiwa Durojaiye (#3) leads the Mountaineers in sacks, with 2.5.

Redshirt junior Michael Hayes (#22) is the West Virginia field goal kicker. He has converted three-of-three attempts. His longest field goal this season is 46 yards. He has not had a field goal attempt blocked.

Sophomore Oliver Straw (#41) has punted 14 times for an average of 42.93 yards per punt. He has a long punt of 52 yards. He has not had a punt blocked.

The Frogs are early 11.5-point favorites over the Mountaineers. The over/under for the total score of the two teams opened at 50.5.

TCU’s Dykes talks about West Virginia: here  

West Virginia’s Brown talks about TCU: here

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes (left) and SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee meet prior to the kickoff of the TCU-SMU game on Saturday, September 23, in Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Here come the Horned Frogs!

Here come the Mustangs.

TCU's captains for its game against SMU were Andrew Coker (#74), Jamoi Hodge (#6) and Brandon Coleman (#77). Honorary captains were former TCU football and baseball players Royce Huffman (1973) and sons Royce Huffman, Jr. (1999) and Chad Huffman (2006). 

TCU's offense is flourishing under the direction of Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Kendal Briles. In the Frogs' 34-17 win over SMU, TCU's offense had 453 total yards of offense; 261 passing yards and 192 rushing yards. For the season, the Frogs' offense is averaging 38.2 points per game.

(photos above and below) Against SMU, TCU quarterback Chandler Morris (#4) completed 24-of-33 passes for 261 yards. He threw a career-best three touchdown passes. He did not throw an interception. Eleven Horned Frogs caught passes from Morris, who has thrown at least two touchdown passes in each game this season.

(photos above and below) On the ground against the Mustangs, TCU quarterback Chandler Morris (#4) had 38 net yards on six rushes.

(photos above and below) TCU running back Emani Bailey (#9) bulldozed his way through the Mustangs for a team-high 126 yards on 25 rushes, for an average of five yards per rush. It was his third 100-yard game in four contests this season. Bailey’s 25 carries were the most by a Horned Frog since Kendre Miller had 29 carries in last year’s regular-season win over Kansas State. Bailey added 11 yards through the air on one pass reception. 

TCU running back Emani Bailey (#4) scored a touchdown on a 24-yard run in the third quarter against SMU.

TCU running back Emani Bailey (#9) is congratulated after his 24-yard touchdown run by TCU quarterback Chandler Morris (#4) and TCU wide receiver Savion Williams (#3).

TCU tight end Jared Wiley (#19) led TCU receivers with a five pass receptions against the Mustangs, including cornerback Charles Woods (#3) and linebacker Ahmad Walker (#34). The five catches tied a career high for Wiley. He also had five catches this season against Colorado and in last year's regular-season win against Kansas State.

(photos above and below) TCU tight end Jared Wiley (#19) scored on two touchdown passes against SMU. In the first quarter, he caught a nine-yard touchdown pass. In the second quarter, he scored on a two-yard reception. This was the first multiple touchdown game of Wiley's career. He has a team-best three touchdown receptions this season. Seven other Horned Frogs have one touchdown catch each.

TCU wide receiver Savion Williams (#3) caught one pass against safety Jonathan McGill (#2) and the Mustangs.

Against SMU, TCU tight end Chase Curtis (#81), who is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award, caught two passes for a team-high 55 yards. He caught a 36-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter that was his first career touchdown and the final touchdown of the game.

TCU receiver/returner Major Everhart (#22) caught a career-high four passes for 32 yards against SMU. He had one kickoff return of 22 yards.

TCU running back Corey Wren (#21) carried the football two times for 12 yards in the Frogs' victory over SMU.

Against the Mustangs, TCU tight end Blake Nowell (#87) tied a career high with three catches for 19 yards.

(photos above and below) TCU wide receiver Jaylon Robinson (#13) caught three passes for 35 yards against SMU.

(photos above and below) TCU running back Trey Sanders (#2) leaps to try to avoid SMU safety Cale Sanders Jr. (#22), as linebacker Alex Kilgore (#54) and safety Ahmaad Moses (#16) look on. Sanders had 23 rushing yards on 6 carries. 

(photos above and below) TCU wide receiver Warren Thompson (#84) caught two passes for 16 yards against the Mustangs, including linebacker Kobe Wilson (#24), cornerback Jahari Rogers (#4) and safety Ahmaad Moses (#16).

TCU kicker Griffin Kell was two-for-two on field goal attempts against SMU. He kicked a 35-yarder and a 24-yarder in the third quarter. He is seven-of-10 on the season.

TCU defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Gillespie (in red shirt) has TCU's defense playing at a high level. After not allowing touchdowns in wins over Nicholls State and Houston, the defense did not allow an offensive touchdown for nearly 10 quarters before SMU reached the end zone with 2:54 left in the first half. The Mustangs’ other touchdown came with 1:47 remaining in the game. Since giving up 45 points to Colorado, TCU's defense has allowed an average of 12 points a game.

(photos above and below) TCU safety Bud Clark (#21) intercepts in the TCU end zone a pass intended for SMU wide receiver Jake Bailey (#12). The interception thwarted a potential scoring drive by the Mustangs. Clark had an interception for the second straight game to give him a team-best two on the season. His seven career picks top all current Horned Frogs.

(photos above and below) TCU safety Bud Clark (#21) celebrated his interception for TCU defensive lineman Caleb Fox (#90) and the packed Amon G. Carter Stadium audience.

TCU cornerback Josh Newton (#2) intercepts a pass intended for SMU wide receiver Jordan Kerley (#1). It was Newton's first interception of the season, his fourth as a Horned Frog and the seventh of his career. Newton returned the interception 53 yards.

TCU linebacker Shad Banks Jr. prevents a pass reception by SMU wide receiver Roderick Daniels Jr. (#13).

TCU linebackers Shad Bans Jr. (#0) and Jamoi Hodge (#6) pressure SMU quarterback Preston Stone (#2). Banks was credited with one quarterback hurry in the game. He also had a half of a tackle for loss. Hodge was credited with seven tackles, three quarterback hurries andd 1.5 tackles for loss.

TCU safety Millard Bradford (#28) brings down SMU tight end RJ Maryland (#82) as TCU linebacker Jamoi Hodge (#6) and TCU safety Mark Perry (#3) close in to help. Perry had eight tackles in the game.

TCU cornerback Avery Helm (#24) breaks up a pass intended for SMU wide receiver Moochie Dixon (#5). 

(photos above and below) TCU cornerback Avery Helm (#24) breaks up a pass in the TCU end zone intended for SMU wide receiver Jordan Hudson (#8), who transferred from TCU to SMU after last season. Helm was credited with two pass breakups in the Frogs' victory over the Mustangs.

TCU cornerback Jaionte McMillan (#16) breaks up a pass intended for SMU wide receiver Moochie Dixon (#5).

TCU linebacker Namdi Obiazor (#4) breaks up a pass intended for SMU tightend Nolan Matthews-Harris (#14), as TCU cornerback Channing Canada (#7) and TCU safety Millard Bradford (#28) react to the play. Canada had his first career sack in the game.

TCU linebacker Namdi Obiazor (#4) breaks up a pass intended for SMU tight end Nolan Matthews-Harris (#14). In addition to his pass defense, Obiazor was credited with a team-best and career-high 11 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack in the win over SMU. The sack was the first of his career. It came on a third-and-one play at the TCU five-yard line to force an SMU field goal on the Mustangs' opening series.

TCU safety Mark Perry (#3) watches TCU linebacker Namdi Obiazor (#4) stop SMU running back Camar Wheaton (#0). Perry was credited with eight tackles in the game.

TCU cornerback Avery Helm (#24) and TCU linebacker Nambi Obiazor (#4) stop SMU running back Jaylan Knighton (#4).

TCU punter Jordy Sandy (#31) punted two times against the Ponies. He averaged 40.5 yards per punt. He had a punt downed at the SMU two-yard line after placing one at the Houston one-yard line last week.

(photos above and below) SMU quarterback Preston Stone (#2) completed 16-of-35 passes for 258 yards against TCU in the Mustangs' 34-17 loss. He did not throw a touchdown pass. He was intercepted twice and sacked three times.

(photos above and below) Against the Horned Frogs, SMU running back Jaylan Knighton (#4) carried the football eight times for 42 yards.

(photos above and below) SMU running back Camar Wheaton (#0) had a team-best 73 yards rushing on 16 carries against TCU. He scored one rushing touchdown.

(top photo) SMU running back Camar Wheaton (#0) scored a touchdown on a one-yard run in the second quarter of SMU's 34-17 loss to TCU. (bottom photo) Wheaton celebrated his touchdown run with a little help from SMU offensive lineman Jackson Ritz (#68).

(photos above and below) SMU wide receiver Moochie Dixon (#5) caught four passes for 44 yards against the Horned Frogs.

SMU wide receiver Jordan Hudson (#8), who transferred to SMU from TCU after last season, caught three  passes for 50 yards against his former team.

(top and bottom photos) SMU wide receiver Jordan Kerley catches a pass despite coverage by TCU cornerback Jaionte McMillan (#16). The reception, good for 51 yards, was Kerley's only catch in the game.

SMU tight end RJ Maryland (#82) caught three passes for 44 yards against the Frogs, including safety Millard Bradford (#28), linebacker Jamoi Hodge (#6) and safety Abe Camara (#1).

SMU kicker Collin Rogers (#41) scored SMU's and the game's first points on a 24-yard field goal midway through the first quarter.

Actor Mark Wahlberg was featured in TCU's traditional Riff-Ram video shown during the first half of the TCU-SMU game. During the week of the game, Wahlberg had been in Fort Worth and at Joe T. Garcia's Mexican restaurant to promote Flecha Azul tequila, of which he is an owner/partner in the brand.

TCU's next football game is a Big 12 Conference game against the University of West Virginia (3-1, 1-0) on Saturday, September 30. Kickoff in Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, is scheduled for 7 pm (Central). ESPN 2 will broadcast the game. The game is being promoted as a "Black-Out." Fans are asked to wear black TCU football attire. Last season, the Horned Frogs defeated the Mountaineers, 41-31, in Morgantown, West Virginia.