FORT WORTH, TX – The TCU Horned Frogs (2-0) are eager to face off the SMU Mustangs (3-0) in the battle of the Iron Skillet this Saturday in Amon G. Carter Stadium at 11 A.M. This will be the 100th meeting between these two teams and the energy is high on TCU’s campus. The players stated in Tuesday morning’s presser they are excited to get out there and play.
TCU’s defensive end Ochaun Mathis said this morning, “That last loss we had 2 years back – we still got a nasty taste in our mouth and we’re just ready to come out there and ball out.”
In 2019, TCU was ranked no. 25 in the nation and lost to SMU in a 41-38 nailbiter. SMU’s quarterback Shane Bueschelle threw for 288 yards with two touchdowns and ran for another to beat Max Duggan and the Horned Frogs.
These two programs were unable to play in 2020 due to COVID-19 issues within their programs.
“We’ve been thinking about it for a while, we want to bring the Skillet home”, TCU’s right guard Wes Harris stated that they have been waiting for a rematch for quite some time now and they are ready to play.
TCU is heading into this game with a lot of momentum. They are 2-0 to start the season and have won seven of their last eight games. The Horned Frogs held their own two Saturdays ago coming back and beating Cal 34-32. Zach Evans put the team on his back and carried TCU to a victory with his 190 yards rushing and one touchdown. Evans is currently ranked no. 1 nationally averaging 7.8 yards per carry.
SMU is coming into the game undefeated as well, standing at 3-0. The Mustangs held on by a thread in their game last Saturday against Louisiana Tech. SMU was down four points with six seconds left in the game and Tanner Mordecai threw a hail mary 33-yard pass to the end zone and Reggie Roberson Jr. was there to grab it, defeating the Bulldogs 39-37.
SMU currently leads the nation in touchdown passes and after Mordecai’s hail mary last Saturday I can see why. So far this season Mordecai has thrown for 1,022 yards for 16 SMU touchdowns.
“We understand they have really good wide receivers and can throw the ball really well,” Head Coach Gary Patterson stated this morning. Patterson said they are a very good team and Sonny Dyke has done a great job with his program.
TCU’s defense can not take SMU’s offense lightly. The Mustangs are led by running back Ulysses Bentley IV. He leads the team with 250 yards rushing with one touchdown and is averaging 7.6 yards per carry. He is helped by Dany Gray, SMU’s leading wide receiver. Gray has 228 yards receiving so far this year and has added four touchdowns to his resume.
TCU is looking to start their season off 3-0 and possibly see a top 25 ranking next week. According to the AP Polls voting this week, TCU is ranked 26th in the nation and a win this Saturday could help propel them into the top 25.
Kickoff is at 11 A.M. CST at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth and will be televised on FS1.
