TCU Football Week 4 Opponent Preview: SMU Mustangs

TCU squares off against SMU in Week 4 for the Battle of the Iron Skillet. How does this long and storied rivalry shape out for the 2023 edition?

Scarcity often causes demand. In the case of the Battle For The Iron Skillet, there's a scarcity in remaining matchups. After 101 matchups, the TCU Horned Frogs (2-1) and SMU Mustangs (2-1) agreed to pause their rivalry "indefinitely" following the 2025 edition. But on Saturday, the two cross-Metroplex rivals tee it up for another installment.

TCU kicks off their fourth game of the season at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on FS1 and can be listened to on 88.7 FM KTCU.

SMU vs. TCU Series History

Ahead of this year's game, TCU holds the all-time record 52-42-7, including taking 25 of the last 33 matchups. However, SMU has won two of the last three matchups, both of which came in Fort Worth.

Although the Frogs own most of the recent rivalry, SMU rattled off 15 consecutive wins from 1972-86, the longest win streak in the rivalry game.

Last year, SMU gave a good fight at home, but ultimately came up short, 42-34. Max Duggan threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns while completing 76% of his passes. Kendre Miller added 142 yards on the ground. Although TCU committed 10 penalties, they won the turnover battle 2-0 in Dallas.

SMU's Preston Stone / © Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

SMU Players To Note

Veteran QB Tanner Mordecai transferred to Wisconsin in the offseason, but SMU rises talented bluechip QB Preston Stone as the starter. Through three games, Stone has thrown for nearly 800 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Granted, he's played in two blowouts and against a stout Oklahoma defense in Week 2. Stone is every bit as talented as Mordecai with better athleticism, albeit at the expense of experience starting.

The backfield is split between Miami transfer Jaylan Knighton and Texas A&M transfer LJ Johnson. Thus far, the two split carries and production almost evenly, with Johnson having a slight edge on a per-carry basis (5.7 yards vs. 4.4). Notably, former TCU Horned Frog Jordan Hudson poses the biggest threat in the receiving room. On just five receptions, Hudson has 109 yards (21.9 yards per reception) with a pair of touchdowns.

SMU revamped their defense in the transfer portal this offseason. Top billing goes to West Virginia safety Charles Woods, Miami defensive linemen Elijah Roberts and Jordan Miller, and Stanford safety Jonathan McGill. 

Sizing Up The Mustangs

SMU carries a big stick on the offensive side of the ball. Bluechipper Stone gets to throw to bluechipper Hudson and hand off to bluechippers Johnson and Knighton. And the entire offense operates behind bluechip offensive lineman Logan Parr, a transfer from Texas. Unsurprisingly, the Mustangs flexed their muscles against Louisiana Tech and Prairie View A&M.

What may come as a surprise is the defense showing thus far. They held Oklahoma to 28 points in Week 2 – a team that dropped 73 and 66 points in their other two matchups (Arkansas State, Tulsa). That's thanks to a vicious pass rush that grades out as Pro Football Focus' best in the country. They're also a sound tackling team, with just 26 missed tackles this season (national leader, UConn, 57).

Chandler Morris will have to be aware of the Miami transfers up front that have generated a pressure on almost 14% opposing snaps themselves. As a unit, SMU's defense has 12 sacks, 11 of which came against the hapless pair of games outside of Norman. But in terms of talent and potential, TCU needs to buckle down on the offensive line.

In a literal and figurative change of pace, SMU runs a new play every 25 seconds, just the 46th-fastest nationally. Since 2018, SMU has ranked inside the top 20 every season and in the top 10 last season (seventh). On the contrary, TCU continues to run one of the highest tempos in the country, with the fourth-fastest second-per-play mark.

When TCU was out-talented in Week 1 (at least on one side of the ball), coaching errors and poor planning came to light in 1 45-52 loss. In the other two games, TCU was handily the more talented roster. In Week 4, that gap closes considerably. A win this week comes down to Joe Gillespie and Kendall Briles to call sound games.

Opponent Rundown

Team: SMU Mustangs

Record: 2-1 (0-0 AAC)

Coach: Rhett Lashlee (second season)

Scoring Offense: 24.5 points per game (73rd)*

Scoring Defense: 21.0 points allowed per game (41st)*

*Versus FBS competition only

SMU 2023 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Result
Sept. 2	Louisiana Tech	W 38-14
Sept. 9	at Oklahoma	L 28-11
Sept. 16	Prairie View A&M	W 69-0
Sept. 23	at TCU
Sept. 30	Charlotte
Oct. 7	BYE
Oct. 12	at East Carolina
Oct. 20	at Temple
Oct. 28	Tulsa
Nov. 4	at Rice
Nov. 10	North Texas
Nov. 18	at Memphis
Nov. 25	Navy

TCU vs. SMU Game Info

• When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 11:00 a.m. CT
• Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, TX)
• TV: FS1

---

Want to join the discussion? Click here to become a member of the Killer Frogs message board community today!

Follow KillerFrogs on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest TCU news! Follow KillerFrogs on Facebook and Instagram as well. Download the KillerFrogs app on Google Play or in the Apple App Store.