For the second time this season, the TCU Horned Frogs are on the road to face an ACC opponent. TCU travels east through the Metroplex to face the SMU Mustangs in the 103rd Battle for the Iron Skillet.

Both teams enter the contest with a 2-1 record after losing at home to a Big 12 opponent. The Mustangs enter the game after an off week after losing at home to BYU in Week 2 and will play their first ACC conference game next week against the young Florida State Seminoles.

Contrary to tradition, the Ponies have been stronger defensively to start the 2024 season, while their offense has struggled to get going. SMU has committed five sacks and six turnovers through three games. Look for junior safeties duo Isaiah Nwokobia and Ahmaad Moses to play a key role in slowing down TCU’s passing game, as Frogs QB Josh Hoover has been productive early in the season, often targeting the deep middle of the field. The Mustangs’ rush defense has also been strong, holding opponents to just 3.04 yards per carry and just two total rushing scores this season.

The Horned Frogs offense has struggled mightily running the ball in 2024. Cam Cook has shown signs of greatness, finding the end zone four times, but the team has been very inefficient on the ground, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry and unable to control the trenches to support the running effort. The TCU defense got ripped open by the UCF Knights last week, as QB-RB-WR trio KJ Jefferson, RJ Harvey and Kobe Hudson each made big plays to pull off the come-from-behind victory for UCF in the Big 12 opener and laid out a plan to exploit TCU’s weaknesses.

Will the Iron Skillet stay in the hands of the Horned Frogs and return to Fort Worth, or will the Mustangs take it to Dallas for the fifth time in the last 25 years? We’ll see how it all pans out this afternoon at 4 p.m. at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, broadcast on The CW. Join the conversation in the comments section below as we experience the rollercoaster ride that is game day together. Go Frogs!