DALLAS—Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker have announced a friendly wager ahead of the final football game between Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Texas Christian University (TCU).
The "Iron Skillet" rivalry game is set for Saturday, September 20. According to the terms of the wager, the mayor of the losing city will make a donation to a non-profit organization chosen by the mayor of the winning city.
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If TCU wins, Dallas Mayor Johnson will donate to Fort Worth Mayor Parker's Good Natured Greenspace Initiative.
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If SMU wins, Fort Worth Mayor Parker will donate to the Trust for Public Land's Greener Dallas Greater Dallas campaign.
Both mayors expressed confidence in their respective teams. Mayor Johnson proclaimed "Iron Skillet Week" in Dallas to rally support for the SMU Mustangs, stating his belief that they will "bring the Iron Skillet back to Dallas for good."
Mayor Parker, meanwhile, said she knows the Horned Frogs will "bring home the Iron Skillet trophy to Fort Worth."
The game will be played at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth at 11:00 a.m. CT.
Why is this the last game between SMU and TCU?
The Iron Skillet rivalry game between TCU and SMU is being paused largely due to changes in the college football landscape, most significantly the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP). The 2025 game is the final one scheduled for the foreseeable future.
SMU has moved from the Group of Five to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which makes scheduling more complicated.
The decision to pause the series was made under former TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati, who backed the move in 2023. While his replacement has expressed willingness to talk with SMU about the rivalry's future, TCU's schedule is booked through 2032. So although the series is ending for now, many believe it's only a pause and will resume in the future.
