TCU has set its 2021 football schedule, and the Frogs won’t have an open weekend once Big 12 play starts.

The Big 12 announced conference games on Thursday afternoon and the Frogs are the only program to play nine straight conference games without a bye. TCU opens the Big 12 season against Texas on Oct. 2 and will play a conference game every week through Nov. 27.

TCU is actually scheduled to play 10 consecutive games with the SMU game on Sept. 25, and could possibly play 11 straight weeks if it reaches the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 4 at AT&T Stadium.

The good news? TCU is facing Texas and Oklahoma early on. The season finale at Iowa State could present unfavorable weather in Ames, but TCU will be coming off a home game against Kansas while Iowa State is facing OU leading into it. And the only Big 12 program facing TCU coming off a bye is West Virginia on Oct. 23.

“Scheduling is always a trade off,” TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati said. “It’s never perfect, but it’s fair overall.”

Here’s a look at the Horned Frogs’ schedule, which features seven home games. Kickoff times will be announced at later dates.

Sept. 4: vs. Duquesne, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

Sept. 11: vs. Cal, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

Sept. 18: Open

Sept. 25: vs. SMU, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

Oct. 2: vs. Texas, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

Oct. 9: at Texas Tech, Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock

Oct. 16: at Oklahoma, Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman

Oct. 23: vs. West Virginia, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

Oct. 30: at Kansas State, Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan

Nov. 6: vs. Baylor, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

Nov. 13: at Oklahoma State, Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater

Nov. 20: vs. Kansas, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

Nov. 27: at Iowa State, Jack Trice Stadium, Ames

Dec. 4: Big 12 Championship, AT&T Stadium, Arlington

TCU is coming off a 6-4 season in 2020. The Frogs were bowl eligible, but they had to back out of the Texas Bowl due to COVID-19 issues within the program.

Spring practices are expected to begin around March 15, coach Gary Patterson said last week, with tentative plans for a spring game on April 17 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

This story was originally published February 11, 2021 at 12:03 PM.

Drew Davison

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Drew Davison was a TCU and Big 12 sports writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram until 2022. He covered everything in DFW from Rangers to Cowboys to motor sports.