Why the rivalry with Baylor means so much to TCU
Conferences are defined by many things: the brands, the championships secured and, of course, the rivalries.
For the next iteration of the Big 12, the league only protected four rivalry games that would be played annually and TCU vs. Baylor is one of them.
It shows the significance of the history between the two schools. And while there’s less at stake this year than past years, the Horned Frogs haven’t lost sight of why this game is so important to the university and Fort Worth.
“Historically it goes back as long as any of them obviously,” coach Sonny Dykes said Tuesday. “The two schools are pretty like-minded and not that far away and have a close and long history. It’s a pretty even matchup, if you look at the whole it’s easy to see why its bring the passion out.”
The 119th edition of what’s now called the ‘Bluebonnet Battle’ won’t have the national intrigue the classic matchups of 2022, 2021 or 2014, but it hasn’t dulled the enthusiasm for the Horned Frogs.
TCU also still has something to play for as a win against Baylor could be enough to reach a bowl game depending on what happens around the country. The players will deal with that later, for now it’s all about beating Baylor in a game some believe is the most important on the schedule.
“I think it’s the biggest game of the season,” kicker Griffin Kell said. “Just as a TCU fan and player because they’ve played this game so long and for so many years and there’s been so many great games. Just growing up and watching those games, man there’s been some awesome games.”
Kell remembers a number of games between TCU and Baylor from his childhood.
“I remember going to the game when Baylor was talking about how the Big 12 was better than the Mountain West,” Kell said. “They came in here and TCU beat them (in 2010) when they had Robert Griffin III. There was another one (in 2011) we lost this one, but I just remember Baylor and TCU going back and forth in Waco.”
Kell cemented himself in the history of this rivalry and became infamous in Waco for his heroics by knocking down a 40-yard field goal as time expired last season. The Horned Frogs wouldn’t have made the College Football Playoff without that moment.
Kell remembers the moment fondly, but is also focused on staying in the present.
“I’ve been constantly seeing it this week, it’s awesome that I could impact the school like that and keep the undefeated season alive,” Kell said. “But we’ve got to play this week and I gotta make all my kicks this week.”
The leg of Kell could be the difference for the second straight year as recent history suggests Saturday should be a close game.
Four of the last five matchups between the rivals been decided by one score which includes last year’s one point win and three overtime loss for the Horned Frogs in 2019.
The close battles and the fact that both programs had their best seasons around the same time frame only intensified the rivalry.
Since 2012, Baylor has reached four New Year’s Six bowl games, won two league titles and shared another with TCU.
In that same stretch the Horned Frogs reached the national title game, won a playoff game and reached another New Year’s Six bowl. There’s an irony to the two schools experiencing their most success around the same time.
“It’s kind of ironic looking back at some of the games I was watching, now I’m playing with some of the people involved in those games,” quarterback Josh Hoover said. “It’s a really big deal, it’s an old rivalry. It’s a cool tradition because of all the history behind it.”
One of those people involved in those past games is TCU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, who was the offensive coordinator and son of disgraced former Baylor coach Art Briles.
His attachment to Baylor and the scandal that rocked Waco was the main reason there was so much pushback to Dykes bringing Briles over to Fort Worth. His presence is just another interesting wrinkle in a game between a 4-6 team and a 3-7 squad.
For one day, the records and disappointment of the season won’t matter for either team. It’ll just be about beating their biggest rival and securing bragging rights for another year.
