Baylor–TCU football rivalry

American college football rivalry

The Bluebonnet Battle

Baylor Bears

TCU Horned Frogs

First meeting| October 27, 1899
Tie, 0–0
Latest meeting| November 2, 2024
Baylor, 37–34
Next meeting| October 18, 2025
Statistics
Meetings total| 120
All-time series| TCU leads 59–54–7[1]
Largest victory| Baylor, 52–0 (1910)
Longest win streak| TCU, 8 (1964–1971)
Baylor, 8 (1974–1981)
Current win streak| Baylor, 1 (2024–present)

75km
50miles

TCU

Baylor

Locations of Baylor and TCU

The Baylor–TCU football rivalry, known as The Bluebonnet Battle[2][3][4] and informally as The Revivalry,[5] is an American college football rivalry between the Baylor Bears and TCU Horned Frogs. The first game of the 120-game series was played in 1899, making the rivalry one of the oldest and most played in FBS college football. After 120 meetings, the series is the most-played college rivalry in the State of Texas.

## History

[edit]

Baylor was chartered in 1845 by The Republic of Texas and founded as a Baptist institution in the same year with its original location in Independence, Texas. Baylor permanently moved to Waco forty years later, in 1885.[6] TCU was founded in 1873 as AddRan Male and Female College by brothers Addison and Randolph Clark, in Thorp Springs, Texas, and was later renamed AddRan Christian University and relocated to Waco in 1895.[7] AddRan was renamed Texas Christian University in 1902 and finally relocated to Fort Worth in 1910 after a fire destroyed the school's main administration building in Waco.

First contested in 1899, and having been played 119 times, the rivalry is one of the oldest and most-played series in college football history. The two schools, which were once both located in Waco, Texas, are separated by only 90 miles.[8]

Between 1899 and 1910, when both schools were located in Waco, the Bears and Horned Frogs frequently faced off multiple times per season. In the early years of the rivalry, TCU and Baylor did not play as conference foes. Like most schools of that era, Baylor was independent until becoming a founding member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) in 1915. TCU subsequently joined the SWC in 1923, after competing as an independent (1896–1913 and 1921–22). After TCU joined, Baylor and TCU played 69 times as SWC foes, until the SWC disbanded in 1995. After a 10-year hiatus, the universities renewed the rivalry in a non-conference series in 2006–2007 and 2010–2011. During this series, TCU competed in the Mountain West Conference. TCU joined Baylor in the Big 12 Conference in 2012, and the rivalry game is now played annually as part of the teams' regular season conference schedules.[8]

## Rivalry name and trophy

[edit]

On November 13, 2023, in a press conference with TCU and Baylor student government representatives, head coaches, and athletic directors, the two universities formally announced the name of the rivalry would be "The Bluebonnet Battle."[2] The name was the product of a joint student effort between the Baylor and TCU student governments. The name was the product of an effort between the two schools' student bodies and replaced existing unofficial names for the game,[2] despite "The Revivalry" being used by Baylor University in November 2022.[9] The new name was selected to reflect the series becoming the most-played between two teams in the State of Texas in 2023.[8] The flower, which is also the state flower of Texas, lines Interstate-35 for parts of the year connecting both schools' campuses.[2]

## Close games and shutouts

[edit]

Football games between Baylor and TCU have been decided by 7 points or less 45 times, including 7 ties.[8]

Several of the Bears and Horned Frogs' meetings since the rivalry's annual renewal in 2010 have featured memorable, close contests. In 2011, Baylor notched a season-opening 50–48 win, with Robert Griffin III, leading a fourth-quarter Baylor drive to set up Aaron Jones' game-winning field goal over the Horned Frogs. In 2014, Baylor came back from a 21-point, fourth quarter deficit by scoring 24 unanswered points to win the game 61–58 with a last second Chris Callahan FG. The outcome of the 2014 matchup and TCU's fourth-quarter collapse was critical in knocking TCU out of the inaugural College Football Playoff; both Baylor and TCU would go on to compile 11–1 (8–1 Big 12) regular season records and ultimately neither team got a Playoff spot as the committee chose 12-1 (and eventual national champion) Ohio State instead. Many have speculated that neither team was chosen because they were co-champions and the Big 12 did not have an actual conference championship at the time (the Big 12 title was awarded to the team with the best conference record). In 2015, the rivalry game was played on Thanksgiving Friday night in Fort Worth, with temperatures in the 30s and pouring rain. After a lightning-delayed start, the high-power spread offenses managed only 14 points apiece in regulation, with TCU securing a 28–21 second-overtime victory with a fourth down stop. In 2019, Baylor outlasted TCU in triple overtime to remain unbeaten. In 2022, undefeated 10–0 TCU won a hard-fought game, 29–28, by lining up to kick a walk-off 40 yard field goal on a running clock.[10]

## Other events

[edit]

In 1971, TCU coach Jim Pittman collapsed and died on the sideline in Waco during the rivalry game, the only time in collegiate history that a coach died during a game.[11][12]

## Game results

[edit]

Baylor victories| TCU victories| Tie games

|
|

| No.| Date| Location| Winner| Score

|
|
|
|

1| October 27, 1899 |  Waco | Tie| 0–0
2| November 23, 1901 |  Waco | Baylor| 39–0
3| November 28, 1901 |  Waco | Baylor| 42–9
4| November 1, 1902 |  Waco | Tie| 0–0
5| November 22, 1902 |  Waco | Baylor| 6–0
6| December 1, 1902 |  Waco | Baylor| 20–0
7| October 3, 1903 |  Waco | Baylor| 12–0
8| November 27, 1903 |  Waco | Baylor| 5–0
9| October 1, 1904 |  Waco | Tie| 0–0
10| November 12, 1904 |  Waco | Baylor| 17–0
11| November 24, 1904 |  Waco | TCU| 5–0
12| September 30, 1905 |  Waco | TCU| 16–0
13| November 11, 1905 |  Waco | Baylor| 10–0
14| November 30, 1905 |  Waco | TCU| 17–0
15| October 5, 1907 |  Waco | Tie| 7–7
16| November 11, 1907 |  Waco | TCU| 11–10
17| November 28, 1907 |  Waco | Baylor| 16–8
18| October 3, 1908 |  Waco | TCU| 15–0
19| October 24, 1908 |  Waco | TCU| 10–6
20| November 26, 1908 |  Waco | Baylor| 23–8
21| October 16, 1909 |  Waco | TCU| 9–0
22| November 6, 1909 |  Waco | TCU| 11–0
23| November 25, 1909|  Waco | Baylor| 6–3
24| October 24, 1910|  Waco | Baylor| 52–0
25| November 18, 1910|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 10–3
26| November 11, 1911|  Waco | Baylor| 12–0
27| October 19, 1912 |  Fort Worth | TCU| 22–0
28| October 31, 1914|  Waco | Baylor| 28–14
29| November 25, 1915|  Waco | Baylor| 51–0
30| November 30, 1916|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 32–14
31| November 29, 1917 |  Fort Worth | TCU| 34–0
32| November 28, 1918 |  Waco | TCU| 12–7
33| November 27, 1919|  Waco | Baylor| 7–0
34| November 13, 1920 |  Waco | TCU| 21–9
35|  October 13, 1925 |  Dallas | Tie| 7–7
36|  October 12, 1926 |  Waco | Tie| 7–7
37|  October 29, 1927|  Waco | TCU| 14–0
38|  November 3, 1928|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 7–6
39|  November 23, 1929|  Waco | TCU| 34–7
40|  November 22, 1930|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 35–14
41|  November 21, 1931|  Waco | TCU| 19–6
42|  October 29, 1932|  Fort Worth | TCU| 27–0
43|  November 4, 1933|  Waco | Baylor| 7–0
44|  November 3, 1934|  Fort Worth | TCU| 34–12
45|  November 2, 1935|  Waco | TCU| 28–0
46|  October 31, 1936|  Fort Worth | TCU| 28–0
47|  October 30, 1937|  Waco | #6 Baylor| 6–0
48|  October 29, 1938|  Fort Worth | #4 TCU| 39–7
49|  November 4, 1939|  Waco | Baylor| 27–0
50|  November 2, 1940|  Fort Worth | TCU| 14–12
51|  November 1, 1941|  Waco | TCU| 23–12
52|  October 31, 1942|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 10–7
53|  September 29, 1945|  Waco | TCU| 7–6
54|  September 28, 1946|  Fort Worth | TCU| 19–16
55|  November 1, 1947|  Waco | TCU| 14–7
56|  October 30, 1948|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 6–3
57|  October 29, 1949|  Waco | Baylor| 40–14
58|  November 4, 1950|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 20–14
59|  November 3, 1951|  Waco | TCU| 20–7
60|  November 1, 1952|  Fort Worth | Tie| 20–20
61|  October 31, 1953|  Waco | #3 Baylor| 25–7
No.| Date| Location| Winner| Score

|
|
|
|

62|  October 30, 1954|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 12–7
63|  October 29, 1955|  Waco | TCU| 28–6
64|  November 3, 1956|  Fort Worth | TCU| 7–6
65|  November 2, 1957|  Waco | TCU| 19–6
66|  November 1, 1958|  Fort Worth | TCU| 22–0
67|  October 31, 1959|  Waco | TCU| 14–0
68|  October 29, 1960|  Fort Worth | TCU| 14–6
69|  November 4, 1961|  Waco | Baylor| 28–14
70|  November 3, 1962|  Fort Worth | TCU| 28–26
71|  November 2, 1963|  Waco | Baylor| 32–13
72|  October 31, 1964|  Fort Worth | TCU| 17–14
73|  October 30, 1965|  Waco | TCU| 10–7
74|  October 30, 1966|  Fort Worth | TCU| 6–0
75|  November 4, 1967|  Waco | TCU| 29–7
76|  November 2, 1968|  Fort Worth | TCU| 47–14
77|  November 1, 1969|  Waco | TCU| 31–14
78|  October 31, 1970|  Fort Worth | TCU| 24–17
79|  October 30, 1971|  Waco | TCU| 34–27
80|  November 4, 1972|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 42–9
81|  November 3, 1973|  Waco | TCU| 34–28
82|  November 3, 1974|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 21–7
83|  November 1, 1975|  Waco | Baylor| 24–6
84|  November 27, 1976|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 24–19
85|  November 26, 1977|  Waco | Baylor| 48–9
86|  October 28, 1978|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 28–21
87|  October 27, 1979|  Waco | Baylor| 16–3
88|  October 25, 1980|  Fort Worth | #11 Baylor| 21–6
89|  October 24, 1981|  Waco | Baylor| 34–21
90|  October 23, 1982|  Fort Worth | TCU| 38–14
91|  October 22, 1983|  Waco | Baylor| 56–21
92|  October 27, 1984|  Fort Worth | TCU| 38–28
93|  October 26, 1985|  Waco | #13 Baylor| 45–0
94|  October 25, 1986|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 28–17
95|  October 25, 1987|  Waco | TCU| 24–0
96|  October 22, 1988|  Fort Worth | TCU| 24–14
97|  October 28, 1989|  Waco | Baylor| 27–9
98|  October 27, 1990|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 27–21
99|  October 26, 1991|  Waco | Baylor| 26–9
100|  October 10, 1992|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 41–10
101|  October 23, 1993|  Waco | TCU| 38–13
102|  October 1, 1994|  Fort Worth | Baylor| 42–18
103|  October 28, 1995|  Waco | Baylor| 27–24
104|  September 3, 2006|  Waco | #22 TCU| 17–7
105|  September 1, 2007|  Fort Worth | #22 TCU| 27–0
106|  September 18, 2010|  Fort Worth | #5 TCU| 45–10
107|  September 2, 2011|  Waco | Baylor| 50–48
108|  October 13, 2012|  Waco | #23 TCU| 49–21
109|  November 30, 2013|  Fort Worth | #9 Baylor| 41–38
110|  October 11, 2014|  Waco | #5 Baylor| 61–58
111|  November 27, 2015|  Fort Worth | #19 TCU| 28–212OT
112|  November 5, 2016|  Waco | TCU| 62–22
113|  November 24, 2017|  Fort Worth | #12 TCU| 45–22
114|  November 17, 2018|  Waco | TCU| 16–9
115|  November 9, 2019|  Fort Worth | #12 Baylor| 29–233OT
116|  October 31, 2020|  Waco | TCU| 33–23
117|  November 6, 2021|  Fort Worth | TCU| 30–28
118|  November 19, 2022|  Waco | #4 TCU| 29–28
119|  November 18, 2023|  Fort Worth | TCU| 42–17
120|  November 2, 2024|  Waco | Baylor| 37–34
Series: TCU leads 59–54–7[1]

### Results by location

[edit]

As of November 2, 2024

City  | Games  | Baylor victories  | TCU victories  | Ties  | Years played

|
|
|
|
|

Waco  | 74  | 35  | 34  | 5  | 1899–present
Fort Worth  | 45  | 19  | 25  | 1  | 1910–present
Dallas  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 1925

## See also

[edit]

* List of NCAA college football rivalry games
* List of most-played college football series in NCAA Division I

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Winsipedia - Baylor Bears vs. TCU Horned Frogs football series history". Winsipedia.
2. ^ a b c d "The TCU-Baylor football rivalry has an official new name". wfaa.com. November 13, 2023.
3. ^ Boyd, Megan (November 13, 2023). "Baylor, TCU rivalry formally named Bluebonnet Battle". Retrieved November 13, 2023.
4. ^ "Bluebonnet Battle (Baylor-TCU Rivalry)". studentgameday.web.baylor.edu. November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
5. ^ Olson, Max (November 27, 2015). "Return of the Revivalry: Baylor, TCU meet again on Black Friday". ESPN. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
6. ^ "Baylor History". about.web.baylor.edu. October 22, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
7. ^ "Mission & History". Texas Christian University. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
8. ^ a b c d "Bluebonnet Battle (Baylor-TCU Rivalry)". studentgameday.web.baylor.edu. November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
9. ^ "Baylor and TCU Meet for the 118th Time on the Gridiron". Baylor News. November 14, 2023. p. 1. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
10. ^ "No. 4 TCU still undefeated after game-ending FG at Baylor". AP NEWS. November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
11. ^ "Sherrington: TCU's tradition was tragedy | Dallas Morning News". Dallasnews.com. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
12. ^ "Pittman burial Tuesday". The Tuscaloosa News. The Associated Press. November 1, 1971. p. 6. Retrieved January 17, 2010.

* v
* t
* e

Baylor Bears football

Venues|

* Carroll Field (1902–1935)
* Cotton Palace (alternate, 1902–1929)
* Municipal Stadium (1936–1949)
* Floyd Casey Stadium (1950–2013)
* McLane Stadium (2014–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Houston
* TCU
* Texas
* Texas A&M: Battle of the Brazos
* Texas Tech

Culture & lore|

* "Old Fite"
* The Golden Wave Band
* Year of the Bear
* Sexual assault scandal

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
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* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
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* 1968
* 1969
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* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
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* 2022
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* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

TCU Horned Frogs football

Venues|

* Panther Park (1911–1914, 1917, 1920–1923)
* Clark Field (1924–1930)
* Amon G. Carter Stadium (1930–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Baylor
* SMU
* Texas
* Texas A&M
* Texas Tech

Culture & lore|

* Super Frog
* "TCU Fight"
* Texas Christian University Marching Band
* 1935 "Game of the Century"

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
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* 1986
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* 2014
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* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

National championship seasons in bold

* v
* t
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Big 12 Conference football rivalries

Conference|

* Territorial Cup (Arizona–Arizona State)
* Baylor–Houston
* Baylor–TCU
* Baylor–Texas Tech
* Holy War (BYU–Utah)
* Cincinnati–UCF
* Cincinnati–West Virginia
* Colorado–Kansas State
* Rumble in the Rockies (Colorado–Utah)
* Houston–Texas Tech
* Iowa State–Kansas State
* Sunflower Showdown (Kansas–Kansas State)
* TCU–Texas Tech

Non-conference|

* Arizona–New Mexico
* Arkansas–Texas Tech
* Baylor–Texas
* Battle of the Brazos (Baylor–Texas A&M)
* The Old Wagon Wheel (BYU–Utah State)
* Beehive Boot (BYU–Utah–Utah State)
* The Keg of Nails (Cincinnati–Louisville)
* Victory Bell (Cincinnati–Miami)
* Cincinnati–Memphis
* Cincinnati–Xavier
* Rocky Mountain Showdown (Colorado–Colorado State)
* Colorado–Nebraska
* Houston–Rice
* Houston–SMU
* Houston–Tulsa
* Cy–Hawk Series (Iowa–Iowa State)
* Telephone Trophy (Iowa State–Missouri)
* Border War (Kansas–Missouri)
* Kansas–Nebraska
* Kansas State–Nebraska
* Friends of Coal Bowl (Marshall–West Virginia)
* Maryland–West Virginia
* Bedlam Series (Oklahoma–Oklahoma State)
* Oklahoma State–Tulsa
* Old Ironsides (Penn State–Pittsburgh–West Virginia)
* Penn State–West Virginia
* Backyard Brawl (Pittsburgh–West Virginia)
* SMU–TCU
* War on I-4 (South Florida–UCF)
* Syracuse–West Virginia
* TCU–Texas
* TCU–Texas A&M
* Texas–Texas Tech
* Texas A&M–Texas Tech
* Battle of the Brothers (Utah–Utah State)
* Virginia Tech–West Virginia

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