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TCU gets breakout game from unexpected source in rivalry win over SMU

Horned Frogs star receiver posts historic performance in Iron Skillet showdown

Eric McAlister didn’t just have a big game Saturday, he delivered one for the TCU record books. Against rival SMU in the 104th meeting of the “Battle for the Iron Skillet,” McAlister turned in one of the most explosive performances in school history, finishing with eight catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-24 Horned Frogs victory.

The junior wideout showed why he’s quickly trying to establish himself as one of the most feared playmakers in college football. His first statement came on a 70-yard catch-and-run, where he shrugged off two defenders and raced to the end zone, flipping momentum squarely back to TCU. Minutes later, McAlister hauled in a 44-yard strike from Josh Hoover, part of a three-play sequence that buried SMU’s hopes.

McAlister wasn’t just about highlight reels, he almost had two more scores. A toe-tap grab at the goal line was controversially ruled out of bounds, and he appeared to secure another touchdown before SMU’s Jaelyn Davis-Robinson ripped the ball away for an interception.

“He just took over the game,” coach Sonny Dykes said. “That’s what great players do.”

TCU will need that same firepower next week when the Horned Frogs travel to Arizona State. If McAlister plays with this level of dominance, the Frogs’ offense could be unstoppable.