The LSU Tigers and TCU Horned Frogs will meet at Cowboys Stadium to start the 2013 college football season in the Cowboys Classic. The game, which will take place on Aug. 31, 2013, will be televised on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. The Tigers originally agreed in 2006 to play a home-and-home series with TCU in 2013 and 2014. LSU will be making their second Cowboys Classic appearance, following an exciting 40-27 win over Oregon in 2011.
LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said about the game, "The Cowboys Classic has become one of the premier events in college football and we are excited about making another appearance there to start the 2013 season on national television. The Dallas-Fort Worth area is also rich with LSU supporters and we look forward to taking the Tigers to a great LSU following."
I was looking forward to seeing this series played out when it was originally announced, but a primetime slot to kickoff next season isn't so bad either. The Tigers have done well in the spotlight in these types of games in recent years with wins over Oregon and North Carolina. I'd rather see the Tigers play in a marquee game to open the season rather than against a rent-a-win team. Besides TCU, LSU also has non-conference games against UAB (Sept. 14) and Furman (Oct. 26) scheduled for the 2013 season.
Series Information
LSU holds a 5-2-1 all-time series lead over TCU. The series began with a 3-0 Horned Frogs win in 1931 in Fort Worth. TCU also won the 1936 Sugar Bowl over the Tigers, 3-2, during their national championship season. LSU and TCU have not met since 1968, a 10-7 LSU win at Tiger Stadium.
About TCU Football
Although the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 this season, they haven't been lightweights under head coach Gary Patterson. In 12 seasons, Patterson is 112-30 (.789) as the coach of the Horned Frogs, which makes him the all-time winningest coach in TCU history. TCU has made a bowl game in 12 of the past 13 seasons, including six straight trips to the postseason. TCU has made at least one trip to each of the BCS bowls and has been to the Fiesta Bowl and the Rose Bowl in two of the last three seasons.
As an LSU fan, I'm glad the Tigers will still be able to play TCU in 2013.
More from Patrick Johnston:
LSU survives scare from Auburn, wins 12-10
LSU football vs. Auburn preview: LSU looks to start SEC slate with a win
LSU sets NCAA win record, rolls over Idaho, 63-14Sources:
Information from LSU Sports.net and Go Frogs.cstv.com
