Texas vs. Texas A&M: College football’s most missed rivalry is back and bigger than ever

Thirteen years ago, future Hall of Fame kicker Justin Tucker nailed a 40-yard field goal that sent Texas to an emotional 27-25 victory over Texas A&M. The next year, the Aggies joined the SEC and the game went dark. 

Since that moment, the rivalry has been dormant, but never quiet. There’s been the battle over recruits, featuring memorable battles for Kyler Murray, Malik Jefferson, Anthony Hill Jr. and countless others. There’s the comparison of records, especially after Texas A&M elevated itself in the SEC. Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte famously hung out in a cemetery in Snook, 12 miles outside of College Station, to poach Texas A&M baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle. 

But after Texas decided to join the SEC (news that was leaked first to a Texas A&M beat writer, by the way), everything changed. The game is back. 

“I think it’s long overdue,” former Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee said this week. “I think I’m in the group that felt like it should have never gone away.” 

In its first SEC season, No. 3 Texas will travel to face No. 20 Texas A&M at Kyle Field in the renewal of the rivalry, the 119th meeting between these two teams. The winner of the matchup will play in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia on Dec. 7. But far more importantly, the game will set the table for the future of both programs heading into the future of the SEC. 

“I actually didn’t feel that great about going into the SEC,” former Texas wide receiver Quan Cosby said. “What I felt phenomenal about was this game being back. I felt like, man, I’m way too young for my school’s conference to be gone. And the whole SEC bias type stuff, I was in the Big 12 and a very good Big 12, so I didn’t feel great about all of that. But then I was like, hold on,…

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Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2024-11-28 15:51:00

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