Texas and Texas A&M have been bickering with one another for over a century. Rarely will you find something the two agree on, especially when it comes to their football matchup. Seeing Texas move into the SEC has not helped the situation either.
“They can’t agree on anything,” On3’s Andy Staples said. “They hate each other so much.”
When the reality of Texas joining the SEC (something former AD Ross Bjork attempted to halt) kicked in, the first thing debated was where the rivalry’s return game would be located.
Texas A&M insisted on Kyle Field being the venue, while Texas argued the last matchup back in 2011 was in College Station, meaning Austin needed to host. Ultimately, the Aggies won out as they will welcome the Longhorns on Nov. 30.
Now, Chris Del Conte and Trev Alberts are already jockeying for the exact date the game should be played on, if annual. The Texas A&M side seems to prefer playing on the final Saturday of the regular season. People on the 40 Acres, specifically Del Conte, have voiced the desire to meet on Thanksgiving Day, playing in prime time on the holiday.
The SEC has to confirm its future scheduling before Texas and Texas A&M play every year. But there could be a compromise in the middle with Black Friday.
And this is just the past few months of arguments between the Longhorns and Aggies. Being in different conferences meant the past decade was filled with pure disdain for the other. Not playing each other in football may have added more fuel to an already bitter rivalry.
“I think it’s possible they hate each other way more because they haven’t been in the same conference,” Max Olson of The Athletic said during Wednesday’s Andy Staples On3. “The redderick, the online fighting. We’ve had a lot of coaches, a lot of ADs pass through in that interim time. But there is absolutely no love.”
Texas heads into SEC with confidence, Texas A&M hoping to knock them back
Texas experienced the program’s down years while Texas A&M was away in the SEC. Four head coaches were in charge during the decade-plus break up and four losing seasons took place. Meanwhile, the Aggies were doing well with multiple staple wins against big-time opponents.
For a while, it looked as if Texas A&M would have their way if the two ever got back on the field.
“For years, I was like when they finally get back together — because Texas had been wondering through the wilderness — they’re going to get back together and it’s going to be the kid coming home from college and little bro has been in the weight room like ‘Sup.’
“Except now it’s not because Texas is good now. So, they’re coming in a better place than A&M is,” Staples said.
Steve Sarkisian has turned things around in Austin, though. A first conference championship since 2009 was won this season while the Longhorns participated in the College Football Playoff. Texas A&M went into a lul under Jimbo Fisher and is entering the Mike Elko era. Momentum has swung back to Texas.
“That even adds to the angst,” Staples said. “Because for years, A&M was like ‘When you get to the SEC, you’ll see what we’ve been dealing with.’ Texas now is like ‘We actually beat the SEC champ last year at their stadium. So, we’re not particularly worried about this.'”
No matter how either season is trending, all can be made up for on Nov. 30. There might not be a more important game in college football this year. Both teams project to be capable of competing and who knows — maybe something more than intense bragging rights will be on the line.
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