In the world of college football, few rivalries can match the sheer intensity and pettiness of the feud between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies. For over a century, these two Lone Star State powerhouses clashed annually in a game that meant everything to their rabid fanbases. But then, in 2011, conference realignment tore the rivals apart, leaving a void that could not be filled by political posturing, social media jabs, or even the most passive-aggressive of legislative maneuvers.
Now, after 4,755 days of simmering resentment, the Longhorns and Aggies are finally set to renew hostilities on the football field this Saturday. The eyes of the college football world will be fixated on Kyle Field, where old grudges will be settled, new chapters will be written, and the very fabric of Texas society may well hang in the balance.
A Rivalry Forged in the Flames of the Lone Star State
To truly understand the depths of animosity between Texas and Texas A&M, one must first appreciate the unique cultural dynamics at play in the Lone Star State. Football is not merely a sport here; it is a way of life, a religion unto itself. And for generations, the Longhorns and Aggies have battled for the very soul of Texas football.
The rivalry dates back to 1894, when the two schools first met on the gridiron. In the century that followed, Texas and Texas A&M would face off 118 times, with the Longhorns holding a commanding 76-37-5 edge in the series. But records and statistics alone cannot capture the true essence of this feud.
“It’s not just about football,” explains one longtime Texas fan, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject. “It’s about pride, bragging rights, and proving once and for all which school is the rightful flagship of this great state.”
The Breakup: Conference Realignment Tears the Rivals Apart
In 2011, the landscape of college athletics was forever altered when Texas A&M announced its intention to leave the Big 12 Conference for the greener pastures of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The move sent shockwaves throughout the college football world and left the Longhorns reeling.
Texas, determined not to be outdone, flirted with the idea of joining the Pac-12 Conference before ultimately deciding to remain in the Big 12. The Longhorns’ loyalty came at a price, however, as they insisted on the creation of the Longhorn Network – a move that many saw as a direct slap in the face to their former rivals.
“The Longhorn Network was a clear message to the Aggies,” says a source close to the Texas athletic department. “It was like saying, ‘We don’t need you. We’re the University of Texas, and we can do whatever we want.'”
The Pettiness Escalates: Political Maneuvers and Social Media Spats
With the Longhorns and Aggies no longer meeting on the field, the rivalry took on a new, even pettier form. Texas state legislators, many of whom had ties to one school or the other, began introducing bills aimed at forcing the two teams to play each other. These efforts, while largely symbolic, only served to further inflame tensions between the fanbases.
Meanwhile, on social media, the rivalry raged on. Players, coaches, and even administrators traded barbs on Twitter, each side claiming superiority over the other. The pettiness reached a fever pitch in 2013, when then-Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel tweeted a picture of his Heisman Trophy with the caption “Sorry about that, Longhorns.”
“That tweet was the embodiment of everything that makes this rivalry so special,” recalls a former Texas A&M player. “It was a perfect mix of arrogance, pettiness, and pure, unadulterated hatred.”
The Return: Texas Joins the SEC, Reigniting the Rivalry
In 2021, the college football world was once again rocked by seismic shifts in conference alignment. This time, it was Texas and Oklahoma announcing their intention to leave the Big 12 for the SEC. The move, which takes effect in 2024, sets the stage for a renewed rivalry between the Longhorns and Aggies.
Texas A&M, for its part, has made it clear that it does not welcome the Longhorns’ arrival in the SEC. Aggies Athletic Director Ross Bjork even went so far as to say that Texas A&M would be the only SEC team in the state of Texas – a claim that the Longhorns are sure to take issue with.
“We’re ready for them,” says a current Texas A&M player, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They think they can just waltz into our conference and take over? They’ve got another thing coming. We’re going to make their lives a living hell.”
The Showdown: Saturday’s Game and the Future of the Rivalry
As the Longhorns and Aggies prepare to take the field on Saturday, the stakes could not be higher. Both teams enter the game ranked in the top 25, with Texas currently sitting at No. 3 and Texas A&M at No. 20. A win for either side would not only provide bragging rights but could also have significant implications for the College Football Playoff picture.
Beyond this weekend’s game, however, the future of the rivalry remains uncertain. With both teams now in the same conference, they will meet annually, as they did for nearly a century before. But after 13 years of pettiness and resentment, it remains to be seen whether the feud can recapture the magic that once made it great.
“This rivalry is bigger than any one game or any one season,” says a longtime observer of Texas football. “It’s about history, tradition, and the very identity of this state. As long as there is football in Texas, there will be Longhorns and Aggies, and there will be bad blood between them.”
So, as the eyes of the college football world turn to Kyle Field on Saturday, one thing is certain: the rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M is back, and it’s here to stay. The pettiness, the passion, and the pure, unbridled hatred that have defined this feud for generations are once again set to take center stage. And for fans of both schools, as well as for lovers of the sport itself, that can only be a good thing.
