This weekend, for the first time since 2011, the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies will meet at Kyle Field in a long overdue chapter of a rivalry that started 130 years ago. Texans have been waiting in anticipation. Demand to see the game is such that, at the time of writing, the cheapest resale ticket is $632 and hotel rooms in the vicinity of College Station are at least three times the rate card price.
I've been fortunate to watch these two great college football teams from the state of Texas in person, at each of their stunning home stadiums, Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in the heart of Austin in September 2022 and at Kyle Field in College Station just a week later. These games were played in front of over 105,000 diehard fans on each occasion. I can't begin to imagine what the atmosphere will be like when these two teams face off on Saturday to continue one of college football's biggest rivalries.
The History
The Texas-Texas A&M football rivalry, known simply as the “Lone Star Showdown,” is one of college football’s fiercest and most deeply rooted rivalries. Spanning over a century, it has embodied the pride, passion, and pageantry of football in the state of Texas. The rivalry began in 1894 and grew into an annual Thanksgiving tradition, showcasing the intense competition between two flagship institutions: the University of Texas and Texas A&M University.
As with many traditional rivalries, this represents a clash of cultures and identities. The University of Texas, based in Austin, with its perceived urban sophistication and “Hook ’em Horns” swagger, contrasts sharply with Texas A&M’s military roots and steadfast loyalty to the “12th Man” story. The games are rarely just about football; they’ve symbolized broader debates about tradition, pride, and culture in the Lone Star State.
The matchups have provided unforgettable moments, from Earl Campbell’s punishing runs for Texas in the 1970s to Johnny (Football) Manziel’s dazzling performances for A&M in the 2010s. Despite Texas leading the all-time series 76-37-5, the Aggies have pulled off dramatic upsets, keeping the rivalry unpredictable and electric.
The last game was played in 2011, after Texas A&M moved to the SEC, leaving fans clamouring for the rivalry’s return. With Texas having rejoined the SEC in 2024, and now in the national championship conversation after a disappointing few years, the Lone Star Showdown is primed for a long-awaited revival, reigniting one of college football’s most storied rivalries.
The Trophy...?
The Lone Star Showdown trophy was historically presented to the winner. Discussions are in place as to whether it will return for the 2024 showdown.
Memorable Games
The First Clash in the Southwest Conference: 1915
In 1915, Texas and Texas A&M met as part of the newly formed Southwest Conference, the first game hosted by Texas A&M at College Station. The visiting Longhorns claimed a dominant 13-0 victory, establishing early superiority at the beginning of an annual tradition that would run every year until the rivalry's 13-year hiatus in 2011.
The “Impossible Catch”: 1940
On just the third play of a game that Texas A&M had entered on a 19-game winning streak, Noble Doss' "impossible catch" set up a one-yard Pete Layden touchdown run for Texas on the very next play to give the Longhorns a 7-0 win and knock the Aggies out of the national championship picture.
A Thanksgiving Tribute: 1963
An emotional occasion contested just days after President John F. Kennedy’s tragic assassination in Dallas. No.1 Texas beat the Aggies 15-13 in a hard-fought game, coming back from 13-3 down to remain unbeaten. they would go on to win their first national championship.
A Moment of Unity - The Bonfire Football Game: 1999
Played just eight days after the tragic collapse of the Aggie Bonfire, which claimed the lives of 12 Texas A&M students and injured 27 others, the game became a symbol of unity in a hotly contested rivalry. In an emotional tribute at Kyle Field, the Longhorns band played "Amazing Grace" at halftime in honour of the victims of the Bonfire tragedy. The Aggies went on to win, 20-16.
The Last Game: 2011
The last game before Texas A&M’s move to the SEC, which put this great rivalry on hold for 13 years, ended in suitably dramatic fashion. Texas kicker Justin Tucker kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give the Longhorns a 27-25 victory in College Station.
Looking Ahead...
No.20 Texas A&M come into this weekend's game with an 8-2 record, and 5-2 in the SEC with losses to Notre Dame and South Carolina, while No.3 Texas is 9-1, and 6-1 in the SEC with a loss to Georgia.
The Aggies have restored pride in the program after a frustrating few years under Jimbo Fisher, eventually paying out their former head coach's enormous contract and re-established themselves as a contender in the SEC under new head coach, their former defensive coordinator, Mike Elko.
Texas have also been rejuvenated under a new head coach, Steve Sarkisian, now in his fourth season in Austin. The Longhorns reached the four-team College Football Playoff last season and have shown glimpses of championship potential at times this season, reaching No.1 in the AP poll in mid-September for the first time since 2008, although they were humbled by an on-form Georgia team at home in Week 7.
As if the stakes weren't high enough, the winner of this first Lone Star Showdown in 13 years, has an opportunity to advance to the SEC Championship game against Georgia where the winner will have a guaranteed spot in the College Football Playoff.