No. 3 Texas and No. 20 Texas A&M Set to Renew Rivalry
The stage is set for a thrilling matchup between the No. 3 Texas Longhorns and the No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies. This Saturday, the two teams will face off at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, with a spot in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship game on the line.
The Aggies, ranked 20th in the nation, are seeking to reach the SEC championship game for the first time since joining the league in 2012. Standing in their way is their arch-rival, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns. This highly anticipated matchup marks the first meeting between the two teams since 2011.
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed acknowledged the significance of this game, stating, “We know that this is going to be history if we make it… a lot of people didn’t have faith… but we’re here now, and we’ve got a chance to go make this opportunity what we want it to be.”
The winner of this matchup will advance to face No. 6 Georgia on December 7 in Atlanta. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian emphasized the importance of this game, not just for the state of Texas, but for college football as a whole.
Texas A&M is looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking four-overtime loss to Auburn last week. The Longhorns, on the other hand, have won four consecutive games since their only loss of the season to Georgia on October 19.
The Aggies will face a tough test against the Longhorns, who have won 10 straight games on their opponents’ home turf. Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron expressed his excitement for the matchup, saying, “It’s going to be amazing… these are the type of moments you live for.”
Despite the teams’ rich history, many of the current players were in grade school the last time these teams met. However, they seem to grasp the magnitude of this rivalry. Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III noted, “At first, some of the guys weren’t fully grasping what this game means… but now that we’ve gotten close, I think everyone understands how big this game is.”
Key factors to watch in this matchup include the ground game, explosive plays, turnovers, and the kicking game. Texas put together an impressive 15-play drive against Kentucky, featuring 12 runs that consumed over 8 minutes of clock time. The Aggies, meanwhile, will look to eliminate explosive plays after allowing several big pass plays in their loss to Auburn.
The Longhorns’ secondary has been stout, allowing just four passing touchdowns while intercepting 17 passes. However, Texas has struggled with fumbles, losing the ball seven times in their last two games.
Texas A&M’s defensive front is a strength, with the team ranking 17th in the country with 78 tackles for loss. The Aggies’ kicking game will also be crucial, as Texas kicker Bert Auburn has struggled with long field goals this season.
With so much on the line, this matchup promises to be an instant classic. The stage is set, and the teams are ready. Who will emerge victorious and claim a spot in the SEC championship game?
