The Longhorns face the Aggies in a rivalry renewal
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Texas last faced Texas A&M on the football field in 2011. The Longhorns won 27–25 in dramatic fashion. Photo: Darren Carroll/Getty Images
The Longhorns face Texas A&M in College Station this Saturday in a revival of one of college sports' most storied rivalries.
Why it matters: At stake is a spot in the SEC championship game — and, perhaps more importantly, bragging rights in Texas.
Catch up quick: The Aggies and Longhorns first met in 1894 and faced each other around Thanksgiving for years — until the Aggies left for the SEC in 2012.
- Texas joined the SEC this year, paving the way for the teams to meet once more.
- Texas won the last meeting 27–25 on a last-second field goal by Justin Tucker.
Flashback: The rivalry was marked with unspeakable tragedy.
- In 1999, the Aggie Bonfire, an annual tradition meant to embody A&M's desire to beat Texas, collapsed during construction, killing 12 people and injuring 27.
By the numbers: Texas, leads the rivalry, with 76 wins and 37 losses. The teams have drawn five times.
Yes, but: Texas leads the series by just five games in College Station.
What they're saying: "I watched this game on Thanksgiving," UT head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday about tuning in as a kid to watch the annual Texas-A&M match-up. "It was like, that's how I fell in love with Texas from the very beginning. The uniforms, the helmets. Then I knew that the rivalry was what it was because what did you do as a kid? You watch football."
- "Our focus is single-handedly on Texas… I mean Auburn," A&M coach Mike Elko said last week — before the Aggies lost in quadruple overtime to Auburn over the weekend.
What to watch: Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers played the entire game on Saturday, a victory over Kentucky, but appeared hobbled after an ankle injury in the first half.
- Sarkisian said Ewers is practicing this week, but expect a big dose of all-purpose back Quintrevion Wisner.
- Wisner "might be the toughest guy on our team," Sarkisian said Monday. "He is cut from a Brillo pad."
- A&M has had to rely more on its passing attack after losing its top rusher, Le'Veon Moss, to a season-ending injury in a loss at South Carolina this month.
The other side: A&M loves to trumpet its "12th Man" — crowd support — as its competitive advantage, and Kyle Field is sure to be rocking.
- Texas A&M plans to deploy massive, noise-amplifying speakers on the sideline that will be used for the first time against Texas, per KBTX.
State of play: Despite the Aggies' 8-3 overall record, they would head to the SEC championship game with a win — and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
- A Longhorns win would send the team to the SEC title game as the home team with the best record in the league.
How to watch: The game airs at 6:30pm on ABC. As of Monday afternoon, tickets were averaging $1,072 a seat, according to online marketplace TickPick — making it the most expensive college football game ever, per Forbes.
- Texas is a 6-point favorite.