Nov 274 min read

High Stakes as Texas, Texas A&M Renew Hostile Rivalry

The renewals of the Lone Star Showdown will take place in Week 14 as the No. 3 Texas Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) and No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies (8-3, 5-2) face off on Nov. 30 at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, in a game with high stakes.

The Aggies and the Longhorns last played in 2011, before Texas A&M left the Big 12 Conference for the SEC. Once Texas joined the SEC, it became possibly the most highly anticipated rivalry game of the season. Still, many likely didn't think it would be such a massive game, with the winner earning a spot in the SEC championship game.

What's at Stake?

This is a season-defining game for both teams. Texas A&M has not been in a position to reach the SEC Championship game since joining the conference but now is poised to establish itself as a potential championship program with a win. With three losses, the Aggies need to win the SEC championship to make the College Football Playoff.

Meanwhile, Texas should safely be in the 12-team playoff field regardless of the result. A win for the Longhorns would result in a rematch against No. 7 Georgia (9-2, 6-2) and a chance to become the first SEC team to win the conference title in its first year in the league since Alabama accomplished the feat in 1933.

Key Players: Texas A&M

Offense

QB Marcel Reed

Reed has taken over the Texas A&M starting quarterback job with five starts this season. While many teams view him as a weapon because of his threat to make plays with his legs, he has also been quite efficient in the passing game—throwing for 1,426 yards and 12 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions.

RB Amari Daniels

Daniels is the lead running back for Texas A&M after a season-ending injury to Le'Veon Moss. He has 640 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns this season with 174 yards and 2 touchdowns in two games since Moss' injury.

WR Noah Thomas

Texas A&M has been looking for a go-to player to step up in the passing game, and Thomas answered the call with 124 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Aggies' overtime loss to Auburn on Nov. 23. He leads the team with 514 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2024.

Defense

DE Nic Scourton

Scourton has been Texas A&M's best defender all season. He's a menace on the defensive line and possesses a game-changing ability to rush the passer. The projected first-round pick will need to have a great game and make Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers completely uncomfortable when he drops back to pass.

DB Dalton Brooks

All the Texas A&M defensive backs are in for a challenge against a dynamic Texas passing attack that has abundant talent and depth at wide receiver. Brooks has been making plays in recent weeks and is second on the team with 42 tackles.

LB Taurean York

York leads Texas A&M with 65 tackles and plays all over the field. He is a multi-faceted linebacker with the ability to both rush the passer (1.5 sacks) and be effective in coverage (2 pass breakups, 1 interception). The Aggies need him to play to his full potential with all the firepower Texas has offensively.

Key Players: Texas

Offense

QB Quinn Ewers

Ewers has caught some flak for his turnovers this year, but he is still considered one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He has thrown for 2,089 yards with 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions this season and has experience in big games like this—which could be crucial as Texas tries to achieve another goal.

RBs Jaydon Blue, Quintrevion Wisner

Blue and Wisner can be huge weapons if they can hang onto the ball. Both have over 550 rushing yards on the season with at least 3 touchdowns. Their matchup against the A&M linebackers is one to watch.

TE Gunnar Helm

Helm is the leading receiver for an offense that spreads the ball around to plenty of weapons. He has 544 yards and 5 touchdowns, scoring twice in the Nov. 23 win over Kentucky.

WRs Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden

While all of Texas' receivers can burn defenses, Bond and Golden have been the best. Bond has 510 yards and 5 touchdowns this year. Golden has been a scoring machine recently with 5 touchdowns since Oct. 26.

Defense

LB Anthony Hill Jr.

Hill is one of the elite linebackers in the country, and much has been made of his snubbing from the Butkus Award's finalists list. He leads Texas with 79 tackles and 7.5 sacks and has an interception.

DB Jahdae Barron

Barron has had an outstanding year. He has 41 tackles, 8 passes defended and a team-best 4 interceptions, earning a nomination as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back.

DL Alfred Collins

Collins has been an unsung hero on the Longhorns' defensive line. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has praised his play all season, and he'll be an instrumental part of the Texas effort to shut down Texas A&M's running game.

DE/LB Colin Simmons

Simmons is one of the top freshmen in the country and is second on the team with 7 sacks. His added pass-rushing skills will make things difficult for Reed if he can dominate against the Aggies' offensive line.