A Storied Ending 2025 Regular Season

Weeks before the 2025 season started, pundits anointed Texas No. 1, with Arch Manning hailed as preseason Jesus.

At SEC Media Days, his humble vow–“I just hope I can live up to the hype”–drew eye-rolls. Then came the arrows: loss to Buckeyes in Columbus end of August in perfect football weather, four-quarter collapse at Florida, and Georgia’s gut-punch.

The Atlantic branded him “a flop” after Florida fiasco, and some fans sulked.

Arch did not. His dad, Cooper, pulled him aside: “Keep working hard, just keep chopping wood.” After the Georgia loss, Sarkisian was transparent with the team and convinced them to believe they were a great team who could beat A&M and deserved to be in the College Football Playoffs.

Texas A&M rolled into Austin undefeated, seething for payback after last season’s Kyle Field shellacking.

It’s called the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown–The Biggest Rivalry in the land.
Ultimately, Texas beats Texas A&M 27-17 keeping Austin the eternal home of the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown trophy.

…now wait on the CFP call with Horns Up.

Biggest Rivalry
The year, 1894. The distance: 105 miles separating Texas and Texas A&M–about 1:40 by car today, 28 hours by horse and buggy back then. For over 40 years the two went tit-for-tat each season until Texas said enough around 1939.

All hell broke loose–Texas dominated the Aggies 27-7-1 from 1940 through the 1980s. Get this, Texas owns 13 of the last 18 since ’94. Is it really a rivalry if one of the teams “usually” wins, most of the time? It is, actually! A massive one that divides Thanksgiving tables, husbands and wives, sisters and brothers–grandparents from grandkids.

Texas now leads 78-37-5 all-time. Through the 120th meeting on the gridiron, the Horns boast a 47-13-1 at home. A&M didn’t have a prayer this past Saturday–even though they were favored and undefeated.

Everything on the line

Texas wins or goes home
The Longhorns had one option. Win. Or hang up the cleats for the season. Period!
This was the ultimate do-or-die situation, and it still isn’t over until the CFP committee flips the switch on their fate—unlocking playoff possibilities and reaffirming Texas as the state’s premier program.

Just as Arch Manning and his receivers hit peak stride, the defense flashed stop signs to every opponent—except for Anthony Hill Jr., who nursed a nagging tweak.

First Half Sleeper

The first half felt like two boxers circling in the ring for rounds one and two, jabs glancing off gloves. The 103,651 faithful were left nervous, palms sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy under DKR lights.

Manning scrambled 12 yards, Quintrevion Wisner rushed 13 yards, and Manning followed up with another 12-yard scramble. Texas mustered just 112 yards total–good for three points. The Aggies fared a little better with 10 at the break.

Both defenses were impressive, slamming shut the run games and passing lanes. Both sides craved a big play–or even a small one. Something more than punt after punt after punt (seven in the half).

The momentum changer both teams desperately needed? Crickets.

An Aggie buddy texted me mid-half: “Pretty sluggish. I expected the game to open up by now. A&M is getting the run game open a little bit which I think will help open some play-action passes and RPOs.

Haven’t seen much from Texas on offense except for a few Arch scrambles. Giving him a lot of pressure”

Second Half – Momentum change During halftime Sarkisian was honest and transparent with the team in the locker room, “They responded at halftime and we challenged them with the fight that they needed to have in the second half, and surely they did that in the third quarter. [Quintrevion] Wisner was an absolute warrior tonight again. Michael Taaffe with the interception in his final game in DKR. This is storybook stuff that we’re talking about.”

Texas offense owned the third & fourth quarters scoring on four of the seven drives. One-minute ten seconds into the second half, Texas changed the momentum. First, Texas’ defense stopped the Aggies on the first drive to get the ball back into Arch’s hands.

BOOM rush up the middle by Quintrevion Wisner for 48 yards, results FG. Two plays later Wisner strikes again for 17-yard burst Nick Townsend goes two yards for a score. BOOM! Manning takes it to the house on a 35 yard run through the secondary that was sick, just sick.

Fourth quarter, Aggies get a touchdown, then Michael Taaffe pens what might be the final words of his chapter as a Longhorn. An interception two feet in front of the endzone–right in front of the student section, to stop A&M.

What a movie his life would make. Clock flashed 2:30 left, Kobe Black intercepts a Marcel Reed pass that puts the final nail in the coffin for Texas A&M.

Game over, Texas gives Texas A&M their first loss of the season and ruins their SEC Championship dreams.

Now, there’s just one important date with destiny. The CFP committee decides who will battle in the playoffs. Tuesday Night the CFP Committee ranked Texas No. 13, just one sport from being in the playoffs. One week remains, as two football games hold the Longhorns season in the balance.

BYU and Alabama must both lose for Texas to have a slim chance of getting into the playoffs. BYU plays Texas Tech in Lubbock, and Georgia plays Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

December 7, 2025 is the new date with destiny. Either Texas lives another day, or everyone goes home and that’s a wrap on an amazing season with many highs and lows.

Stay tuned…spoiler the CPF ranked Texas No. 13 with one weekend left for college football.

The only chance, though slim, for Texas to make the playoffs if if BYU loses against Texas Tech and Alabama loses against Georgia.

This is what is on the line for Texas and the rest of college football, told by Vic Schaefer.