Yes, No, Maybe? What the Future Holds for the Texas–Texas A&M Rivalry

With Thanksgiving approaching, some Longhorn fans might still have to do a double-take to see that A&M is not on the schedule. But no matter how many times you look, the Aggies will not be part of your Thanksgiving feast this year.[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] 

The longest-running rivalry in Texas, traditionally played on Thanksgiving Day, has been on hiatus since Texas’ game-winning field goal two years ago. The Aggies, unhappy with UT’s new TV contract and unfair revenue sharing within the Big 12 conference, left for neighboring conference SEC. Since, Texas has filled the Thanksgiving Day game with in-state rivals TCU and Texas Tech. Nonetheless, the Aggies’ exodus to the SEC has left fans on both sides with a feeling of nostalgia, and, according to Texas A&M senior associate athletic director Jason Cook, we appear no closer to seeing these two teams match up.

“We hope to play them again in a BCS bowl or playoff game at some point,” Cook, said.

It’s unfortunate, but the once-annual rivalry game is no longer an anticipated matchup, but an extinct tradition. However, despite Cook’s stubborn proclamation earlier this month, there still seems to be a glimmer of hope that the heated rivalry will be renewed.

Much of this stems from Texas’ new athletic director, Steve Patterson, and the mixed signals A&M continues to send.

Last week, Texas A&M President, R. Bowen Loftin, said he’s still in favor of A&M and Texas playing one another.

“I said it before, and I value my integrity,” Loftin said. “I said it two years ago and I meant it then. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t play each other, if we want to. I think they (Texas) will at some point in time feel like it’s the right thing to do, as well, and we’ll get there.”

Could this be Loftin extending an olive branch in what has become college football’s version of the Cold War?

Perhaps, but the tone of the two schools has reversed since A&M said “good bye” to the Big 12. In 2011, it was the Longhorns who seemed unwilling to schedule A&M for future regular-season games, saying their schedule was full thru 2018. Now, despite remaining largely mum on the topic, there have been reports that new AD Patterson wishes to renew the rivalry. This could very well be a story sensationalized by the media, a tendency we seem to have, but there have not been any proclamations as strong as Cook’s on the Texas side.

The story has unfolded like that of a typical breakup. A&M, the often ignored girlfriend, finally got fed up with their popular, flirtatious boyfriend and left for greener pastures. But they left under the guise that they still wanted to be friends; a typical proclamation from the dump-er, while the dump-ee ignores this and moves on. Then, after the newly empowered ex-girlfriend finds love again, the “remaining friends” thing is off the table. Meanwhile, Texas doesn’t really seem to care.

“They’re not on it,” Mack Brown said of A&M not being on Texas’ 2014 football schedule, deflecting questions about a potential future matchup between the two powerhouses.

As badly as we wish to see Johnny Football take on Texas in DKR, this is wishful thinking, at best. If the Longhorns and Aggies do play one another, it will not be in the near future. And if they play at all, it will be when the dust accumulated from their breakup settles, and they both remember how good they had it.

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