Tag: Lone Star Showdown

Watch the No. 9 Texas A&M men’s basketball team assert its dominance against the Longhorns

The No. 9 Aggies face off against the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners tonight at 8 p.m. from the Lloyd Noble Center on the SEC Network.

This past weekend, the Texas A&M men’s basketball team dominated the second half of its conference opener against Texas to win the return of the Lone Star Showdown on the hardwood.

The No. 9 Aggies (12-2, 1-0 SEC) were tied at 37 with the Longhorns (11-3, 0-1) at halftime on Saturday night at Reed Arena. Then, Texas A&M asserted its dominance by outscoring Texas 43-23 in the final 20 minutes of action to ultimately win 80-60.

“Their shots were at the rim,” Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry said postgame. “Our shots were perimeter shots. If we make some of those shots, it’s a different game.”

Next up for the Aggies is a road contest against the SEC’s other new addition, No. 16 Oklahoma (13-1, 0-1). Texas A&M faces off against the Sooners tonight at 8 p.m. from the Lloyd Noble Center on the SEC Network.

Relive the Aggies’ tremendous victory below in this highlight put together by the Texas A&M social media department:

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“We’re appreciative of all their support” Texas A&M HC Buzz Williams recognizes the 12th Man in big win

“I think this will be a rarity” Texas A&M HC knows 20-point wins will not be commonplace in the SEC

Over the years, coach Buzz Williams has been criticized for consistency issues with the Texas A&M basketball team. However, this season, after a tough non-conference schedule, they have embraced who they are as a team, and it shows in every single game.

The SEC is going to be a gauntlet, and 20-point wins will be the exception rather than the rule. Buzz understands this, and while it’s great for morale, he knows his team needs to stay grounded to be successful in the long run.

“I think it’ll be rare. I wasn’t saying any of that from a motivational standpoint.”

“That’s how thin the margin is. It shows how elite the league has been going into one. I think this will be a rarity.”

He also praised one of the game’s unsung heroes, Aggie mainstay Hayden Hefner, who has made some notable plays this season and hit a few big shots in Saturday’s win.

“(Hefner) is accepting. He doesn’t have to be here. He has already graduated. He’s here because he cares.”

“He cares about our group and has a burning desire to have success. … His nature is so giving.”

Below, you can watch the entire post-game conference.

Texas A&M will go on the road to face Oklahoma at Lloyd Noble Center on Jan. 8 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on SEC Network.

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“I’ve never witnessed anything like that….” Texas A&M’s Pharrel Payne speaks on atmosphere at Reed Arena

“I was really excited to get in here and play” Hefner was ready for the Lone Star Rivalry

What a way for Texas A&M to open up conference play against rival Texas by storming back in the second half en route to an 80-60 win in front of a packed Reed Arena.

Major props have to be given to the crowd that showed up despite school not being back in session yet. The atmosphere was electric, and at times, it was extremely difficult to hear the play-by-play. It was a big factor in keeping the energy high, and it was very visible how the team fed off the student section.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like that. It was so exciting to play in that game.” – Pharrel Payne

“I knew it was going to be a pretty lively environment. Growing up, I didn’t watch it too much… I was really excited to get in here and play.” – Hayden Hefner

Fifth-year senior Hayden Hefner played a significant role in hitting some clutch shots, stifling any chance at a Longhorn comeback. He knows he must take advantage of the opportunities and answer when his number is called.

“Controlling my energy, controlling what I can control and doing whatever it takes to win.”

Below, you can watch the entire post-game conference.

Texas A&M will go on the road to face Oklahoma at Lloyd Noble Center on Jan. 8 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Huge second half leads No. 13 Texas A&M men’s basketball team past Longhorns in SEC opener

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Texas A&M men’s basketball team defeated its bitter rivals, the University of Texas, on Saturday.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Texas A&M men’s basketball team has defeated its bitter rivals, the University of Texas.

The No. 13 Aggies (12-2, 1-0 SEC) beat the Longhorns (11-3, 0-1) by a final score of 80-60 on Saturday night at Reed Arena. Texas A&M outscored Texas 43-23 in the second half to win its conference opener at home.

This weekend’s Lone Star Showdown matchup was the first since December 2019. The victory is the Aggies‘ first against the Longhorns since November 2015.

Senior point guard Zhuric Phelps racked up a game-high 18 points on 6-of-8 field goal and free throw attempts, respectively. He added 7 rebounds (1 offensive), 4 assists and 1 steal.

Three other Texas A&M players scored in double-digits. Junior power forward Pharrel Payne recorded 15, senior PG Wade Taylor IV contributed 13 and senior shooting guard Manny Obaseki added 10.

Next up for the Aggies is a road contest against the SEC’s other new addition, No. 12 Oklahoma (13-1, 0-1). Texas A&M faces off against the Sooners at 8 p.m. Wednesday from the Lloyd Noble Center on the SEC Network.

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Despite the loss versus No. 2 Texas, the Texas A&M football team’s entrance was legendary

According to Sports Media Watch, a total of 9.46M viewers tuned in on ABC to watch the Longhorns defeat the Aggies at Kyle Field last week.

While the Texas A&M football team’s loss last week versus the Longhorns was certainly a letdown, one thing every member of the 12th Man should take some joy from his how legendary the Aggies’ entrance was pregame.

Kyle Field was rocking, the atmosphere was electric and Texas A&M matched that energy, at least until the kickoff. The Aggies losing three of their last four regular season games, with the last being against their bitter rivals, was certainly a tough pill to swallow.

According to Sports Media Watch, 9.46 million viewers tuned in on ABC last week to watch Texas defeat Texas A&M in College Station. That total is the highest audience all-time for the Lone Star Showdown rivalry.

The Aggies have definitely found a great leader in head coach Mike Elko. Now it’s time for him to continue building upon the foundation he built in year one.

Elko‘s top three priorities each season should be to beat the Longhorns, win the SEC and qualify for the College Football Playoff, then go from there.

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College GameDay crew picks Texas A&M vs. Texas

The College GameDay crew is split on Texas A&M vs. Texas

After over 4,000-plus days, Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 SEC) will host the Texas Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 SEC) on Saturday night for a spot in the SEC Championship Game and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff.

With so much on the line, it was a no-brainer for ESPN’s College GameDay crew to make their way to College Station for the season finale, as the Aggies’ postseason dreams were saved after Alabama’s shocking loss to Oklahoma in Week 14.

However, A&M has lost two of its last three SEC games. While both were on the road, the Aggies have struggled to find early consistency, relying on late scoring, including enduring a 21-0 deficit to Auburn in the first half before eventually losing in quadruple overtime.

Throw out everything I just said because this is the rivalry of all rivalries, and I fully expect the Aggies to play their best football, but Texas will certainly be the season’s biggest challenge.

So, how does College GameDay see the game shaking out? Desmond Howard chose the Aggies, citing Kyle Field’s influence and A&M’s defensive line, while Nick Saban went with the Texas Longhorns. Pat McAfee, in his usual fiery demeanor, went with the home team, while Dude Perfect obviously went with Texas A&M as well.

Last but not least, Lee Corso tossed the Sergeant hat aside for the Lonhorn headdress, sticking with the team he picked to win the National Title.

No. 19 Texas A&M will host No. 3 Texas on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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Is Texas A&M football ahead of Texas Longhorns with one month to the Lone Star Showdown?

Countdown to the Texas vs. Texas A&M in the Lone Star Showdown, a rivalry fueled by pride, passion, and stats.

We are just one month away from the revival of the Lone Star Showdown. Early analytics suggest that the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies are nearly deadlocked in a potential nail-biter.

With a win probability of 50.95% favoring Texas over Texas A&M’s 49.05%, this matchup is set to be tightly contested, with projected final scores hovering around 23-22 in favor of the Longhorns. The final score could very well come down to the last minute, and like the last game, it could come down to a field goal.

The Longhorns hold the series all-time win record at 76-37-5, but records do mean little when these teams will meet. It is about pride, legacy, and the kind of bragging rights that will last until the next meeting.

Offensive and Defensive Margins

Texas holds a slight advantage in EPA (Expected Points Added) margin, ranking fourth compared to Texas A&M’s fifteenth, hinting at more efficient plays. The Longhorns’ offensive success rate stands at 45%, ranking 30th nationally, just a slight edge over A&M’s comparable 43.6%.

The defensive statistics also show Texas with a slight upper hand, with their unit ranked fourth in overall defensive efficiency versus the Aggies’ ranking of twentieth. Texas excels particularly in the defensive EPA on passing plays, with a defensive drop-back EPA margin of -0.168, compared to Texas A&M’s 0.080. However, the Aggies make up ground on early downs, with a third/fourth-down success rate of 44.2%, superior to Texas’ 35.8%.

Key Battlegrounds: Rushing Efficiency and Third Downs

Both teams show vulnerabilities in rushing. Texas ranks 33rd in defensive rush success, while Texas A&M’s offensive rush success rate is similarly modest at 44.4%. While Texas may struggle to stop the Aggies’ rushing attack, they’ve demonstrated resilience on third-down defense, ranking 10th. A&M’s efficient play on third and fourth downs (44.2%) will be a significant test for Texas.

Special Teams and Field Position

Texas slightly edges A&M in net field position, with a 3.59-yard advantage compared to A&M’s 3.34. The Longhorns’ defense may also capitalize on A&M’s higher Risk-Reward Optimization (RROE) of 13.7%, which shows a greater willingness for high-risk plays, compared to Texas’ more conservative -5.7%.

The last time these two team’s matched up, it came down to a field goal, ultimately Texas would win with a kick by Justin Tucker.

Ultimately, the beauty of this game goes beyond the stats. This matchup embodies the fierce pride and enduring loyalty of both fanbases. For Longhorns fans, this is a chance to take over Kyle Field, showing that Texas pride travels strong. For the Aggies, it’s a chance to defend their home turf and remind Texas that this rivalry isn’t just about the scoreline—it’s about legacy.

With Texas clinging to a slim statistical edge and both teams bringing their best, fans on both sides should prepare for a game that could come down to the wire. This is a rivalry fueled by passion, and when the dust settles, it’s the heart and the pride of each team that will determine who walks away with the bragging rights. Buckle up, because this one is bound to be unforgettable.

It Just Means More.

Texas A&M vs. Texas ticket prices are more expensive than upcoming Super Bowl LVIII rematch

The Lone Star Showdown will be one of the most expensive events of the year

No. 15 Texas A&M’s season finale matchup with the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns is more than a month away, but that doesn’t mean ticket prices for the biggest event of the college football season will go down anytime soon.

Both teams look like College Football Playoff contenders at the midseason mark. The Longhorns remain undefeated before facing Oklahoma in the annual Red River Rivalry on Saturday afternoon. Texas A&M’s five-game winning streak after blowing out Missouri 41-10 has the Aggies atop the SEC standings with a 3-0 conference record.

While the Longhorns’ remaining schedule looked easy on paper before the season started, facing Georgia at home and Vanderbilt on the road the week after looks much tougher.

Texas A&M’s three road games plus a home matchup vs. LSU could dictate the Aggie’s playoff hopes, and if any of those games results in a loss, facing Texas becomes a must-win.

Ahead of the game, Good Bull Hunting’s’ Robert Behrens first reported that through Seat Geek, ticket prices for Texas A&M vs. Texas are now higher than the upcoming Super Bowl LVIII rematch between Kansas City and the San Francisco 49ers, averaging anywhere between $759-$5,447 compared to $283-$1,171 for the NFL matchup.

For those with Texas A&M season tickets, enjoy the game! For everyone else, these prices make your couch look much better.

Texas A&M will face the Texas Longhorns in the first revival of the Lone Star Showdown on Saturday, Nov. 30.

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Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts ‘hopeful’ that Lone Star Showdown becomes annual

“What you don’t want to do is get to a point where you’re asking Texas ‘who you want your rival to be?’ I’m hopeful that we can get there.”

The Lone Star Showdown will be played annually until at least 2026 but Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts wants the game to be played forever, as it rightfully should.

“It hasn’t been determined and I don’t want to speak for Chris (Del Conte) but I want it to be played every year. I think it’s important to Texas, Texas high school football and needs to be played every year. There’s some nuance to that,” Alberts said Thursday. “How many conference games are we going to play in the SEC? How does it impact the College Football Playoff? When you start getting into different schedule models, many of us ‘have more than one traditional rival.’ What you don’t want to do is get to a point where you’re asking Texas ‘who you want your rival to be? Oklahoma or Texas A&M?’ I’m hopeful that we can get there but I want this game played every year.

“We started thinking about how we can advance this, really grow the rivalry and make it as special as it can be. It’s a three-year commitment with mutual agreements and potential to extend it even further. We want some stability and continuity in the showdown so I think that’ll be really important.”

The Aggies host the Longhorns at Kyle Field on Nov. 30.

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Lone Star Showdown trophy is being discussed per Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts

“There has been some discussions about those types of things. Those are some of the details that need to be worked out. That would be fun.”

The Lone Star Showdown is officially coming back to the gridiron in just over three months and Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts recently discussed the possibility of the trophy returning as well.

“There has been some discussions about those types of things, I don’t have specifics on the details of that. Those are some of the details that still need to be worked out as we kind of work through it. That would be fun. I just got a trophy the other day from NACDA that detailed our sixth place finish in the Director’s Cup. People are proud of that and worked towards that so we’ll see where that goes,” Alberts said Thursday. “Obviously in the state of Texas, this game is really important to a lot of people. It divides a lot of people but this is what makes it college athletics.

“I’m telling you, I played in a lot of football games, the rivalry games hit different, they just do. It’s a privilege and an honor to get to play in rivalry games like this. I said it, and I believe this, give us a little time, Texas-Texas A&M will be the biggest rivalry game in college football. It has that opportunity, passion and we’re looking forward to it.”

The Aggies host the Longhorns at Kyle Field on Nov. 30.

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