Texas and Texas A&M need to stop bickering, renew the rivalry

After recent comments, it seems as if the rivalry with Texas A&M is further away than ever. The schools need to make up and play each other.

Ever since Justin Tucker hit a rivalry ending field goal in 2011 at Kyle Field, there has been nothing but bitterness between Texas and Texas A&M. With constant back and forth through athletic director comments, recruiting, and especially through social media, the Longhorns and Aggies have not stopped hating each other for the past nine years.

Recent comments from Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte have once again stirred the pot, with an indirect shot being taken at Texas A&M.

Texas A&M athletic director made comments back, confirming the rivalry will not be coming back any time soon.

Before the final game in 2011 occurred, questions arose when the two schools play again. Since then, no progress has been made.

As of now, Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule is filled until 2025. However, the Aggies are playing Notre Dame and are unlikely to schedule multiple Power 5 opponents in the same season.

For Texas, the schedule is booked until 2027 with upcoming series against Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, and Ohio State. Even then, the Longhorns would have 11 Power 5 opponents on their schedule with the Aggies, Wolverines, and a full Big 12 schedule.

Within the SEC, two teams in the East have figured out how to play a big-time opponent, while maintaining in-state rivalries.

Georgia and Georgia Tech have played each other every single year since 1925. Even when the Yellow Jackets left the SEC in 1964, the two teams never missed a beat.

The other team is Florida, which plays in-state rival Florida State every single year. The Gators and Seminoles have been competing since 1958, despite never being in the same conference.

Even old Big 12 rivals who took a hiatus have found ways to make it work. Nebraska and Oklahoma will play each other in 2021, 2022, 2029, and 2030. Missouri and Kansas recently announced a four-game series starting with 2025 and 2026, while meeting again in 2031 and 2032.

Other sports have also played each other in regular-season affairs, as recent as the two men’s basketball teams agreeing to a one-off neutral site game in Fort Worth.

It is time the petty comments between athletic directors, fans, and players stop and everything is settled on the field. A long nine years have passed since the last game, with both teams struggling to find a suitable replacement for each other.

Texas has had a merry-go-round of Thanksgiving weekend opponents with Kansas, TCU, and Texas Tech all playing in Austin. Texas A&M has started to develop a rivalry with LSU, but it seems a bit one-sided since the Aggies have only beaten the Tigers once since 2012.

In the College Football Playoff era, strength of schedule is an important part of a team’s resume. Playing as many Power 5 opponents to pick up as many quality wins could be the difference between making the playoff and not making the playoff.

Nobody will ever hate Texas like Texas A&M and nobody will hate Texas A&M like Texas. The schools need to play each other, it has been long enough.

Here is a proposed schedule from Kyle Umlang:

At this point, playing on Thanksgiving should not be a priority. Just getting Texas and Texas A&M on a field in Austin, College Station, Houston, or Dallas is the priority.

Chris Del Conte and Ross Bjork, please quit the pettiness and make it happen.

Until then, enjoy this video.

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