Ever since Texas and Oklahoma decided that the Big 12 was old news while spending an exorbitant amount of moolah to officially transition to the SEC for the start of the 2024-2025 college football season, the discussion of permanent opponents combined with a potential 9 game scheduling format, the possibilities have been endless to what may become the next 50 years of SEC football when most of us will be in our rocking chairs arguing about inflation.
On Friday, Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Ross Dellenger released what he believes to be the final matchups across the conference, and for Texas A&M, not only will the Texas-Texas A&M Rivalry return for the first time since 2011, but LSUÂ (no surprise), and to some surprise, Mississippi State round out the opponents for the Maroon and White from 2024 to FOREVER.
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— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) March 3, 2023
What’s the most controversial exclusion in the list? Arkansas vs. Texas A&M, that’s for sure. Dating back to 1903, the former Southwest Conference rivals turned SEC rivals have met 79 times, where the Razorbacks lead the series 42-34-3, while the Aggies memorably won 9 straight games from 2012 to 2020. So, if we’re making the case for historic longevity, trading out Mississippi State, who just recently began consistently playing the Aggies in 2012 (when Texas A&M entered the SEC), the term “rivalry” can actually be used accurately in this context.
But credit to Mississippi State for what they’ve accomplished against the Aggies since Johnny Manziels’ Heisman campaign, winning 6 of their 11 matchups, while developing a firey hatred between both fan bases to the point of year-long frustration after a loss.
However it officially pans out, and we know one thing that is abundantly clear; The Lone Star Showdown is back, baby!
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