Texas and Texas A&M have met on the football field over 100 times since 1894. If A&M moves on to the SEC, though, that rivalry could be placed in the “dormant” category in some form or shape.
According to the Houston Chronicle by way of Billy Liucci over at TexAgs.com, Texas may not consider keeping a nonconference spot open for the Aggies if they leave the Big 12. For what its worth, there are plenty of reasons to believe that the game would continue.
For one, both Texas and A&M would be connected to ESPN by way of the Longhorn Network and the SEC’s second-tier TV rights, respectively. Word from TexAgs (of course) is that A&M wants to continue the series, so surely, the worldwide leader could find a way to make it happen.
Secondly, state politics are influential. The Texas House of Representatives’ Higher Education Committee is set to meet tomorrow to discuss, among other things, college athletics. If Texas’ state representatives are getting bent out of shape about the possibility of losing A&M to the SEC, they’re likely just as distressed as losing the biggest in-state rivalry.
I have no problem with schools looking out for No. 1, which A&M and Texas are both guilty of doing, but losing the Lone Star Showdown wouldn’t be good for the fans of either program, the state and college football.