The Lone Star Showdown, a historic rivalry between Texas and Texas A\&M, was paused in 2011 but renewed in 2025 when Texas joined the SEC, reigniting fierce competition across multiple sports.

The Lone Star Showdown, one of the most intense and storied rivalries in college sports, has long been a defining feature of Texas sports culture. The rivalry, which involves the University of Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies, dates back to 1894 and is more than just a football game—it’s a clash of traditions, pride, and history. Fans on both sides have spent over a century preparing for this fierce rivalry, and it has evolved from a yearly tradition to one that stretches beyond the football field.

The Lone Star Showdown’s cultural and sporting significance spans well beyond the game of football. From baseball and basketball to academic and cultural events, the rivalry permeates every corner of the two schools’ respective communities. And yet, in 2011, a major shift occurred: Texas A&M, after over a century of competing in the Big 12 Conference alongside Texas, made the decision to leave and join the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which ended the annual showdown between the two schools.

For over a decade, college sports fans in Texas and beyond were forced to watch the rivalry fade into history, as both schools charted new paths in separate conferences. But with the announcement of Texas’ move to the SEC in 2025, the Lone Star Showdown was renewed, rekindling one of the most heated and eagerly awaited rivalries in all of college sports.

The Origins of the Lone Star Showdown

The rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M began in 1894, when the two schools first met on the football field. At the time, college football in Texas was a relatively new endeavor, and the competition between the Longhorns and Aggies was fueled by the schools’ distinct regional identities. Texas, based in Austin, represented a larger, more urban population, while Texas A&M, in College Station, was more rural and linked to its strong agricultural roots.

From the very beginning, the rivalry was steeped in intensity, as both schools sought to assert their dominance over the other. Early matchups between the two teams were often hard-fought contests that helped cement the foundation of this fierce competition. The rivalry became an annual fixture, with both fan bases eagerly anticipating the Thanksgiving-week matchup.

Texas and Texas A&M’s football programs have always been successful in their own right. Texas has won multiple national championships and produced numerous NFL stars, while Texas A&M has consistently been a competitive force in college football. The two teams represent not just athletic excellence but also rich traditions that have added layers of complexity to the rivalry. Texas’ “Hook ’em Horns” and Texas A&M’s “12th Man” are iconic symbols that transcend football and represent the deep pride each university has for its identity.

Over the years, the rivalry expanded beyond the football field. It became a highly anticipated event across multiple sports, including basketball, baseball, and track and field. As both schools are members of the Big 12 Conference, they frequently faced off in nearly every sport, giving fans even more opportunities to engage in this fierce competition.

The Thanksgiving Tradition and Cultural Significance

For over a century, the Texas vs. Texas A&M football game was played every Thanksgiving weekend. This annual tradition became a cornerstone of the rivalry, with families, alumni, and students across Texas planning their entire holiday around the game. It was more than just a sporting event; it was a gathering of the state’s largest universities, a celebration of Texas culture, and a symbol of the pride each university held for its legacy.

The rivalry also became tied to the state’s social fabric. The game was often an opportunity for people to show loyalty to their alma mater, and fans would often wear their school colors with pride. Tailgates, pep rallies, and spirited chants would fill the parking lots and stadiums. The matchup was a reflection of Texas’ larger-than-life culture, where pride runs deep and competition is a way of life.

The importance of the rivalry extended beyond the field and into the academic and cultural spheres. The universities, with their distinct identities and histories, were rivals in more than just sports. Texas, being the larger, wealthier school, was often viewed as the “establishment,” while Texas A&M, as a military and agricultural school, had a unique identity as well. Their rivalry thus embodied a conflict between two different versions of Texas—one focused on tradition and academics, the other on emerging opportunities and growth.

The End of the Rivalry: 2011-2025

The rivalry’s suspension came after Texas A&M’s announcement in 2011 that it would leave the Big 12 Conference to join the SEC. This move marked a dramatic shift in the landscape of college football. For the Aggies, the move to the SEC was seen as an opportunity to compete in one of the most powerful football conferences in the nation. For Texas, the departure of their in-state rival was a significant loss—both competitively and culturally.

With Texas A&M’s departure, the annual Lone Star Showdown came to an end. The loss of this yearly contest was deeply felt by both fan bases, as well as by the state of Texas as a whole. College sports fans were no longer able to look forward to the holiday rivalry that had defined the end of the football season for so many years. Instead, both Texas and Texas A&M forged new rivalries with other schools, though none could match the intensity of their long-standing battle for supremacy.

During the hiatus, the two schools played each other in non-conference games only occasionally, often in bowl games or in neutral-site matchups. But these sporadic contests were never able to recapture the magic of the Lone Star Showdown. The animosity, the traditions, and the heated fan bases that had defined the rivalry were all put on hold. For more than a decade, the Texas A&M vs. Texas rivalry was a distant memory, a story from the past that fans could only reminisce about.

The Return of the Lone Star Showdown: 2025

In 2025, the landscape of college football shifted once again with the announcement that Texas would be joining the SEC, following in the footsteps of their long-time rival, Texas A&M. With both schools now members of the same conference, the Lone Star Showdown was revived, reigniting one of the most passionate rivalries in college sports.

The decision to reunite the two schools in the SEC has been met with excitement and anticipation from fans of both universities. The return of the rivalry has reinvigorated the state of Texas, bringing back a sense of pride and energy that had been missing for over a decade. Fans are already speculating about the first renewed matchup, with predictions of electric atmospheres, fierce competition, and the rekindling of old traditions.

For the schools themselves, the renewal of the Lone Star Showdown brings both competitive and cultural significance. On the football field, both Texas and Texas A&M are strong programs with national championship aspirations. Texas, with its storied history, will likely be a formidable opponent for the Aggies, while Texas A&M, bolstered by its SEC experience, will bring a level of physicality and toughness that will challenge the Longhorns.

Beyond football, the rivalry will likely continue to spill over into other sports, with intense competition in basketball, baseball, and other athletic events. The universities’ respective traditions—Texas A&M’s “12th Man” and Texas’ “Hook ‘em Horns”—will undoubtedly continue to play a role in shaping the rivalry’s character, while both schools’ alumni will once again find themselves embroiled in the passionate debates over which university is truly the best.

The Cultural and Academic Dimensions of the Rivalry

While the rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M will always be most prominent in football, it also carries significant cultural and academic weight. Texas and Texas A&M represent different aspects of Texas’ identity—Texas, with its focus on academic prestige, and A&M, with its emphasis on service, tradition, and agricultural innovation. These differences have always been part of what made the rivalry so compelling.

The rivalry also extends beyond athletics into academic realms. Both schools have produced some of the most talented and successful alumni in various fields, and the competition between them has led to significant advancements in research, innovation, and community involvement. This rivalry is more than just about who has the best football team; it’s about pride in representing Texas, its traditions, and its future.