Wake up the ghosts! Texas, Texas A&M rivalry that dates to 1894 is reborn

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Any Texas or Texas A&M player has heard the lore of the rivalry between the two schools, a grudge match that dates to 1894.

But for more than a decade — two generations of college football players — that’s all it has been: Ghostly memories of great games and great plays made by heroes of the distant past.

That changes this week when one of college football’s great rivalries is reborn. Third-ranked Texas (10-1, 6-1) and No. 20 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2) meet Saturday night for the first time since 2011, with a berth in the Southeastern Conference championship game on the line.

“Guys that have been in my position and bleed burnt orange, they have not gotten to play this game,” said Texas fourth-year junior safety Michael Taaffe, who grew up in Austin. “Remember them when you step on Kyle Field.”

For Aggies fans, who have carried the misery of Texas’ 27-25 win in 2011, getting the Longhorns back in front of a frenzied crowd in College Station is a chance for some serious payback.

“I was born and raised an Aggie, so I’ve been dreaming about playing in this game my whole life,” Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III said.

Zuhn played high school football in Colorado, but his parents and grandparents attended A&M. At SEC media days back in August, Zuhn said his family would turn Texas gear upside down in stores. He keeps a picture of a longhorn in his room, hanging upside down, of course.

“It should be the most amazing atmosphere that I’ve ever experienced,” Zuhn said. “I can’t wait for that, and I feel bad for Texas having to play in that.”

Texas players said they are ready.

“That place is going to be rocking,” Texas senior cornerback Jahdae Barron said. “It’s good to go on the road and play in hostile environments.”

The Longhorns have overcome big and loud road crowds before. They won at Alabama in 2023. They won at Michigan and Arkansas, another old rival, this year. The Longhorns have won 10 in a row on an opponent’s home field.

“When the hate is on us, we love it. We enjoy it,” Taaffe said.

But some former Texas players say the current group has faced nothing like what awaits them in College Station.

Playing at Texas A&M is more than just noise and a lot of “Horns down” hand signals. The “Aggie War Hymn” fight song calls for Aggies to “Saw varsity’s horns off.”

Beating Texas is their passion, said former Longhorns All-American offensive lineman Dan Neil, who won at Texas A&M in in 1995. He calls that win one of the best of his career.

“I was done showering and getting ready to leave, and their fans were still standing outside the locker room screaming and throwing things,” he said. “The (Texas) players have no idea what they are walking into. They have no clue. No one on that team has walked into that stadium in burnt orange.”

The rivalry broke up when Texas A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012. The Aggies have twice finished tied for second but have otherwise found little success there.

Texas is in its first year in the SEC and has smashed its way to the top. Texas is the only SEC team with one loss this late in the season, which would make beating Texas that much sweeter for A&M.

“The hype is definitely saying it’s a rivalry. History says it’s a rivalry, but for us, it’s the football game we have this week,” Texas senior center Jake Majors said. “It’s important for us to not let the environment, the game, get the best of us. … I get to go out there and play not only for me and my team, but for the guys who came before me, so that’s a true honor to have.”

Even though the game hasn’t been played since 2011, there has always been an element of the rivalry simmering under the surface, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said.

Elko is in his first year as the Aggies’ coach, but he was the Texas A&M defensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher from 2018-2021.

“Even though it hasn’t been played, it just doesn’t feel like it’s ever really left the fabric. I really don’t think it’s as removed from the psyche as maybe it feels,” Elko said. “I think our kids are very much aware of what this is all about.”

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Rieken reported from College Station, Texas.

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