The annual in-state rivalry is finally back on the schedule.
After 13 years, the biggest in-state rivalry is back on the schedule, with the No. 3 Texas Longhorns traveling to College Station to take on the No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies. This matchup is so much more on the line than just bragging rights, with an appearance in the SEC Championship game on the line and positioning in the College Football Playoffs. The defenses are likely to be highlighted in this matchup, with both teams leaning on that side of the ball for success.
Can the Texas defenders keep Marcel Reed contained? Can the Texas A&M defense make an ailing Quinn Ewers uncomfortable on an injured ankle and affect the offense? The answers to those questions will determine who heads to Atlanta to take on the Georgia Bulldogs for the SEC title.
Run Ricky Run and Justin Tucker walking it off are the two moments that immediately stand out for me. Ricky Williams going beast mode in Austin is one of my earliest memories of this rivalry from my childhood, while the kick by Tucker has been etched into my memory since it happened over a decade ago.
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It was definitely a relief to see the run game become more prominent in last week compared to the games against Arkansas and Florida where they were seemingly eaten up in the backfield. Texas A&M doesn’t boast the same level of difficulty as Georgia or Arkansas neccessarily, but it will be yet another X-factor in allowing the rest of the offense to flourish.
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How to Watch
TV: ABC
Time: 6:30 p.m. Central
Radio: Texassports.com. Broadcasts are also available on Sirius 132, XM 199, and App Ch. 953
Online Streaming: WatchESPN
Odds: Texas -5.5, according to FanDuel
Weather: High of 60 degrees and sunny