The Lone Star Showdown is heating up, and Texas A&M has a score to settle. After falling to the Texas Longhorns twice since they joined the SEC—including a painful 17-7 home loss in 2024 and a 27-17 defeat on the road last season—the Aggies are hungry for redemption. This year's matchup has been ranked as one of the top-three "revenge games" of the 2026 college football season, and for good reason.
Coach Mike Elko's squad has yet to taste victory against their archrival in this new era, and that sting is still fresh. The 2024 loss in College Station, in particular, remains one of the most frustrating moments for Aggie fans, especially after the team entered that game with an impressive 11-0 record. Now, with a full year to stew, Texas A&M is looking to flip the script.
The stakes couldn't be higher. While postseason implications aren't guaranteed, the Longhorns are expected to enter the 2026 season ranked in the top three, while the Aggies are projected as a top-10 team. That makes this third edition of the renewed rivalry a must-watch clash of titans.
Both teams have reloaded for the challenge. Texas A&M saw a record 10 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the Aggies have restocked through the transfer portal. Meanwhile, the Longhorns have added their own firepower, including star Auburn transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman. He's expected to become quarterback Arch Manning's go-to target after Texas dealt with too many dropped passes in 2025.
On the Aggies' side, all eyes are on redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed. He threw for a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, but also tossed 12 interceptions—including four combined picks against Texas and Miami in the College Football Playoff. Under new QB coach Joey Lynch, Reed is focused on fixing his footwork, ball placement, and decision-making to build on last year's success through the air.
But the key to victory might lie on the ground. If Texas A&M's running game can't find consistency late in the season, the offense could become one-dimensional, forcing Reed into tight-window throws and costly mistakes. After beating every other SEC opponent except the Longhorns last year, the Aggies know what's at stake. Revenge, they say, is a dish best served cold—and in College Station this season, it's about to be served.