The Lone Star Showdown returned with all the intensity and history that has defined this fierce rivalry since the 1890s. In a game packed with playoff implications, No. 3 Texas emerged victorious with a 17-7 win over No. 20 Texas A&M in front of a record-breaking crowd of 109,028 at Kyle Field. The victory sends the Longhorns (11-1, 7-1 SEC, No. 3 CFP) to the SEC Championship Game, where they will face No. 6 Georgia in Atlanta next Saturday.
The stakes are massive: the winner not only claims the SEC title but also secures a first-round bye in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Texas wasted no time setting the tone, racing to a 17-0 halftime lead. Backup quarterback Arch Manning opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2, capping a 93-yard drive sparked by Michael Taaffe’s interception of Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman. After a video review confirmed Manning’s score, the Longhorns were off and running.
Quinn Ewers then connected with Jaydon Blue for a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Initially ruled incomplete, the call was overturned on review, pushing the lead to 14-0. Quintrevion Wisner’s career-high 186 rushing yards provided the backbone of Texas’ offense, and Bert Auburn’s 36-yard field goal just before halftime made it 17-0.
The Aggies’ defense refused to go quietly. Early in the third quarter, Texas A&M defensive lineman DJ Hicks tipped an Ewers pass, leading to a dramatic 93-yard interception return for a touchdown by Will Lee III. This play injected life into the Aggies and their raucous home crowd.
Moments later, Cashius Howell stripped Ewers, and Taurean York recovered the fumble deep in A&M territory. However, the Aggies failed to capitalize, punting after a three-and-out. A blocked Texas punt on the following drive gave A&M another golden opportunity in the red zone, but the Longhorns’ defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs.
The Longhorns’ defensive resilience defined the game. With 4:30 remaining, Ethan Burke delivered a critical stop on fourth-and-goal, dropping Amari Daniels for a 3-yard loss at the 1-yard line. It was one of three crucial fourth-down stops Texas made, effectively snuffing out any hope of an Aggies comeback.
Texas A&M (8-4, 5-3, No. 20 CFP) had its chances but could not break through against a stout Longhorns defense that held them scoreless outside of Lee’s pick-six.
The rivalry’s highly anticipated renewal drew an illustrious crowd, including Texas superfan Matthew McConaughey, former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, ex-Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The electric atmosphere only added to the game’s historic significance, as the Longhorns and Aggies faced off for the first time since 2011.
Ewers acknowledged the magnitude of the win in his postgame remarks: “This rivalry means everything to us and to our fans. To come into a hostile environment like this and get the win—it’s special.”
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian praised his team’s resilience, particularly the defense: “We made it harder than it needed to be in the second half, but our guys never wavered. We’re excited about the opportunity to play for an SEC championship.”
With their fifth consecutive victory, the Longhorns are peaking at the right time. They’ll need that momentum as they prepare for a rematch against Georgia, the only team to defeat them this season. The Bulldogs handed Texas a 30-15 loss in Austin earlier this year, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown in Atlanta.
For now, Texas can relish its triumphant return to the Lone Star Showdown—and its hard-earned place in the SEC title game.
