SOUTHERN RIVALRIES
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
For some reason, Arkansas always gives A&M quite an exciting game yet is never able to come out on top. Since joining the SEC in 2012, the Razorbacks are the only division opponent the Aggies are undefeated against. A&M and Arkansas play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and are scheduled to compete through 2024, meaning that’s where the Farmers will meet the Hogs for each of your four years in Aggieland. Even though Jerry Jones once played for the Razorbacks, it is evident that even he isn’t able to buy a win for his alma mater in his castle.
The Aggies and Tigers have been long-standing rivals, especially in football. Unfortunately, it has been 22 years since the maroon and white were victorious against the purple and gold on the gridiron. The thing that makes LSU so good is the simplicity of its game — they play old-school football. For all you beginners, this is what is called smash-mouth football, a style that has been used for decades, especially amongst SEC teams. While schools have trended away from these schemes in recent years, the Tigers have stayed true to old ways, and for the most part, they work — especially against A&M. Maybe, just maybe, things will change in your time at A&M, but don’t tell your parents about your post-game celebration down in New Orleans after making the road trip to Baton Rouge.
Fact: A&M does not play Texas in football anymore. Also fact: Texas is still a rival (kinda). The Aggies and Longhorns squared off during the Thanksgiving holiday for 96 straight years before the two parted ways after the Aggies left for the SEC (which was partially Texas’ fault, by the way). A&M and Texas still compare themselves to one another, but when you get to the nitty gritty, it’s clear who has by far been the better football team in the past five years — Texas A&M, the first public institution of higher education established in the state of Texas. The ‘Sips have struggled through three consecutive losing seasons, and even lost to Kansas last year — which had lost 19 straight conference games before that. There are constant rumors on both sides that A&M and Texas may one day play again, but don’t get your hopes up, because it’s not happening in the next four years.
Alabama: The royalty of college football. Its King – Nick Saban. Yes, the Tide lost to Clemson in last year’s national championship in the final moments, but Alabama is still the team every program is striving to be. The Tide has won four of the last seven national titles and has been in the national championship game in six of the last seven seasons. With consistent winning though, comes spiteful opponents, and Alabama has a track record of spoiling fantastic season starts for A&M. Since Johnny Manziel led A&M to its monumental win in Tuscaloosa back in 2012 — which propelled him to the forefront of the Heisman race — the Tide has taken the last four meetings with the Aggies. Maybe A&M will turn the ways of old soon, however. I mean, no king can rule forever, right?
By Alex Miller
Graphics by Jacob Martindale— THE BATTALION