For the first time in 13 years, the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry was back on the college football menu for Thanksgiving weekend 2024.
The No. 3 Longhorns (11-1, 7-1 SEC) took on the No. 19 Aggies (8-4, 5-3) in what was a de facto SEC championship semifinal game. In the first matchup between Texas-Texas A&M since 2011, it was Texas who emerged victorious, not only downing the Aggies 17-7, but also advancing to the SEC championship game to take on Georgia in a regular-season rematch.
Texas now leads the all-time series 77-37-5.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who was replaced on a situational basis by Arch Manning on Saturday, had a solid outing in his first Lone Star Showdown: 17 of 28 passing for 218 yards and one touchdown to one interception (a pick-6). Manning didn’t attempt a pass in the win, but ran three times for a net gain of 14 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown run to open the scoring a 7-0.
Conversely, Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed showed flashes of big-play ability, but couldn’t consistently put plays together on Aggies drives. Indeed, Texas A&M finished without a score on the day as Reed completed 16 of 23 passes for 146 yards and an interception. He also rushed 14 times for 60 yards, but also fumbled twice, losing one.
The Aggies will likely kick themselves for their wasted scoring opportunities, twice driving inside the Texas 10-yard line and getting stuffed by the Longhorns defense for turnovers on downs.
Follow along here for score updates, highlights and more from the return of the infamous Texas-Texas A&M football matchup:
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed is hit from behind by Trey Moore, fumbling the ball. The Longhorns recover the ball, and offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties from both teams give Texas the ball in its own territory. Texas is going to leave Kyle Field with a win after a 13-year hiatus.
Of note, Texas fans in attendance are chanting “S-E-C” toward the home contingent, as the Longhorns will compete for the conference championship in their first year in the SEC.
Texas A&M forces a fourth down and a punt from Texas after Quintrevion Wisner is stuffed on a third-and-3 from the Texas 25. The Aggies will get the ball back following the 2-minute timeout, facing a 17-7 deficit.
The Longhorns allow the Aggies to get inside the 1-yard with a chance to cut the lead to three points. However, Texas forces a goal-line stand on a fourth-and-inches from the 1-yard line. The Longhorns begin their drive at their own 4-yard line with 4:36 left and a chance to put this game away.
The Aggies get nothing from starting from the 19-yard line after the blocked punt.
Jahdae Walker plays hero on special teams by blocking a punt from Texas to start its possession at the Texas 19-yard line. The Longhorns trail 17-7 with less than eight minutes remaining.
Despite getting the ball into Texas territory, Texas A&M decides to punt it from the Texas 47-yard line on a fourth-and-13 and gives it back to the Longhorns. The punt goes out of the end zone and results in a touchback. The Aggies net only 20 yards.
Texas appeared to be ready to pull ahead by three scores again near the end of the third quarter, but on a second-down scramble inside the red zone, quarterback Quinn Ewers is stripped of the ball by Cashius Howell, and the Aggies recovers. Texas A&M continues to stay alive.
The Aggies enter the final quarter trailing 17-7 but have the ball on their own 25-yard line with a chance to cut the lead to one score.
Texas A&M finally gets on the board, not on offense, but with a defensive score. Ewers faces pressure from linebacker Taurean York and throws an errant pass on third-and-4 from the Texas A&M 7. Will Lee III makes him pay for it with an easy 93-yard pick-6. The Aggies cut into Texas’ lead, 17-7.
As has been a recurring theme this game, Arch Manning comes in for Quinn Ewers on what appears to be a situational basis. He faces first-and-15 from the Texas A&M 18-yard line and is tackled for a loss. Ewers comes in a play later.
The Longhorns have the ball back to start the third quarter, but can’t advance past the Aggies’ 40-yard line. The punt goes into the end zone for a touchback, and now it’s the Aggies’ turn.
Texas can’t tack on a last-second field goal to make it 20-0 before halftime, as Bert Auburn’s 48-yard field goal was wide, wide right. The Longhorns still have a commanding 17-0 lead heading into halftime and will be on offense first out of the half.
Texas A&M, in desperate need of a score before halftime, attempt to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Texas 43-yard line. Marcel Reed only gets 1 yard on the scramble, to the Texas 42, before he was taken down awkwardly. He walked off gingerly, giving Texas the ball with decent field position and three timeouts remaining.
The Longhorns, facing fourth-and-3 from the Texas A&M 5-yard line, try to get the Aggies to jump offsides. After Texas A&M refuses to bite, Steve Sarkisian takes the delay of game and marches out kicker Bert Auburn for a 28-yard field goal to make it 17-0. Texas A&M is down three scores with little time remaining to mount a scoring drive before halftime.
Aggies defender Will Lee III has gotten into it twice on this Texas drive, first on the Longhorns’ sideline and then in the back of the Texas A&M end zone with a Texas receiver. No flags thrown yet, but perhaps he doesn’t want to test how long that can last.
Texas safety Andrew Mukuba was called for targeting Jabre Barber on a third-down play for Texas A&M, but the call was overturned following review. That makes it fourth-and-3 Aggies from the 31-yard line, and the home team will punt once again.
Texas extends its lead to 14-0 with 8:19 left in the second quarter on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to Jaydon Blue for a touchdown pass. The call is initially ruled incomplete but overturned to a touchdown upon further review. 
It was a perfect throw from Ewers to the back of the end zone and Blue did a great job getting one foot in bounds for the catch and score.
The scoring drive is eight plays for 80 yards and takes 4:18 off the clock.
Vernon Broughton is a one-man wrecking crew to force another Texas A&M punt. He forced an incompletion pass on first down and then sacked Marcel Reed on second down to force a third-and-17, which the Aggies could not convert. Texas begins on its own 20 following a touchback on a punt.
Texas strikes first on a 15-yard touchdown by Arch Manning and holds a 7-0 lead after the first quarter. The Aggies moved the ball well in the first quarter but needed to put themselves in a position to score. Texas A&M has the ball on its 48-yard line to start the second quarter.
The Longhorns strike first on a 15-yard touchdown run by Arch Manning on a fourth-and-2 scramble. Manning came in for Quinn Ewers, who has an ankle injury. Ewers had a 26-yard run on the drive, despite a gimpy ankle.
The scoring drive is 10 plays for 93 yards and takes 4:13 off the clock.
Texas A&M cannot make good on the short field, as Texas’ Michael Taaffe intercepts quarterback Marcel Reed at the Texas 7-yard line. The Longhorns begin their second drive backed up again.
The Aggies respond by forcing two misfires from Quinn Ewers, forcing a three-and-out for the Longhorns. Texas A&M takes over at midfield following a 37-yard punt and fair catch.
Texas A&M got deep into the red zone on its first drive, but Jermayne Lole makes a fourth-and-1 stop on a run by Amari Daniels to force a turnover on down. The Longhorns begin on their own 10-yard line. Quinn Ewers, who was listed as probable, will start for Texas.
The Texas-Texas A&M football matchup is underway, with a spot in the SEC championship game on the line. The Longhorns won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Aggies will start with the ball in the first half.
Famous Texas alum and actor Matthew McConaughey has arrived at Kyle Field for the matchup between Texas and Texas A&M. McConaughey is the “Minister of Culture” at UT.
Texas A&M specialists have taken the field against Texas:
On ESPN’s “College GameDay” this morning, three out of the five analysts pick Texas A&M to prevail at home over rival Texas. It would mark the Aggies’ first win over the Longhorns since 2010.
Texas vs. Texas A&M will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the game from the booth at Kyle Field, with Holly Rowe reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, the ESPN app and ESPN+.
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Texas 28, Texas A&M 20 
“The emotions tell one story, but the film says another. The Aggie defense just has too many holes to hold up against a potent Texas attack and will need to win big in the turnover battle or on special teams in order to spring an upset.“
Cedric Golden, Austin American-Statesman: Texas 31, Texas A&M 24
“The offensive line should be on high alert for this one. If the big boys up front protect Quinn Ewers, he will be able to make plays against this A&M secondary. The Longhorn defense is elite and it will keep quarterback Marcel Reed contained just enough to get the win.“
David Eckert, Austin American-Statesman: Texas A&M 24, Texas 21
“The Texas offense has been hit-and-miss this season, and the mobility of its quarterback, Quinn Ewers, is now in question after he suffered an ankle injury against Kentucky. The Aggies are the first team Texas has played in more than a month that won’t be completely overwhelmed by the Longhorns’ athleticism.“
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
Injury updates from mandatory SEC availability reports:
Texas:
Texas A&M:
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