Why did UT stop playing A&M?

University of Texas (UT) stopped playing Texas A&M annually in football primarily because A&M moved from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2012, ending their long-standing conference rivalry, though the series faced intermittent breaks before that due to rowdy games and conference shifts, with both schools expressing interest in renewing it as they are now in the same conference (SEC).

Why did A&M and UT stop playing each other?

Texas and Texas A&M stopped playing football annually after Texas A&M left the Big 12 Conference to join the SEC in 2012, ending their historic rivalry due to conference realignment and lingering resentment, though the series officially resumed in 2024 with Texas also joining the SEC, bringing the "Lone Star Showdown" back to the schedule.
 

Why is UT playing A&M again?

Resumption of the rivalry

In 2024, Texas left the Big 12 Conference to join the Southeastern Conference, which meant the rivalry would resume as a conference game. Texas traveled to Texas A&M during the 2024 season to play the first game between the two teams in 13 years, winning the game 17-7.

Why did UT not make the playoffs?

The Longhorns also lost at Georgia by 25 points in Week 12. The biggest stain for Texas was the Week 6 loss at Florida, a team that finished 4-8. Given the losses and uninspiring wins against struggling SEC teams in Mississippi State and Kentucky, and it was hard to justify putting Texas in over other teams.

Why did Texas A&M go to the SEC?

In A&M's previous conferences, the opportunity to watch other sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and women's basketball were scarce. Any matchup involving those programs being televised was a rarity. With the SEC Network, Aggies across the world can watch the action on a variety of platforms.

Texas and Texas A&M beefed but only once they stopped playing each other

Why did Colorado go back to the Big 12?

In a joint statement, CU Athletic Director Rick George and then-chancellor Phil DiStefano said the move "would give CU Boulder the stability, resources, and exposure necessary for long-term future success in a college athletics environment that is constantly evolving …

Did Texas A&M get fined for faking an injury?

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) fined Texas A&M $50,000 in October 2025 for faking an injury during a game against Arkansas, marking the first time the conference enforced its new rule against the practice. Cornerback Tyreek Chappell went down with a supposed leg injury after play stopped, guided by sideline signals from a staff member, to avoid a penalty. This resulted in a timeout penalty for the Aggies and a reprimand for coach Mike Elko, with escalating fines and potential suspensions for repeat offenses.
 

Why is Texas A&M eliminated from the SEC Championship?

16 Texas vanquished the third-ranked Aggies yet again on Friday, its previously dormant offense shaking free of a 10-3 halftime deficit to run away with a 27-17 upset. In doing so, the Longhorns knocked the SEC's season-long first-place team out of the SEC championship.

Does Notre Dame get $14 million CFP payout as an independent?

Yes, Notre Dame secured a significant $14 million payout from the College Football Playoff (CFP) as an independent for reaching the semifinals, keeping the entire amount because they don't share with a conference like Big Ten or SEC teams do, making their individual payout much larger than their conference-aligned peers. This windfall highlights the financial benefits of Notre Dame's unique independent status in college football, allowing them to retain substantial earnings from their postseason success. 

How much money did A&M make off of Johnny Manziel?

Johnny Manziel didn't receive a salary at Texas A&M, but he admitted to making around $33,000 in 2013 by selling autographs for signing sessions after his Heisman win, violating NCAA rules and leading to a suspension, though he maintained he never took money before winning the trophy. While Manziel profited personally from NIL activities, his stardom generated massive revenue for Texas A&M through donations, jersey sales, and media exposure, estimated in the millions. 

Who is Texas A&M biggest rival?

Texas A&M's biggest and most historic rival is the University of Texas (UT), a fierce in-state rivalry known as the "Lone Star Showdown," which was paused for years but has recently resumed with UT joining the SEC, creating intense anticipation for its return to annual play. Other significant rivals in the SEC include LSU, due to geographic proximity and heightened competition, and sometimes Alabama, though UT remains the primary, deeply rooted antagonist. 

Why is Texas called T-Sips?

A student of Texas A&M's archrival, The University of Texas at Austin. The term is intended to be derogatory (the origin being that while Aggies were off fighting wars, students of UT Austin were "sipping tea" at home).

What is the #1 ranked college in Texas?

There isn't one single "number 1" college in Texas, as rankings vary by source, but Rice University and Texas A&M University consistently rank at the top, with Rice often leading overall and Texas A&M often topping public university lists, alongside other strong contenders like UT Austin. Rice is frequently cited as the best overall, while Texas A&M is recognized as the top public university by publications like The Wall Street Journal. 

What did Mike Elko say at halftime?

At halftime against South Carolina, Mike Elko told his Texas A&M team they weren't playing to their identity as a physical, blue-collar team that controls the line of scrimmage, emphasizing they needed to play with more energy and stick to their core principles to win, not much beyond that, because the team already believed they could win, according to this Instagram post and this YouTube video. He downplayed any legendary speech, attributing the second-half turnaround to the culture and hard work built in the offseason, not just a halftime talk. 

What is the controversy with Texas A&M?

The primary recent Texas A&M controversy centers on the firing of a professor, Melissa McCoul, after a student secretly recorded her discussing gender identity in a children's literature class, leading to conservative backlash, the president's resignation, and a new System-wide policy requiring presidential approval for teaching certain race/gender topics, sparking debate over academic freedom. A faculty panel later found the firing unjustified, but the university system implemented stricter rules on discussing "race or gender ideology" in classrooms, causing concern among faculty about First Amendment rights. 

What is the smallest SEC school?

The smallest school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) by student population is Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, consistently showing the lowest enrollment figures among conference members, often around 13,000-14,000 total students. Its small size and selectivity make it unique within the large, public university-dominated SEC. 

Why did Jim Schlossnagle leave A&M?

Jim Schlossnagle left Texas A&M for the University of Texas primarily due to his strong, long-standing relationship with Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte (who was his boss at TCU), a desire to work with him again, combined with growing frustrations over Texas A&M's financial instability, a slow-moving ballpark project, and a perceived leadership vacuum after A&M's AD change, ultimately feeling he couldn't pass up the reuniting opportunity at a well-resourced program.
 

Why can't you walk on the grass at Texas A&M?

As a sign of respect to fallen Aggies, people are asked to not walk on the grass outside the MSC or wear hats inside the building.

What kind of injury did Jordan Travis have?

Jordan Travis suffered a severe fractured and dislocated left ankle during his final college game for Florida State in November 2023, which ultimately led to his decision to retire from football in April 2025, despite extensive rehab efforts with the New York Jets. The injury, sustained from a hip-drop tackle, never fully healed to his satisfaction, prompting his medical retirement after attempting to return from the severe lower leg injury that broke his ankle into pieces.
 

Did Michigan lose a commitment from 4 star quarterback Brady Hart to Texas A&M?

Yes, four-star quarterback Brady Hart decommitted from Michigan and flipped his commitment to Texas A&M in late November 2024, reclassifying from the 2026 class to the 2025 class to enroll early with the Aggies, a move influenced partly by Michigan's recruitment of top-ranked QB Bryce Underwood. Hart, a highly-rated QB from Cocoa High School in Florida, felt prepared for the early jump to college football under Aggies coach Mike Elko.
 

Why is Colorado becoming so liberal?

Colorado shifted left due to the urbanization and growing suburbs, attracting diverse populations, including many from progressive states like California, and fostering more liberal urban/suburban voting blocs. This growth in cities (Denver, Boulder) and their surrounding areas (Denver Metro, Front Range) contrasted with more conservative rural areas, with new residents and younger demographics often bringing more progressive viewpoints, influencing state-wide elections and policies over recent decades. 

Why did everyone leave the Pac-12?

Most teams left the Pac-12 due to a combination of a disastrous media rights deal (or lack thereof), poor financial performance compared to other conferences (especially the Big Ten and Big 12), and strategic mismanagement by previous leadership, leading USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, and others to seek more lucrative homes in the Big Ten and Big 12 for greater revenue and exposure. 

Why did Missouri go to the SEC?

The move was meant to secure Mizzou's athletic financial future, and it did to a degree. In fiscal year 2023, the SEC distributed a total of over $800 million to its 16 members. The Big 12, for reference, only distributed $470 million to its 16 members. Mizzou received $52.5 million, according to the SEC website.