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Texas, No. 13 Texas A&M Renew Rivalry in SEC Opener
A heated rivalry will reignite on Saturday afternoon when No. 13 Texas A&M hosts Texas in the teams’ Southeastern Conference opener in College Station. This matchup marks the first on-campus meeting since the Aggies departed the Big 12 Conference for the SEC in the 2011-12 season. The programs haven’t played since 2019, when they met at a neutral site in Fort Worth.
High Stakes for Both Teams
Both teams enter conference play with 11-2 records, but their paths to this point have differed. Texas A&M has faced eight opponents from power conferences, winning six of those matchups, while Texas has largely built its record against mid-major teams, aside from a neutral-site win over Syracuse.
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“Having a chance to have Texas and Texas A&M play again, it’s great for the state of Texas,” said Longhorns coach Rodney Terry.
Texas A&M’s Defensive and Rebounding Prowess
The Aggies are riding a seven-game winning streak, with their most recent victory a dominant 92-54 performance against Abilene Christian on Dec. 28. Wade Taylor IV led the way with 15 points and 10 assists, while C.J. Wilcher and Zhuric Phelps contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Aggies coach Buzz Williams credited his team’s nonconference slate with helping them grow.
“We have learned the maturity that is required,” Williams said. “Maturity is paramount. It has forced us to grow up.”
Texas A&M has built its success on defense and rebounding. The Aggies lead the nation in offensive rebounds, averaging 17.1 per game, and have held all 13 opponents below their season-long field goal percentage.
“We are locked in and focused on this game,” Taylor said, emphasizing the importance of the rivalry matchup.
Texas Bolstered by Depth and Defense
The Longhorns head into the SEC opener on a four-game winning streak, including a decisive 77-53 victory over Northwestern State on Sunday. Freshman Tre Johnson returned from a hip injury to lead Texas with 18 points in just 22 minutes. Jordan Pope added 11 points, while Arthur Kaluma grabbed 13 rebounds.
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Kadin Shedrick highlighted the importance of defense and rebounding in preparation for the Aggies.
“We know this is big-boy basketball,” Shedrick said. “We’ve got to raise our standard. We’ve got to be ready for that.”
Texas also welcomed back Jayson Kent, who missed the first 12 games of the season but contributed in the win over Northwestern State. Coach Rodney Terry noted the significance of having a full roster.
“That was the first real game all season long where we’ve had a full complement of guys,” Terry said.
The Rivalry Resumes
Texas A&M’s strong defense and rebounding will clash with Texas’ depth and firepower in a game that carries extra weight due to the rivalry. The Aggies and Longhorns will face each other again on Jan. 25 in Austin, adding another chapter to this storied matchup. For now, the focus is on Saturday, as both teams aim to make an early statement in SEC play.
