With Likely Return of Texas-Texas A&M in 2024, Here's A Look Back At Instant Classic In Last 'Lone Star Showdown'
Reports emerged that the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies will renew the Lone Star Showdown in 2024 ahead of the Southeastern Conference's schedule reveal Wednesday at 6 p.m. Central Standard Time.
The Aggies have long been awaiting the return of the rivalry that dates back to 1894 after they made the move to the SEC in 2012. Since 2011, Texas, which remained in the Big 12, and Texas A&M have not played.
So, let's take a look back at that 2011 classic shall we?
Texas had started the year unranked, rising to No. 11 in the AP Top 25 Poll after four-consecutive victories to begin the year. The Longhorns went 2-4 across the next six weeks with three losses coming against ranked opponents, dropping them to the No. 25 spot for their penultimate regular season matchup against Texas A&M.
The Aggies had a much different road to the Lone Star Showdown. They had high expectations ahead of former quarterback Ryan Tannehill's senior season, starting the year ranked No. 8.
After back-to-back dominate nonconference wins against SMU and Idaho, Texas A&M lost two-straight games to Oklahoma State and Arkansas, respectively. It then split the next six games with three-consecutive wins against Texas Tech, Baylor and Iowa State, while losing the next three against Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas State.
Four of Texas A&M's five losses heading into its regular season finale against Texas were by less than one score. The Aggies were unranked at 6-5 after 11 weeks.
Which brings us to the week 13 showdown. It was Nov. 24, 2011, at Kyle Field — the same alleged location of the 2024 matchup.
The Aggies raced out to a 13-0 lead on a touchdown pass from Tannehill to former running back Ben Malena, as former kicker Randy Bullock added a pair of 49- and 52-yard field goals.
Former Texas head coach Mack Brown pulled out a little trickery midway through the second quarter, as wide receiver Jaxson Shipley chucked a 41-yard touchdown pass to Blaine Irby to get the Longhorns on the board, as they trailed 16-7 at halftime.
The third quarter was all Horns, scoring 17 unanswered points. Former cornerback Carrington Byndom intercepted Tannehill and returned it 58 yards to the house, as a field goal and 1-yard Cody Johnson plunge gave Texas a 24-16 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Bullock's fourth field goal trimmed the game to a five-point deficit. After a Texas punt, Tannehill drove the Aggies 68 yards in eight plays, completing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Fuller to take a 25-24 lead after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
Brown had a message for former quarterback Case McCoy, the younger brother of Longhorns legend Colt McCoy, before their final drive.
"I told him, 'Here's where you become the guy, and here's where you take us down and win the game,'" Brown said after the game. "'Every quarterback has to have a signature moment and this is going to be yours.'"
With 1:48 to go and down by one point, McCoy completed 4-of-5 passes to begin the drive. The sixth play, McCoy scampered 25 yards to the Texas A&M 23-yard line.
After a pair of rushes for no gain and subsequent timeouts, out trots arguably the greatest kicker in history, Justin Tucker.
Texas A&M's icing attempt was unsuccessful as Tucker drilled the 40-yard kick through the uprights, silencing what was a deafening crowd at Kyle Field in the Aggies' final conference game in the Big 12 and giving Texas the 27-25 last-second victory.
You can follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419
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