Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies Lone Star Showdown Preview: Keys to Victory

The Texas Longhorns will have a tall task ahead of them in College Station this Saturday.

Nov 23, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) passes against Kentucky Wildcats linebacker J.J. Weaver (13) during the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Few rivalries in the college football world have two teams circling the exact same date, no matter how far away it is. Michigan vs Ohio State, Auburn vs Alabama and Army Navy are all a few that come to mind when you think of pure hatred in rivalry. Even with a long-standing Red River Rivalry already having passed, it's hard to expect any game will feature more hatred than this year's Lone Star Showdown, when the Texas Longhorns head east to face Texas A&M in College Station.

The two teams haven't touched the same gridiron since Justin Tucker sent an answered prayer through the uprights in Kyle Field, solidifying Texas as the kings of the rivalry for 13 years. On October 30, 2024, that monarchy may be broken.

The 13 years for both teams have been filled with rocky and odd years in the Big 12 and SEC, respectively. While Apple released 19 phones between the last Lone Star Showdown, Texas and Texas A&M have gone through eight head coaches and five losing seasons, most at the hands of the Longhorns. Texas A&M enters the 2024 matchup with the most change, having brought on Mike Elko to become the 30th head coach in the history of the school.

No longer are the days of Sherman or Franchione versus Brown; Elko will face off against Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, an offensive guru and seemingly the face of Texas football for as long as he wants to be.

Meanwhile, Elko is also looking to make a statement in his first season at the helm in College Station.

And he can do just that if he beats the Longhorns at Saturday and punches his team's ticket to Atlanta for the SEC Championship.

So can the Longhorns withstand the pressure and atmosphere in College Station?

Let's examine three things they need to do to come out of Aggieland with a win:

HANDLE THE ENVIRONMENT

Suffice it to say, Aggieland is going to be rocking on Saturday night. There has not been a more anticipated game in the sport of college football this season. Not just because of the hate between the two fan bases, but also because since the midway point of the season, the Longhorns and Aggies have been a collision course to decide which program gets to make it to Atlanta. Not to mention, the College Football Playoff is on the line.

With that in mind, you better believe Kyle Field will be as loud as it has ever been in this one.

If the Longhorns can weather the early storm, and keep the crowd from being an overwhelming factor, they should be able to find some offensive success. The defense might be the ones that need to make that happen, but one way or another, they have to find a way to quiet the 12th Man.

PROTECT QUINN EWERS

Quinn Ewers is the engine that makes the Longhorns offense go. When he is at his best, as are the Longhorns. And when he is not, the team does not look like itself.

The Aggies are well aware of this, and they will be well aware of his ankle injury by now. In other words, they will be doing everything they can to get after Ewers in the pocket and get him off of his spots.

If the Longhorns can protect Ewers and make sure that he has time to go through his progressions, he is fully capable of having his way with this Aggie defense. That will be a big IF, however, with the Aggies having one of the best defensive lines in the nation.

RUN THE FOOTBALL

One great way the Longhorns could help keep Ewers upright is by having a consistent running game. It is something they have struggled with at times this season, but showed the propensity for last week vs. Kentucky.

The Aggies can be run on as well, and the Horns have one of the most physical offensive lines in the nation. It is also arguably the best line the Aggies front has seen this season.

If they can win that battle and keep the run game consistent, the offense should be able to control the game.

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