David Gbenda is one of the oldest players on the Texas roster, being the lone member of the 2019 recruiting class remaining on the 40 Acres. The last time Texas played Texas A&M, he was likely in the fifth grade. Guys in the incoming 2024 class were wrapping up their first semester in Kindergarten.
It’s been a while since the Longhorns and Aggies have met on the football field but thankfully, the rivalry will return on Nov. 30 in College Station. A rivalry not too many on the roster may be too familiar with, especially if they are not from the Lone Star State.
No worries, though, says Steve Sarkisian. He will have his guys ready to go, even if the rivalry has been dormant for 13 years.
“It’s not hard at all,” Sarkisian said at the Houston Touchdown Club when asked if it will be difficult to prepare his team. “We’ll be ready.”
Some would argue conference realignment has negatives. One of those is rivalries being taken away, best examples being Bedlam between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State or what’s happening with the destruction of the Pac-12.
Sarkisian has the opposite view, with some big-time games returning to college football. Texas-Texas A&M is certainly one of them and should become a staple matchup in the SEC.
“People are excited about rivalries getting renewed,” Sarkisian said. “Everyone is worried about conference realignment and losing rivalries. Well, there are some good ones getting renewed too.”
Texas has a new, shiny SEC schedule in front of them with some massive games. Oklahoma in Dallas is an important one, while the likes of Florida and Georgia are coming to Austin. Another rivalry will be renewed when the Horns travel to Fayetteville to play Arkansas on Nov. 16.
Even a nonconference game against Michigan early in the season is going to bring a lot of eyeballs and discussions.
But arguably none will be more important than the Texas A&M game, at least to the fanbases. Tension has been brewing for over a decade and all emotions will be let out at Kyle Field. Getting the first win will be important for the direction of both programs.
Sarkisian has a few months to prepare and potentially teach his team about the rivalry. He’s quite confident they will be ready to roll though, hoping for a similar result from when the schools said goodbye to each other in 2011.
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