Listen up, college football world. Last season, both Texas and Texas A&M hit the 10-win mark, a feat that hasn’t happened for the eternal rivals in the same year since way back in 1975! Yeah, 1975! That’s not a typo, folks. We’re talking about a truly unique period for the Lone Star State’s two flagship schools, and it’s got everyone buzzing.
The Recruiting Juggernaut Is Real
The hype coming out of Austin and College Station isn’t just talk. We’re talking about a dominant offseason push here. For the 2027 recruiting class, the Aggies have snagged the No. 1 spot, while the Longhorns are right there at No. 4. Think about that: together, these two programs account for five of the nation’s 32 five-star recruits and a whopping 20 of the top 100 prospects! They’re not just fighting each other for talent, like the case of five-star Texas CB commit John Meredith, but they’re winning heavyweight battles against national powers from across the country. The Aggies are pulling top 40 recruits from Florida, Georgia, and Maryland. Texas’ top 100s stretch from California all the way to Illinois. This isn’t just a regional thing anymore; it’s a national takeover. And get this, Texas A&M reached the 2025 College Football Playoff, with Texas making appearances in the 2023 and 2024 iterations. Talk about setting the stage!
A&M’s Climb Back and a New Era for Both
It’s been a wild ride, especially for Texas A&M. After spending millions on a Kyle Field renovation, hiring a national championship-winning head coach, and even putting up a bold plaque foretelling Jimbo Fisher’s future national title, the Aggies never quite capitalized on Johnny Manziel’s magical 2012 run. They won 11 games that year, their first in the SEC, but they didn’t hit double-digit wins again until 2025. Fisher did get them close to the playoff in 2020 with a 9-1 record, and Kevin Sumlin never even had a losing season in College Station, but 10 wins felt out of reach.
Now? Things are different. Both programs have won at least 19 games over the last two seasons, which hasn’t happened back-to-back since 1994 and 1995! There’s never been a three-year period in recent college football history where both were national contenders at the same time. Heading into 2026 SEC Media Days, you can bet both Texas and Texas A&M will be ranked in the preseason top 10. They’re both led by star quarterbacks and stacked with potential top draft picks across their rosters. College football is a national sport in 2026, and these two are big enough, and rich enough, to both be sitting pretty at the top. This is shaping up to be absolutely must-watch football!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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