There’s something about a true college rivalry that cuts through all the noise. In an era where NIL deals and the transfer portal dominate headlines and reshape rosters overnight, rivalries still bring out the raw emotion and history that define college sports. And few rivalries carry the weight - and the heat - of the Lone Star Showdown.
This Saturday, Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMillan gets his first taste of it. The Aggies are heading to Austin to face Texas at the Moody Center, and while McMillan is still settling into his role in College Station, he’s already well aware of what this matchup means. This isn’t just another conference game - it’s a battle steeped in decades of passion, pride, and plenty of bad blood.
For A&M, the road in this rivalry has been a tough one. Since the late '80s, Texas has largely had the upper hand, especially when it comes to games played in Austin.
In fact, the Aggies haven’t walked out of the Longhorns’ home court with a win since 2001. That’s a 25-year drought on the line this weekend - and McMillan has a shot to end it.
Despite being new to the program, McMillan isn’t going into this one blind. He’s got two assistant coaches on staff who know this rivalry from both sides - guys who’ve coached at A&M and Texas. According to McMillan, they’re thrilled to be back in maroon and white.
“They’ve both been at A&M before and at that other place,” McMillan said with a grin. “They’re glad to be back in heaven over here. They love it here and they’re having a big impact on what we’re doing.”
The Aggies have been turning a corner lately. Over the past month, they’ve looked like a team starting to find its rhythm - crisper execution, better defensive focus, and a growing confidence that’s hard to fake. But they’re not the only ones trending up.
Texas is heating up at just the right time. The Longhorns are coming off back-to-back wins, including a statement victory over previously undefeated Vanderbilt and a gritty performance against a strong Alabama squad. That kind of momentum doesn’t just show up in the win column - it builds belief in the locker room and sends a message across the SEC.
And that’s what makes Saturday’s showdown so compelling. You’ve got two teams on the rise, a rivalry with deep roots, and a head coach looking to make his mark in his first crack at Texas. For McMillan, this is more than just a chance to notch a big win - it’s an opportunity to do something no A&M coach has done in over two decades.
The stage is set. The Moody Center will be rocking. And if history tells us anything, this rivalry doesn’t need hype - it brings its own.