For the first time in over two decades, Texas A&M walked into Austin and walked out with a win - and they didn’t just squeak by. They took control of the Lone Star Showdown and never really let go. Bucky McMillan’s Aggies played with purpose, poise, and a whole lot of grit, taking down Texas 74-70 and bringing the Lone Star Showdown Trophy back to Bryan-College Station.
This wasn’t a fluke. From the opening tip, A&M set the tone - physically, emotionally, and tactically.
Outside of a couple of short-lived Texas runs, the Aggies dictated the pace and played the game on their terms. It was a signature win, not just because of the rivalry, but because of how it was earned: with toughness, depth, and a team-first mentality that’s quickly becoming the identity of McMillan’s squad.
All season long, McMillan has been clear about who this team is - and who it isn’t. This isn’t a roster stacked with five-star talent or future lottery picks.
But it is a group that’s bought in, plays hard, and is learning how to win together. That’s the blueprint he’s been preaching since day one.
“You got to have a team. You can’t just have talent,” McMillan said.
“You got to have a team. And it’s been a joy coaching this group.”
And that joy is starting to show up in the results. What we’re seeing now is a team that’s gaining confidence in a system that demands more than just raw ability.
McMillan’s offense isn’t about memorizing plays - it’s about making reads, trusting teammates, and reacting in real time. Think of it like running the option in football: it’s all about timing, chemistry, and repetition.
The more this group plays together, the sharper they look.
“We were dialed in, and we only keep getting better,” McMillan said. “The offense that we run is not a set offense.
It’s not scripted - the ball goes here, everyone does this. It’s a read-based offense, right?
It’d be like running the option in football. And you only get better as the season goes.”
That’s exactly what’s happening. A&M was projected to finish in the bottom half of the SEC, but they’re starting to look like a team no one wants to face come March. They’re ahead of schedule, and this win over Texas might be the most meaningful of the McMillan era so far - not just because of the rivalry, but because of what it says about where this team is headed.
Next up, the Aggies return home to Reed Arena to take on Mississippi State on Wednesday, January 21, at 8 p.m. CT. That one airs on the SEC Network - and if A&M keeps trending upward, it won’t be the last nationally televised game they earn this season.