Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed has already started swinging at the Longhorns, and the 2026 Lone Star Showdown hasn’t even kicked off yet.
Reed didn’t go with the usual rivalry small talk. No careful nod to Texas.
No polished talk about one week at a time. Instead, he went straight for the heat, taking a shot at Austin and making it clear he’s looking ahead to Texas’ trip to Kyle Field on Nov.
“I hate the color orange,” Reed told USA TODAY Sports’ Blake Toppmeyer.
That line is exactly the kind of thing Aggies will eat up and Longhorns will circle in red. It’s blunt, loud and tailor-made for a rivalry that already knows how to carry a grudge.
Reed added that the Longhorns “are gonna have to pay” when they come to College Station.
The swagger is easy to understand. Reed put together a strong 2025 season, finishing with 3,169 passing yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 62.1 percent of his throws. He also ran for 493 yards and six scores, giving him 3,662 total yards over 13 starts.
But Texas has had the upper hand when Reed has lined up against it. He is 0-2 versus the Longhorns, and in those games he averaged 163 passing yards with three interceptions and no touchdown passes.
The roughest stretch came at the end of Texas A&M’s 2025 season. The Aggies’ loss to Texas was followed by a 10-3 defeat to Miami in the College Football Playoff, closing an 11-2 campaign on a sour note. Reed threw four of his 12 interceptions in those final two games.
That’s the tension hanging over all this trash talk: the confidence is real, but so are the receipts.
For now, Texas A&M sits at No. 8 and has to take care of business before the rivalry date arrives. Texas, meanwhile, is expected to handle Texas State, though the Bobcats bring enough to keep things interesting early with a mobile quarterback, two 1,000-yard receivers and tempo that can create problems.
Still, the spotlight is already where rivalry fans want it. Reed has said his piece, Texas fans have their answer, and the stage for Nov. 27 is being set well in advance.
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