Texas A&M is dusting off one of its most meaningful game-day traditions for Saturday’s matchup with Arizona State, and this time the tribute carries two major markers: the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and America’s 250th birthday.
When the Aggies take the field at Kyle Field on Sep. 12, the stadium will be dressed in red, white and blue. The display is meant to honor those who died 25 years ago and to mark the nation’s 250th birthday, turning a high-stakes out-of-conference game into something much bigger than football.
The matchup itself has plenty of weight. Texas A&M is coming off a season-opening win over Missouri State and now faces Arizona State in a game the two schools have not played in more than 10 years. A win for either side could end up looking like a signature result when the College Football Playoff picture is sorted out later.
For Texas A&M, though, the tribute is rooted in something deeper than the opponent across the field. The school’s military ties and the presence of the Corps of Cadets have long made patriotism a visible part of life in College Station. Since 1876, the Aggies have been connected to the nation’s military force, and the campus has produced multiple Medal of Honor recipients and other armed forces personnel.
That history is part of why the 9/11 response at Texas A&M became so powerful. In 2001, after the attacks, a small group of students quickly organized a “Standing for America” T-shirt fundraiser for the Sep. 22 game against Oklahoma State. The effort turned Kyle Field into a red, white and blue statement and brought in more than 180,000 dollars in relief funds for New York police and fire departments, fueled by the sale of 70,000 shirts in 10 days.
The school brought the tradition back in 2021 for the 20th anniversary of the attacks, with proceeds again going toward honoring the victims.
Now, in 2026, Texas A&M is doing it once more. This year’s fundraising effort will support the school’s Hall of Honor inside the Memorial Student Center, which recognizes Aggies who have received the nation’s highest military honors, including Medal of Honor recipients.
In Other News...
Rangers Face Big September Decisions On Three Young Roster Hopefuls
With the Rangers out of playoff contention, September has shifted into a tryout month, and the front office is already using it to size up pieces that could matter beyond this season. Evan Carter remains one of the organizations most intriguing young talents, but his issues against left-handed pitching have kept the evaluation going, while David Freeman is working his way back from injuries and trying to show he can fit into a utility mix.
Grayson Rocker adds another layer to the roster puzzle, since his work as a starter has been uneven enough to leave the club considering a different path for him. None of these decisions have to be rushed into a final answer right now, but they all feed into a bigger September question for Texas: which young players are worth carrying forward as the Rangers start shaping the roster they want for 2027? [Read more 🡒]
Jake Burger Has Rangers Fans Watching One Very Funny Streak
Jake Burger has become one of the more interesting watch items in a Rangers lineup that has had to grind for every bit of production this season. He leads Texas with 26 home runs and 83 RBIs, and over his last three games he has given the club a timely jolt with three homers and four RBIs, the kind of burst that can turn a quiet week into something worth following.
There is also a lighter storyline hanging around the hot streak: Burgers wife, Ashlyn, has reportedly given him permission to keep a new goatee only if the home runs keep coming. It is a fitting little twist for a season that has already featured plenty of streakiness, and for a Rangers team still trying to climb out of the division and wild-card hole, every swing seems to carry a little extra meaning. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Get Two Huge Names Back At The Perfect Time
With a nine-game homestand looming, the Rangers got a welcome boost Tuesday when they activated Josh Jung and Nathan Eovaldi ahead of their series against the Diamondbacks. Jung is back after a rehab stint and gives Texas another option at the hot corner, with the club looking at a setup that could include time at third base and designated hitter.
Eovaldis return matters just as much for a staff that needs flexibility down the stretch, and the Rangers plan to use him in a multi-inning relief role or as an opener. With the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Mets all coming to Arlington before the regular season ends on the road against the Twins, Texas is trying to keep its rotation and lineup intact at exactly the right moment. [Read more 🡒]