John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORKSat, November 29, 2025 at 5:03 AM UTC·2 min readTexas A&M football experienced a bit of deja vu in Rivalry Week.
For the second consecutive season, the third-ranked Aggies (No. 3 in College Football Playoff rankings) dropped the Lone Star Showdown against No. 16 Texas (No. 16 in CFP ranking). This time, Arch Manning led the Longhorns back from a halftime deficit to beat Mike Elko and Texas A&M.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 27-17 loss at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas on Friday, Nov. 28 is the first of the season for Elko's squad, and puts a dent in the Aggies' postseason picture.
REQUIRED READING: Texas vs Texas A&M final score, highlights from Longhorns' win
Texas A&M was eliminated from contention for the SEC championship game with the loss, as it needed either a win against Texas or losses by Ole Miss and Alabama in Week 14. The latter path was eliminated after the Rebels won the Egg Bowl earlier on Nov. 28. Then there is the CFP picture for Texas A&M, though that one isn't as detrimental since the Aggies are still well-positioned to make the 12-team field.
The Aggies held a 10-3 lead over the Longhorns at halftime, but were outscored by Manning and Co. 24-7 in the second half. Of the three touchdown scores given up in the second half by the Aggies' defense, one of them was a 35-yard rushing touchdown from Manning.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMarcel Reed, who briefly exited the game in the first half due to an ankle injury, was picked off in each of Texas A&M's final two drives of the night. The Heisman Trophy hopeful completed 20 of 32 passes for 180 yards with no touchdowns, while adding 71 yards on the ground across 13 carries.
That all said, where will the Aggies fall in the latest top 25 rankings following the defeat? Here's where they may land:
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin: 134 meetings, first met in 1890, play for Paul Bunyan's Axe.
Auburn vs. Georgia: 130 meetings, first played in 1892, called "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry."
Virginia vs. North Carolina: 130 meetings, first played in 1892, called "South's Oldest Rivalry."
Oregon vs, Oregon State: 129 meetings, first played in 1894, called "The Civil War."
Cincinnati vs. Miami (Ohio): 128 meetings, first played in 1888, they play for the "Victory Bell" in the "Battle for the Bell."
Cal vs. Stanford: 128 meetings, first met in 1892, in what's called the "Big Game", and they play for The Axe.
Indiana vs. Purdue: 126 meetings, first played in 1891, called the "Old Oaken Bucket", which they play for.
Army vs. Navy: 125 meetings, first played in 1890, simply called "The Army-Navy" game.
Kansas vs. Kansas State: 123 meetings, first played in 1902, called the "Sunflower Showdown" and they play for the Governor's Cup.
TCU vs. Baylor: 121 meetings, first played in 1899, called the "Bluebonnet Battle" and they play for the Bluebonnet Shield.
Kansas vs. Missouri. 121 meetings, first met in 1891, called the "Border War" and they play for the Indian War Drum.
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi: 121 meetings, first met in 1901, called the "Egg Bowl" and they play for the Golden Egg Trophy.
Kentucky vs. Tennessee: 121 meetings, first met in 1893, no cool name or trophy just good, old-fashion border disdain.
Clemson vs. South Carolina: 121 meetings, first met in 1896, game is called the "Palmetto Bowl."
Texas vs. Oklahoma: 121 meetings, first met in 1900, game is called "Red River Rivalry" and they play for the Golden Hat.1 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin: 134 meetings, first met in 1890, play for Paul Bunyan's Axe.1 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin: 134 meetings, first met in 1890, play for Paul Bunyan's Axe.2 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Auburn vs. Georgia: 130 meetings, first played in 1892, called "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry."3 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Virginia vs. North Carolina: 130 meetings, first played in 1892, called "South's Oldest Rivalry."4 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Oregon vs, Oregon State: 129 meetings, first played in 1894, called "The Civil War."5 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Cincinnati vs. Miami (Ohio): 128 meetings, first played in 1888, they play for the "Victory Bell" in the "Battle for the Bell."6 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Cal vs. Stanford: 128 meetings, first met in 1892, in what's called the "Big Game", and they play for The Axe.7 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Indiana vs. Purdue: 126 meetings, first played in 1891, called the "Old Oaken Bucket", which they play for.8 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Army vs. Navy: 125 meetings, first played in 1890, simply called "The Army-Navy" game.9 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Kansas vs. Kansas State: 123 meetings, first played in 1902, called the "Sunflower Showdown" and they play for the Governor's Cup.10 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
TCU vs. Baylor: 121 meetings, first played in 1899, called the "Bluebonnet Battle" and they play for the Bluebonnet Shield.11 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Kansas vs. Missouri. 121 meetings, first met in 1891, called the "Border War" and they play for the Indian War Drum.12 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi: 121 meetings, first met in 1901, called the "Egg Bowl" and they play for the Golden Egg Trophy.13 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Kentucky vs. Tennessee: 121 meetings, first met in 1893, no cool name or trophy just good, old-fashion border disdain.14 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Clemson vs. South Carolina: 121 meetings, first met in 1896, game is called the "Palmetto Bowl."15 / 15Golden Egg, few axes and a bucket. See college football's longest running FBS rivalries
Texas vs. Oklahoma: 121 meetings, first met in 1900, game is called "Red River Rivalry" and they play for the Golden Hat.Texas A&M football rankings: Where will Aggies fall in top 25?
Even though it's Texas A&M's first loss of the season, it's a detrimental loss for the Aggies.
The loss will drop Texas A&M out of the top three, especially with Georgia picking up a top-25-ranked win over No. 19 Georgia Tech earlier in the day. From there, it remains hard to tell what type of drop the Aggies will take, with much of the remaining top 10 teams yet to play in Week 14.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSince Texas A&M will not appear in the SEC championship game now, it also raises the question of whether the Aggies will keep a top-four seed.
Final projection: No. 7
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where will Texas A&M football fall in top 25 after Texas loss?
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