It was the Roman philosopher Seneca who once said, “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” If you’ve watched Texas A&M long enough this season, you know those words could have been written for them. The Aggies haven’t floated to the doorstep of perfection; they’ve marched there. They’ve prepared for it, leaned into it, and built toward it every step of the way. But yes, along the path, they’ve had a little “luck.” Just see the comeback against South Carolina.
Last November, the Aggies had a chance to deliver a blow to No. 3 Texas but only found the endzone once in defeat. That night revealed the distance still left to close, the layers still left to grow through. But this time around, it just “feels” that it’s their time, and they’re going to milk it for as long as they can, which is why they’ve joined head coach Mike Elko and AD Trev Alberts at the hip, each receiving 6-year contract extensions. When a program believes it’s on the rise, it locks its leaders in place.
Few people understand the heartbeat of this rivalry like Steve McKinney. The cornerstone of the Aggies’ offensive front in the late ’90s, McKinney earned a spot on the Top 100 football players list in team history, and the respect that comes with it. When contacted by AllSportsPeople, McKinney didn’t give a rehearsed breakdown. He gave the honest one.
“I think Texas is playing their best ball right now and they’re building confidence. Playing in Austin at night will be a huge challenge but this A&M team has proved they show up when the lights are the brightest. A&M has so many weapons on both sides of the ball, and they match up very well. If they perform that way, I think Marcel Reed can solidify his trip to New York and potentially win the Heisman. He’s the most dynamic QB since the likes of Lamar Jackson and Johnny Manziel.”
MORE: Mike Elko praises ‘12th man’ in leading the comeback.
When asked for a favorite memory from this rivalry, McKinney didn’t pause to think. Because some nights stay with you.
“My senior year in 97’ I wanted nothing more than to have a personal eternal scoreboard against them. We beat them in a literal monsoon at Kyle Field. Dan Campbell actually made the catch that sealed the win at the end.”
That’s the thing about this series. The moments linger. The players become larger than their roles. And the games, especially in Austin, always arrive with something attached. Pride. Identity. Legacy.
The Aggies have had some recent success in the resumed series, including winning 2 of the last 3 in Austin. And now comes the next chapter: a perfect record on the line, a Heisman candidate under center, a rivalry soaked in history, and a program convinced that the story ends differently this time.
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