Texas A&M’s Shocking Halftime Surge Sets Stage for Epic Showdown Against Texas

Here we are—after a decade and a half, the Lone Star Showdown reignites at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, setting the stage for a fierce clash between No. 16 Texas Longhorns and the mighty No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies. It’s not just any game; it’s a high-stakes showdown where Coach Steve Sarkisian’s crew is on a quest to upset the odds and keep their faint College Football Playoff dreams breathing. Now, the spotlight’s glaring on junior linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., whose presence—or glaring absence after a broken hand—could tip the delicate scales of this nail-biter. And if Hill can’t step up, look for linebacker Liona Lefua and redshirt senior Trey Moore to step into those critical roles, while the defense retools with rising talent like freshman cornerback Kade Phillips making waves. As kickoff nears at 6:30 p.m. Central on ABC, honoring the Longhorns’ seniors adds another layer of emotion to this electrifying night in Austin. This isn’t just football; it’s a saga unfolding with every snap. LEARN MORE

AUSTIN, Texas — At long last, Lone Star Showdown returns to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for the first time in 15 years on Friday as the No. 16 Texas Longhorns face off against the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies as head coach Steve Sarkisian and his team try to play spoiler in order to keep their slim College Football Playoff hopes alive.

In a game projected to have slim margins, the ability of Texas junior linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. could be a deciding factor — the team’s leading tackler is listed as a game-time decision after breaking his hand in the loss to Georgia two weeks ago.

If Hill can’t play, junior linebacker Liona Lefua is listed as the co-starter with Hill at the middle linebacker position with redshirt senior Trey Moore atop the depth chart at the weakside position. Sophomore Ty’Anthony Smith will miss the first half after he was ejected for targeting in last week’s win over Arkansas.

The most significant development on the depth chart is the elevation of freshman Kade Phillips as the co-starter listed ahead of senior Jaylon Guilbeau at the cornerback position opposite of junior Manny Muhammad. Phillips has seen increased playing time over the last three games, including seeing more snaps than Guilbeau against the Razorbacks thanks to regular assignment busts by the older player.

Prior to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. Central on ABC, the Longhorns will honor their seniors, although the school had not released a list of the players set to receive recognition an hour before game time.

Pregame warmups

Hill will not play against the Aggies after entering the field in street clothes.

Senior Night

The most notables player to walk on Senior Night were defensive tackle Hero Kanu, an Ohio State transfer has another season of eligibility he could choose to use, redshirt junior offensive guard Neto Umeozulu, the expected starter at left guard who saw little playing time this season, and redshirt junior tight Jack Endries, who could also return next season.

First quarter

Texas A&M won the toss and deferred to the second half, kicking off to Texas towards the north end zone. With the touchback, the Longhorns started the game at their own 25-yard line. After Sarkisian started the previous four games with a screen pass to sophomore wide receiver Ryan Wingo, the Texas head coach tried a constraint play — a double pass for Wingo that was well read by the Aggies and fell incomplete under pressure.

Behind the chains early, the Horns faced 3rd and 8 after a two-yard run by junior running back Quintrevion Wisner, the type of situation Texas wanted to avoid with the third-down pressure packages used by A&M. But the Longhorns handled it well, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning connected with sophomore wide receiver Emmett Mosley for the first down.

Facing third and long again after an incomplete pass and a tunnel screen for Wingo that only gained a yard, Manning came under quick pressure, but was able to get the ball away, just missing junior wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr.

Punting away from dangerous return man KC Concepcion, the angled effort by graduate punter Jack Bouwmeester was spectacular, pinning the Aggies deep in their own territory after traveling 58 yards,

When Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed dropped back to pass and instead tried to scramble, senior Jack end Ethan Burke brought him down for a short gain. A tunnel screen by the Aggies was bounced outside by Mario Craver for a first down before a short completion to Concepcion. Filling on a zone read keeper by Reed, junior safety Jelani McDonald came up with a nice tackle, forcing third down. Trying to pass over the middle, Reed was under enough pressure to loose his balance and his accuracy, throwing incomplete to force a punt by A&M, that went for 39 yards after bouncing in traffic.

On a play-action pass to open the drive, Manning was a little bit late with his delivery to redshirt freshman wide receiver Parker Livingstone, allowing the A&M defensive back to close and break up the pass. Needing yardage on second down, Wisner was limited to another short gain, setting up another third and long. Checking into a go route for Wingo, Manning overthrew the pass against good coverage with both players hand fighting, notably a hold by the cornerback the former official supporting the broadcast thought should be defensive pass interference.

Instead of a first down, the Horns punted the ball away before facing a 3rd and 5 by A&M after an inaccurate check down. The third-down pass by Reed was marginally more accurate, but still fell incomplete.

With a chance at a return on a booming punt by Tyler White, Phillips made the poor decision to commit a block in the back right in front of the play, earning a 10-yard penalty. Into the air on first down once again, Manning connected with Endries across the middle for first-down yardage, but redshirt sophomore running back CJ Baxter was dropped in the backfield when redshirt junior center Connor Robertson was beat on a stunt by a linebacker. Into third and long again, Manning tried a deep ball to Wingo that featured some contact as it fell incomplete, prompting analyst Greg McElroy to remark, “I’m not sure what pass interference is if that’s not called.”

Concepcion made the questionable decision to field a bouncing punt close to the goal line instead of allowing it to bounce into the end zone, ultimately losing seven yards on the exchange with his return to the 13-yard line.

A&M picked up its first explosive play on second down when Concepcion caught a contested pass against good coverage from freshman nickel back Graceson Littleton and nearly produced a huge play stopped for a 17-yard gain by an effective intervention from redshirt senior safety Michael Taaffe. Then Reed found some running room on a draw, gaining 20 yards. A scramble on the next play picked up six yards as the Aggies became the first team to cross midfield. Muhammad received attention on the field after the play.

At the end of a 14-yard gain by Craver down the sideline, McDonald was called for a personal foul for picking Craver up and slamming him to the turf. A&M went backwards with a false start and Reed bounced an attempted screen pass under pressure from sophomore edge Colin Simmons. Attempting to scramble on the next play, Reed lost his footing and went down on the field.

The Texas defense held after Reed went into the injury tent, forcing a 35-yard field-goal attempt that was blocked by Burke, his second this season and third of his career, but Moore was banged up on the play, a potential concern for the Horns with Hill out and Smith suspended.

Manning misfired on first down and couldn’t quite connect with Livingstone under pressure as the young pass catcher wasn’t able to secure it off his shoestrings. Taking advantage of man coverage, Manning converted a second third and long as the middle of the field opened up, allowing the Texas quarterback to scramble up the middle for 12 yards.

On a screen pass, Wingo had to escape multiple tacklers to gain two yards before the first quarter ended when Manning picked up three yards on a zone read keeper.

Second quarter

Manning picked up another first down scrambling, diving forward for eight yards. A short pass to Endries went for seven yards and the running backs finally picked up their first positive gain on an eight-yard run that required some elusiveness in the backfield.

Looking for a shot play on a go route to Mosley, Manning left the ball just short enough for Will Lee to break up the pass. Another good run by Wisner found the sideline for 13 yards. When Manning bounced a pass intended for Endries, Wisner gained four yards up the middle on split zone, and a third-down pass was knocked down at the line of scrimmage, graduate kicker Mason Shipley had to come on for a 41-yard field goal that gave Texas a 3-0 lead.

Reed came back out for the A&M drive, completing a pass for a first down, then handed the ball off for five yards after the chains moved. A second run got close to the marker. On a gap run, Owens cut inside of Guilbeau for 10 yards before Muhammad was called for pass interference when he took down Concepcion after stumbling on a double move.

Running a speed option, Reed picked up 13 yards before the Longhorns defense stiffened enough to put the Aggies into 3rd and 7 before an impactful false start backed them up five yards. In man coverage, Texas junior cornerback Warren Roberson had to navigate the mesh route, making the tackle for a six-yard gain by Ashton Bethel-Roman, who was injured on the play. A&M tied the game at 3-3 on the ensuing 31-yard field goal.

Redshirt senior linebacker Marshall Landwehr, a former walk on, had to handle the short kickoff by A&M, bobbling it twice before securing the football. A screen pass intended for Wingo was off the mark and nearly intercepted. On second down, Baxter gained four yards, setting up third and medium. Manning climbed the pocket for a completion to Endries, but Roberson called for holding when senior left guard Cole Hutson lost quickly on a swim move and Manning was under enough pressure on the second try at third down to throw short and incomplete.

Texas had a chance to tackle Concepcion quickly on the punt, but Roberson and junior safety Derek Williams both missed tackles, forcing Burke to make a one-handed tackle on the punt returner’s jersey to limit the gain to 30 yards.

A good open-field tackle by junior edge Brad Spence in the flat limited Owens to a one-yard gain, Craver took a carry for one yard, and Reed scrambled for three yards, enough to go for it on 4th and 5, converted on a seven-yard pass to Craver, who beat Littleton in zone coverage. At the two-minute timeout, the Aggies had the ball at the 30-yard line facing 2nd and 10.

Some yards after the catch by Craver set up 3rd and inches, a glance route run-pass option thrown into a tight window by Reed for a 12-yard gain. Texas used its first timeout with 1:11 remaining. Owens burrowed for a yard on 1st and goal before the Horns took their second timeout, leading to an eight-yard touchdown by Concepcion behind a crunching block from Owens on Spence, who has 25 pounds on the A&M running back.