Texas A&M Faces Uncertain Fate as Key Players Sit Out Rivalry Clash with Texas on Friday

The Lone Star Showdown heats back up this Friday night in Austin, where No. 3 Texas A&M, undefeated and riding high at 11-0, faces off against No. 16 Texas, who are battling to salvage their season at 8-3. It’s a tale of flipped fortunes—the Aggies are already eyeing the College Football Playoff, no matter the score on game day, but a win punches their ticket to the SEC Championship, upping the stakes considerably. Meanwhile, Texas is striding into this clash with a glimmer of hope; a strong finish could keep their postseason hopes alive—even if it’s not quite the CFP dream they once chased. However, Texas A&M will have to cope without a quartet of vital starters sidelined by injuries, including the seasoned Le’Veon Moss, whose absence has been felt deeply. The Longhorns’ roster has its own question marks as well, with key players uncertain or set to miss time. Yet, some familiar faces are returning to the fold, injecting a bit of optimism into the mix. This game is more than just a rivalry—it’s a unpredictable, high-stakes chess match with so much on the line for both sides. LEARN MORE

No. 3 Texas A&M (11-0, 7-0 SEC) has landed in Austin (TX), set to take on No. 16 Texas (8-3, 5-2 SEC) on Friday night, as the Lone Star Showdown will resume for a second consecutive season. This time, the roles are reversed, as the Aggies are headed to the College Football Playoff regardless of Friday’s outcome, but will earn a spot in the SEC Championship Game with a win.

For the Longhorns, finishing 9-3 won’t result in a trip to the CFP, but it at least gives the former No. 1-ranked team a shot heading into next week. This week, it was revealed that Texas A&M’s roster will be without three key starters who have missed most of the season, starting with senior running back Le’Veon Moss, who has missed five consecutive games due to an ankle injury.

Over the last two weeks, head coach Mike Elko stated that Moss had a chance to return during the regular season, but according to the final injury report before the game, Moss, senior linebacker Scooby Williams, senior safety Bryce Anderson, and freshman safety Rashad Johnson Jr. are all out against the Longhorns.

Texas sophomore linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith will miss the first half after being flagged for targeting during Texas’s 52-37 win over Arkansas. In contrast, junior linebacker Anthony Hill is still questionable to play, but is more than likely to play.

This was assumed based on the last two injury reports, but the good news is that wide receiver Mario Craver and running back Rueben Owens are healthy and will be back in the starting lineup.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M will be without four players against Texas on Friday