Colt McCoy expresses excitement for reignited rivalries as Texas joins SEC
Former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy is ecstatic to see the Longhorns stampede into the SEC in the upcoming season. Particularly, McCoy is thrilled to see old rivalries receive fresh life.
“I think it revives so many rivalries for UT, for the fans,” McCoy said during an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show. “We get to go to [Texas] A&M and bring that game back. We get to go to Arkansas, which is an old Southwest Conference rival. And then we still get the Oklahoma game.
“When I was in college, I got to play all three of those teams in one season and I just remember there were big circles around those games. Just as a fan now, to be able to watch those games, to know the history behind those games, it’s gonna be a ton of fun.”
While every college football fan in the country is familiar with the Red River Rivalry, the rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma, not everybody is as knowledgable about the Longhorns’ extensive history with both Arkansas and Texas A&M.
Texas and Arkansas first met in 1894 and have faced off against one another 78 times since. Texas boasts an all-time 56-23 record over the Razorbacks. Most recently, the teams went head-to-head in 2021. Arkansas walked away with a convincing 40-21 victory.
Texas and Texas A&M’s rivalry runs even deeper. The two Lone Star State programs squared off every year between 1915 and 2011 without exception. However, the storied rivalry came to a halt when the Aggies left the Big 12 to join the SEC.
Now, for the first time in 13 years, the two programs will reignite their longstanding feud. Texas has a 76-37-5 all-time record against the Aggies. The Longhorns defeated Texas A&M in nail-biting 27-25 fashion the last time the two programs met.
In the 2024 campaign, Texas will face off against all three of its rivals. On Oct. 12, the team will play Oklahoma. On Nov. 16, the Longhorns will go toe-to-toe with Arkansas. And, on Nov. 30, Texas will conclude its regular season with a reunion game against Texas A&M.
Earlier this week, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian revealed his mindset as his team prepares for its first season in the SEC.
“We’re going to be plenty talented, right? I’m not concerned about us being talented,” Sarkisian said. “It’s making sure that we’re playing at our best when our best is needed in the critical moments of games, and you play your best when you trust the guy next to you or when you can be accountable to the guy next to you and not feel like you have to go out on your own and do something out of character. We’ve got to live every day that way.”