Texas beats Texas A&M: How Lone Star Showdown result impacts SEC Championship race

Friday’s Lone Star Showdown had plenty at stake for both Texas A&M and Texas. The Aggies had a chance to clinch a spot in the SEC Championship while the Longhorns had a chance to keep their fierce rivals out of the game entirely.

Texas A&M took the lead into halftime and Texas appeared to flip the script after the break, taking a 10-point lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Although Texas A&M mounted a charge, it wasn’t enough as the Longhorns handed the Aggies their first loss of the season – and their SEC title hopes.

An Arch Manning touchdown run, followed by two interceptions from Marcel Reed, helped Texas seal the victory over Texas A&M. The Aggies will now miss the SEC Championship while Georgia secured a spot in the title game as a result of the tiebreaker. Every team in the SEC has at least one loss.

The Texas offense broke out in a big way in the third quarter of Friday’s game, totaling 189 yards in the frame, led by 106 passing yards from Manning. That helped the Longhorns eventually take a 20-10 lead in the fourth quarter, although Texas A&M was able to cut into it quickly.

The Aggies faced a three-and-out when Reed tried to scramble on 3rd and 21. He came up short, but a facemask penalty on Jelani McDonald extended the drive. Three plays later, Texas A&M found the end zone on an EJ Smith touchdown to cut the lead to 20-17 with less than 10 minutes to go.

But Manning took matters into his own hands from there. After a penalty made it 3rd and 3, he took a designed run 35 yards for a touchdown, putting Texas back up by 10 points with just over seven minutes to go in the game. It made it a two-score ballgame once again.

Texas A&M marched down the field, hoping to get back within a score, but Reed’s pass in the red zone got picked off. That gave the Longhorns the ball back with 3:41 to go and a chance to get the Aggies to use all their timeouts. After getting one more shot, Reed threw his second straight interception – meaning Texas could seal the victory and, officially, play spoiler.

How Texas’ win impacts SEC Championship

Texas A&M headed into Friday needing a win to punch its ticket to Atlanta. A loss, meanwhile, meant the Aggies would miss the SEC title game after Ole Miss’ victory over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.

It also meant Georgia would head to the SEC Championship, and Bulldogs fans were able to celebrate after the game. UGA needed either a Texas A&M loss or an Alabama loss to clinch a spot. Now, all eyes will turn to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the Iron Bowl.

If Alabama beats Auburn, the Crimson Tide will meet the Bulldogs in the conference championship. But if the Tigers win, Ole Miss will head to Atlanta. The Rebels needed both a Texas A&M loss and an Alabama loss to make the title game, meaning they are halfway there.