| Texas A&M Aggies football | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
 | |||||||
| First season | 1894; 131 years ago | ||||||
| Athletic director | Trev Alberts | ||||||
| General manager | Derek Miller | ||||||
| Head coach | Mike Elko 2nd season, 19–5 (.792) | ||||||
| Stadium | Kyle Field (capacity: 102,733) | ||||||
| Year built | 1927 | ||||||
| Location | College Station, Texas | ||||||
| NCAA division | Division I FBS | ||||||
| Conference | SEC | ||||||
| All-time record | 797–509–48 (.606) | ||||||
| Bowl record | 20–24 (.455) | ||||||
| Claimed national titles | |||||||
| 1919,1927,1939 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Conference division titles | |||||||
| Big 12 South:1997,1998,2010 | |||||||
| Heisman winners | John David Crow – 1957 Johnny Manziel – 2012 | ||||||
| Consensus All-Americans | 33 | ||||||
| Rivalries | Arkansas (rivalry) LSU (rivalry) Texas (rivalry) | ||||||
| Current uniform | |||||||
 | |||||||
| Colors | Maroon and white[1] | ||||||
| Fight song | Aggie War Hymn | ||||||
| Mascot | Reveille | ||||||
| Marching band | Fightin' Texas Aggie Band | ||||||
| Outfitter | Adidas | ||||||
| Website | 12thman.com | ||||||
TheTexas A&M Aggies football program representsTexas A&M University in the sport ofAmerican football. TheAggies compete in theFootball Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of theSoutheastern Conference (SEC).[2] Texas A&M football claims three national titles and 18 conference titles. The team plays all home games atKyle Field, a 102,733-person capacity outdoor stadium on the university campus.
Texas A&M first fielded a football team in 1894, under the direction of head coachF. Dudley Perkins.[3] The team compiled a 1–1 record.[3]W. A. Murray served as A&M's head coach from 1899 to 1901, compiling a record of 7–8–1.[4] From 1902 to 1904,J. E. Platt served as A&M's head coach, his teams compiling a record of 18–5–3.[4] From 1909 to 1914, A&M compiled a 38–8–4 record under head coachCharley Moran.[5] Moran's 1909 team finished undefeated, and all but one of Moran's other seasons the Aggies only lost one game each year.[4] Under head coachEdwin Harlan, the Aggies compiled a record of 12–5 in two seasons and joined theSouthwest Conference.[6][7]
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Dana X. Bible became Texas A&M's head coach in 1919, leavingLSU, and under his tutelage the Aggies compiled a record of 72–19–9 in ten seasons.[8] Bible's 1919 Texas A&M Aggies football team, which was undefeated, untied, and outscored its opposition 275–0, was retroactively named a national champion by the Billingsley Report and the National Championship Foundation. In the 1922 Dixie Classic, Bible made his most visible and lasting impression in his A&M career when he began the Twelfth Man Tradition. Bible had a roster of only eighteen players, who had to play both offense and defense against the heavily favored Centre College. He lost three players to injuries early in the game, but the Aggies took the lead. Fearing more injuries and a possibility of having to forfeit the game for lack of men, Bible called upon a reserve halfback, E. King Gill, who was in the press box running stats for the team, to suit up and be ready if needed. The Aggies wouldn't need Gill's help to win, but since then A&M students stand throughout football games to show their willingness to play if needed.[9] Bible departed the Aggies after the 1928 season to accept theNebraska head coaching position.[9] After Bible's departure, A&M brought inMatty Bell fromTCU to lead the Aggies football program.[10] Under Bell's tutelage, the Aggies compiled a record of 24–21–3.[10] However, the Aggies did not play up to the standards set by Dana Bible's tenure, and Bell left forSMU after five seasons.[10]Homer Norton was hired away fromCentenary to replace Bell in 1934.[11] A&M enjoyed great successes under Norton. The 1939 Texas A&M team went 11–0, beatingTulane in theSugar Bowl, and was named a national champion.[12] Norton's record at Texas A&M was 82–53–9, giving him the second most wins of any coach in Texas A&M Aggies football history.[12] Among the many stars that Norton developed wereJohn Kimbrough andJoe Routt.[11] Norton was fired in 1947 when his team went 3–6–1 and lost to archrival University of Texas for the eighth straight year.[13]
In December 1947,Harry Stiteler was promoted from running backs coach to head coach for the Texas A&M football team following the firing of Homer Norton.[14] In Stiteler's first season as head coach, the Aggies failed to win a game, accumulating a record of 0–9–1.[15] For the 1949 season, the Aggies won only one game and had a record of 1–8–1.[16] Despite the poor record in his first two seasons, Stiteler developed a reputation as a good recruiter. In 1950, Stiteler turned the program around with a 7–4 record, including impressive wins overArkansas (42–13) andSMU (25–20) and a 40–20 win overGeorgia in thePresidential Cup Bowl atBaltimore.[17] The 1950 team had the best record of any Texas A&M football team in the first decade afterWorld War II (1945–1954).[18] In December 1950, Stiteler reported that he had been attacked and beaten by a stranger near the Shamrock Hotel inHouston, where Stiteler had been scheduled to address a group of Texas A&M alumni.[19] Stiteler tried to downplay the incident, but the press reported Stiteler declined to provide details to the police and that there were conflicting versions as to what had happened. TheSan Antonio Light reported the incident under a banner headline, "MYSTERY SHROUDS STITELER BEATING."[20] In March 1951, Stiteler admitted that he had misrepresented the facts concerning the assault. He reported that he had known his attacker and "the affair was a personal one."[19] Embarrassed, Stiteler submitted his letter of resignation to the President of Texas A&M upon revealing the true facts concerning "my affair in Houston."[19] Following the resignation, the members of the football team issued a statement in support of their former coach:
"We believe that whatever happened to Mr. Stiteler was a personal matter and it should have remained that. A lot of us boys came to A. and M. in 1948 not because A. and M. had won games but simply because of Harry Stiteler and his character. He has never ceased to set us that same example in the years we have played and worked for him."[21]
In three years as the head coach at Texas A&M, Stiteler compiled a record of 8–21–2.[22]Raymond George, previouslyUSC's defensive line coach, was hired as the 17th head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies after the Stiteler scandal.[23] He served as head coach for three seasons, from 1951 to 1953, during which time the Aggies produced a total record of 12–14–4.[24][25] Among A&M's notable wins during this time period were victories overBud Wilkinson'sOklahoma Sooners,Henry Russell Sanders'UCLA Bruins andBear Bryant'sKentucky Wildcats. George resigned as the Aggies head coach following the 1953 season.[23] In 1994 as a result of the NCAA findings of major violations of NCAA rules in this case, Texas A&M became one of three universities to receive as many as seven public penalties since 1952. Between 1956 and 1977, the university was placed on probation three times and publicly reprimanded once for major violations of NCAA rules. This era began a series of NCAA rules violations that continued to 2020.[26]
Legendary coachBear Bryant arrived in College Station after successful head coaching tenures atMaryland andKentucky, signing a contract worth $15,000 per year.[27] The Aggies suffered through a grueling 1–9 record in Bryant's first season, which began with the infamous training camp inJunction, Texas, during which time many Aggie football players quit the team.[28] The "survivors" were given the name "Junction Boys."[28] Two years later, Bryant led the team to the Southwest Conference championship, despite being on probation,[29] with a 34–21 victory over Texas in Austin.[30] The following year, star running backJohn David Crow won theHeisman Trophy and theAggies were in title contention until they lost toRice Owls.[31][32] Bryant attempted to integrate the all-white Texas A&M squad. "We'll be the last football team in the Southwest Conference to integrate," he was told by a Texas A&M official. "Well," Bryant replied, "then that's where we're going to finish in football."[33] After the 1957 season, having compiled an overall 25–14–2 record at A&M, Bryant left forAlabama, his alma mater, where he would cement his legacy as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, college football coach of all time.[34]
A&M next turned toIowa State head coachJim Myers for its head coaching position.[35] Under Myers, the Aggies struggled mightily, compiling a 12–24–4 record.[36] The Aggies failed to win more than four games in a single season. The fallout that ensued from fans, boosters and the administration led Myers to joinTom Landry'sDallas Cowboys staff as an assistant coach.[35]Hank Foldberg was hired as the Aggies head coach after Myers' departure, and brought with him high hopes that Aggie success would return.[37] However, the struggles remained, in the form of a 6–23–1 record in three seasons.[38] Foldberg was replaced after the 1964 season.
Fresh off helping Bear Bryant andAlabama win the 1964 national title as an assistant coach,Gene Stallings, one of the "Junction Boys", was named the head coach of his alma mater at the age of 29.[39] The Aggies struggles persisted under Stallings. Texas A&M compiled a record of 27–45–1 in Stallings' seven seasons.[40] However, the Aggies won theSouthwest Conference in 1967, Stallings' only winning season at A&M.[41] At the end of that season, A&M beat Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.[41] During Stallings' tenure, the Aggies won theSouthwest Conference in 1967, Stallings' only winning season at A&M. At the end of that season Stallings led Texas A&M to a victory over Alabama and mentorBear Bryant in the Cotton Bowl, a victory where Coach Bryant carried Coach Stallings off the field.[42][43] With the university only recently going co-ed, its military focus and the ongoingwar in Vietnam, A&M struggled to recruit against itsSouthwest Conference rivals. He was fired at A&M following the 1971 season,[44] but, like his mentor Bryant, would go on to become Alabama's head coach in the 1990s and solidify a Hall of Fame career there, winning a national championship in 1992.[39][45][46]
Texas offensive coordinatorEmory Bellard became the Aggies' head coach in 1972 and brought with him the wishbone offense.[47] In his seven years at Texas A&M, he finished with a record of 48–27 and three top-15 finishes.[48] Acting as his own offensive coordinator, Bellard hired former high school football coaches to assist him as backfield coaches.[48] Bellard's first two seasons at Texas A&M were difficult, as his Aggies finished 3–8 and 5–6, respectively.[48] In 1974, with a pair of his own recruiting classes suited to run the wishbone formation, the Aggies went 8–3,[49] then followed it up with two 10–2 seasons,[50][51] including a pair of wins over Texas and three consecutive bowl game appearances. After starting the 1978 season 4–0, Bellard resigned mid-season after two consecutive losses: 33–0 toHouston and 24–6 toBaylor.[52]
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Tom Wilson was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach of the Aggies following Bellard's resignation.[53] The Aggies enjoyed moderate success under Wilson's tutelage, compiling a record of 21–19 and anIndependence Bowl victory in 1981.[54] However, the mediocrity did not sit well with the administration, and Wilson was fired after the 1981 season.[55]
On January 19, 1982,Jackie Sherrill was hired away fromPittsburgh by A&M as the replacement for Tom Wilson, signing a record six-year contract over $1.7 million.[56] Sherrill was the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies for seven seasons, from 1982 to 1988.[57] While head coach at A&M, Sherrill started the tradition of the "12th Man Kickoff Team",[58] this tradition is still observed by A&M today only in a significantly scaled back form, including a single walk-on rather than an entire return team unit.[59] In Sherrill's seven seasons, A&M compiled a 52–28–1 record.[57] A&M also won three consecutiveSouthwest Conference championships during Sherrill's tenure, in 1985, 1986 and 1987.[57] As a result, the Aggies played in theCotton Bowl Classic at the end of each season, defeatingAuburn 36–16 on January 1, 1986[60] andNotre Dame 35–10 on January 1, 1988,[61] and losing toOhio State 28–12 on January 1, 1987.[62] He is also one of the few coaches to leave Texas A&M with a winning record against the Longhorns, winning his last five against Texas after losing his first two. However, he only won two out of seven games versus Texas A&M's other conference rival,Arkansas, in that same time span. In 1988, Texas A&M was put under probation by theNCAA for a period of two years.[63] Violations included improper employment, extra benefits, unethical conduct and lack of institutional control.[64][65] Sherrill was not personally found guilty of any infractions. However, in December 1988, Sherrill resigned.[66]
In December 1988,R.C. Slocum was promoted from defensive coordinator and named head coach of the Aggies.[67] During Slocum's 14 years as head coach, the Aggies compiled a record of 123–47–2, making Slocum the winningest coach in Texas A&M history.[67] During his career, Slocum never had a losing season and won four conference championships, including theBig 12 (the Southwest Conference was renamed in 1996) title in 1998 and two Big 12 South Championships, 1997 1998.[68] Additionally, he led the Aggies to become the first school in theSouthwest Conference history to post three consecutive perfect conference seasons and actually went four consecutive seasons without a conference loss. Slocum reached 100 wins faster than any other active coach.
A&M'sKyle Field become one of the hardest places for opponents to play during Slocum's tenure, losing only 12 games at home in 14 years. For over a year, A&M held the longest home-winning streak in the nation, losing in 1989 and not again until late in 1995. In the 1990s, A&M lost only four times at Kyle Field. Slocum was named SWC Coach of the Year three times during his tenure as head coach. A&M's "Wrecking Crew" defense led the Southwest Conference in four statistical categories from 1991 through 1993 and led the nation in total defense in 1991. Over 50 Texas A&M players were drafted into theNFL during Slocum's career as head coach.[69]
Slocum inherited an Aggie football program that had just finished 7–5 and under severe NCAA sanctions, and cleaned it up quickly. He was quoted in 2002 as saying "I wouldn't trade winning another game or two for my reputation as a person. I've said from day one I'm going to do things the way I think they should be done. There were those who said, `If you don't cheat, you're pretty naive. You can't win that way.' Well, we're going to find out. That's the way we're going to do it. I can walk away and look myself in the mirror and say, 'We did it the right way.'[70] After 14 years as head coach of the Aggies, Slocum was asked to resign in 2002 following only the second non-winning season of his career.[67] He immediately assumed a position as special adviser to Texas A&M presidentRobert Gates.[71]
A&M turned toAlabama head coachDennis Franchione to replace the ousted Slocum.[72] Franchione brought the majority of his coaching staff from the Crimson Tide for the 2003 season. Franchione signed a contract that was set to pay him a yearly salary of$1.7 million through 2010.[73]
The Aggies finished the 2003 season with a 4–8 record, including a nationally televised 77–0 loss toOklahoma, the worst loss in A&M's history.[74] The season also marked the first losing season for the Aggies after 21 years. In the 2004 season, Franchione attempted the rebuilding process as the team improved to a 7–5 record, and a 5–3 record inconference play, including a 35–34 overtime loss to unrankedBaylor, ending a 13-game winning streak the Aggies had over Baylor and a 32–25 overtime win over the then No. 25Texas Tech at Kyle Field, snapping a 3-game skid to the Red Raiders.[75] The Aggies ended up advancing to theCotton Bowl Classic to play No. 17Tennessee, but lost 38–7.[76] Following the bowl game, A&M officials extended Franchione's contract through 2012 and raised his salary to $2 million.[73] In June 2005, prior to the 2005 season, Franchione donated $1 million to the A&M athletic department. The donation went toward the construction of an indoor practice facility, which is now located adjacent to Kyle Field.[77]
In the 2005 season, Franchione's Aggies, who were ranked 17th in thepreseasonAP Poll, regressed to a 5–6 record.[78] The 2005 Aggie defense ranked 107th nationally (out of 119NCAA Division I-A teams) and allowed 443.8 yards per game. This prompted Franchione to dismissdefensive coordinatorCarl Torbush. Franchione then hired formerWestern Michigan head coachGary Darnell to replace Torbush.[79] In the 2006 season, the Aggies again rebounded under Franchione, posting a 9–3 regular season record that included Franchione's first win over rival Texas.[80] The 9–3 record also marked the most wins for A&M since 1998. However, in that season'sOklahoma game, whichESPN's College GameDay visited, Franchione was criticized by fans for making afield goal call with 3:28 left in the game. The 18th-ranked Sooners ended up defeating the 21st-ranked Aggies, 17–16.[73] In thepostseason, the Aggies faced 20th-rankedCalifornia in theHoliday Bowl and lost 45–10.[81]
During the 2007 season, Franchione was discovered selling a secret email newsletter, which violated two NCAA rules and one of theBig 12's "Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship".[82] After the Aggies' 34–17 loss to unrankedMiami in September 2007, Franchione's coaching abilities were questioned.[83][84][85][86][87][88] Several news outlets reported that Franchione would not return for the 2008 season. After Franchione led the Aggies to a 38–30 victory over 13th-ranked Texas, he announced his resignation.[89] Defensive coordinatorGary Darnell was named the interim head coach. Darnell led the Aggies to a 24–17 defeat at the hands ofPenn State in theAlamo Bowl.[90]
Mike Sherman was hired away from his post as offensive coordinator of theNFL'sHouston Texans to replace Franchione.[91] Sherman signed a 7-year contract that at the time paid him $1.8 million annually.[92] Sherman abandoned thezone read option offense run by Franchione and his coaching staff, and installed a pro-style system.[93][94] A&M used a balanced offense run primarily out of the pro-style formations.[95][96] Sherman's quarterbacks at A&M wereStephen McGee andRyan Tannehill, both of whom would go on to be drafted into the NFL.[97]
After two straight losing seasons, the Aggies started the 2010 season 3–3 but won their final six games and earn a share of the Big 12 South Division title.[98] No. 18 Texas A&M went on to play No. 11LSU in the Cotton Bowl. Texas A&M lost 41–24 to end the season at 9–4.[99][100] After the 2010 season, A&M signed Sherman a contract extension through the 2015 season.[101] His salary was raised to $2.2 million.[102]
In 2011, the Aggies began as a top 10 ranked team, but fell out of the polls after losing four games, three of which had double-digit half-time leads.[103] Three of those four losses were to teams later ranked among the top ten in the nation. On November 12, 2011, Texas A&M lost 53–50 after 4 overtimes to theKansas State University, the most overtimes in program history until a record 7-overtime 74–72 victory overLouisiana State University on November 24, 2018.[104] On November 19, 2011, the Aggies defeatedKansas 61–7 and became bowl-eligible for a third straight season.[105] Five days later, on November 24, 2011, they would lose at home to Texas by a score of 27–25 on a last-second field goal,[106] in what would be the last game of the rivalry for the foreseeable future, as the Aggies were to join theSEC beginning in 2012.[107] It was the Aggies' sixth loss of the season, and the fifth in which they held a second-half lead of two or more scores.[103] Sherman was fired by Texas A&M on December 1, 2011.[108] The Aggies compiled a record of 25–25 during Sherman's four-year tenure.[109]
On December 13, 2011, A&M hiredHouston head coachKevin Sumlin as the program's 28th head football coach.[110] Sumlin was the firstAfrican American head coach in Texas A&M football history.[111] In 2012, Sumlin led the Aggies to an 11–2 record, including victories over then-No. 1 Alabama, and No. 11Oklahoma in theAT&T Cotton Bowl.[112] Starting quarterbackJohnny Manziel won theHeisman Trophy.[113] The Aggies finished the 2012 season ranked in the top 5 of both the Coaches Poll and the AP Poll.[114] Texas A&M also led the SEC in total offense, total scoring offense, total rushing yds, and led the nation in third down conversion percentage.[115] Kevin Sumlin and the Texas A&M Aggies became the first SEC team in history to amass over 7,000 yds in total offense.[116] Sumlin's 2013 Aggies, led by Manziel, finished with a 9–4 record, which included a victory overDuke in theChick-fil-A Bowl.[117][118] On November 30, 2013, A&M signed Sumlin to a six-year, $30 million contract extension.[119][120]
For the 2014 season, the Aggies came out strong to begin the season, winning their first 5 games before stumbling mid-season to three top 10-ranked teams, including a 59–0 loss to No. 7 rankedAlabama.[121] The Aggies finished the season 8–5 overall and 3–5 in SEC play.[122] With theLiberty Bowl victory overWest Virginia, the Aggies won four straight bowl games for the first time in program history. After the season, which was marred by defensive struggles,[123] Sumlin dismissed his defensive coordinator,Mark Snyder,[124] and replaced him withJohn Chavis.[125] In 2015, A&M again finished 8–5.[126] The season was marked by a strong start with struggles to close the season. A&M finished the season with a loss toLouisville in theMusic City Bowl.[127]
Sumlin led the Aggies to a third consecutive 8–5 mark in 2016.[128] The season was again marked a strong start with another late-season collapse, as A&M began the season 6–0, but losing four of its final five games. Texas A&M finished the 2016 season with a loss toKansas State in theTexas Bowl.[129] Sumlin started off the 2017 season by surrendering a 34-point lead to UCLA. Sumlin was fired from the position on November 26, 2017, after his team finished 7–5.[130] Sumlin finished 51–26 at A&M and with a 25–23 record in the SEC.[131] Despite A&M football's struggles during the Sumlin era, the program was recognized byForbes in August 2018 as the most valuable in the country, based on average revenue and profit figures from the 2014–16 seasons.[132]
On December 4, 2017,Florida State head coachJimbo Fisher was formally introduced as the Aggies head coach.[133] A splashy hire, Fisher arrived in College Station after a very successful eight-year run at FSU, leading the Seminoles to threeAtlantic Coast Conference championships, six ten-win seasons, the 2013 national championship and coachedHeisman Trophy winning quarterbackJameis Winston.[134] A&M signed Fisher to a 10-year contract worth a total base salary of $75 million, the most lucrative contract in terms of guaranteed money signed by a newly hired head coach in college football history.[135]
In 2018, Fisher led the Aggies to a 9–4 record. The season included a notable seven-overtime victory over then-No. 7LSU. The combined 146 points scored during the game broke theNCAA FBS record for the most points scored in a game, the most points scored in a losing effort (72 by LSU), and tied the record for the most overtimes along with multiple school records for both sides.[136] In 2019, Coach Fisher posted a 4–4 conference record, good for fourth in theSoutheastern Conference West division. The Aggies wound up with an 8–5 overall win-loss record.[137] On December 27, 2019, Texas A&M defeated #25 Oklahoma State 24–21 at the "Academy Sports + Outdoors Bowl", later titled theTexas Bowl.[138]
The Aggies improved substantially in 2020 despite the challenges imposed by theCOVID-19 pandemic. They finished the season with an 8–1 SEC record, a 9–1 overall result, and a #5 national ranking.[139] Texas A&M faced the #13North Carolina Tar Heels football team at the 2021Orange Bowl on January 2, 2021. The Aggies won handily 41–27. The victory produced a combined 3–0 Orange Bowl record for Fisher following his previous successful outings with theFlorida State Seminoles football team at the 2013 and 2016 Orange Bowls.[140] In January 2021, following the Orange Bowl victory, A&M gave Fisher a new ten-year contract worth $95 million fully guaranteed excluding incentives.[141] Texas A&M slipped in 2021. Despite an upset 41–38 win over the #1Alabama Crimson Tide football team on October 9, 2021, and a 20–3 rout of theAuburn Tigers football team on November 6, 2021,[142] the Aggies were unable to win consistently. They failed to qualify for a 2021-22 bowl game. Ultimately, Fisher steered the team to a 4–4 SEC conference standing and 8–4 overall record.[143] After the 2021 season, Fisher lost his defensive coordinatorMike Elko, who took theDuke head coaching job.[144][145][146]
The Aggies would enter the2022 with high expectations, ranked #6 in the country.[147][148][149] They lost six of their first nine games, including a shocking upset loss to unrankedAppalachian State in the Aggies' second game.[150] The Aggies suffered through a six-game losing streak during the season. 2022 marked the first time the Aggies had lost six consecutive games since the 1972 season.[151] The team finished with a 5–7 mark, missing a bowl game, but ending the season on a positive note with an upset 38–23 victory over #5LSU.[152][153] In response to the offensive struggles and overall disappointment with the 2022 season, Fisher gave up play-calling duties and hired formerLouisville andArkansas head coachBobby Petrino as the team's offensive coordinator.[154][155] Fisher was fired as Aggies head coach on November 12, 2023, after having a 6–4 record through 10 games in the 2023 season.[156][157] His contract was bought out for $77.5 million, more than three times the largest buyout in college football history.[158] Fisher left College Station with a 45–25 overall record with a 27–21 record in SEC play.[159][160] Defensive line coachElijah Robinson was named interim head coach for the rest of the 2023 season.[161][162]
On November 26, 2023,Duke head coachMike Elko was officially named as the new Aggies head coach.[163] Elko had prior ties to Texas A&M, serving as Jimbo Fisher's defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021.[164][165] Elko signed a six-year contract with A&M worth $7 million annually excluding incentives.[166]
Elko's tenure with the Aggies started positively, as through his first 7 games as head coach, the Aggies compiled a 6–1 record, 4–0 against SEC foes, and a 41–10 rout of the then 9th rankedMissouri Tigers at home.[167] Elko wrapped up his inaugural season at Texas A&M with a 5-3 SEC record and 8-5 overall standing, including a 4OT loss to Auburn on the road, the second-highest number of overtimes in the 2024 regular college football season.[168][169] This result was good enough to faceUSC in a competitive2024 Las Vegas Bowl, which the Aggies ultimately lost 31-35.[170]
Elko's second season started with a blazing 10–0 record, including a road 41–40 win over the 8th rankedNotre Dame Fighting Irish (their road win against a ranked opponent first since2014), and a 49–25 rout of theLSU Tigers inDeath Valley, climbing all the way up to the 3rd spot in the AP Poll, their highest ranking since1995.
Texas A&M has been selected national champions in three seasons from NCAA-designated major selectors, including theAP Poll national championship in1939.[171]: 111–112 Texas A&M claims all three championships.[172]: 45–47
| Season | Coach | Selectors | Record | Bowl | Final AP | Final Coaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Dana X. Bible | Billingsley,National Championship Foundation | 10–0 | – | – | – |
| 1927 | Sagarin, Sagarin ELO-Chess | 8–0–1 | – | – | – | |
| 1939 | Homer H. Norton | Associated Press,Berryman, Billingsley,Boand,CFRA,DeVold,Dunkel,Helms,Houlgate, NCF,Poling, Sagarin,Williamson | 11–0 | WonSugar | No. 1 | – |
The Aggies have won eighteen conference championships, with seventeen occurring in theSouthwest Conference and the last being in theBig 12 Conference.[175]
| Season | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Southwest Conference | Dana X. Bible | 8–0 | 2–0 |
| 1919 | 10–0 | 4–0 | ||
| 1921 | 6–1–2 | 3–0–2 | ||
| 1925 | 7–1–1 | 4–1 | ||
| 1927 | 8–0–1 | 4–0–1 | ||
| 1939 | Homer H. Norton | 11–0 | 6–0 | |
| 1940† | 9–1 | 5–1 | ||
| 1941 | 9–2 | 5–1 | ||
| 1956 | Paul "Bear" Bryant | 9–0–1 | 6–0 | |
| 1967 | Gene Stallings | 7–4–1 | 6–1 | |
| 1975† | Emory Bellard | 10–2 | 6–2 | |
| 1985 | Jackie Sherrill | 10–2 | 7–1 | |
| 1986 | 9–3 | 7–1 | ||
| 1987 | 10–2 | 7–1 | ||
| 1991 | R. C. Slocum | 10–2 | 8–0 | |
| 1992 | 12–1 | 7–0 | ||
| 1993 | 10–2 | 7–0 | ||
| 1998 | Big 12 Conference | 11–3 | 7–1 |
† Co-champions
The Aggies were previously members of theBig 12 South between its inception in 1996 and the dissolution of conference divisions within the Big 12 in 2011. The Aggies joined the SEC as members of the SEC West starting in 2012.
| Season | Division | Opponent | CG result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Big 12 South | Nebraska | L 15–54 |
| 1998 | Kansas State | W 36–33 | |
| 2010† | N/A (lost tiebreaker toOklahoma) | ||
† Co-champions
Texas A&M has participated in 42 bowl games.[176] The Aggies have a bowl record of 20–22 (.476). During their 81 years in theSouthwest Conference, the Aggies went 12–10 (.545) in bowl games, winning their AP National Championship in 1939. During their 16 years in theBig 12 Conference, the Aggies went 2–9 (.182) in bowl games. Since joining theSoutheastern Conference in 2012, the Aggies have gone 6–3 (.667) in bowl games.[177]
†New Year's Six bowl game
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(August 2018) |
TheTexas-Texas A&M rivalry dates back to 1894. It is the longest-running rivalry for both teams. It ranks as the third most-played rivalry inDivision I-A college football,[178] and the most-played intrastate rivalry. Most of the series' lopsided victories occurred prior to A&M's transition from an all-male and all-white military school, and the rivalry has been fairly even since. Until the rivalry ended in 2012, the two teams played each other every year since 1894 with the exception of six seasons [1895 (when the Aggies did not field a team), 1896, 1897, 1913, and 1914]. During some seasons, the Aggies and Longhorns played each other twice.
In an attempt to generate more attention for the rivalry in sports other than football, in 2004 the two schools started theLone Star Showdown,[179] a trial two-year program. Essentially, each time the two schools meet in a sport, the winner of the matchup gets a point. At the end of the year, the school with the most points wins the series and receives theLone Star Showdown trophy.
Aspects of the rivalry include:
Though the Longhorns lead the series overall (77–37–5), the series has been much closer since 1965 (when Texas A&M dropped compulsory participation in theCorps of Cadets). Since that time, the Aggies have accumulated 20 wins to 27 losses. During the last 40 meetings (from 1972—when the NCAA introduced scholarship limitations—to the present), the series is nearly even at 19–21. The Aggies' best years in recent times were from 1984 to 1994 when they won 10 out of 11 games, losing only in 1990 by one point.
Over the life of the series, the Aggies have shut out the Longhorns 13 times, and have been shut out 27 times (including scoreless ties in 1902, 1907, and 1921). However, since 1961, neither team has been shut out. The Aggies and Longhorns have never had a game decided in overtime. The Longhorns hold the largest margin of victory with a 48–0 win in Austin on October 22, 1898 (the second meeting in the series). The Longhorns also hold the series' longest winning streak of 10 games from 1957 to 1966. In addition, the Longhorns had an 11-game unbeaten streak from 1940 to 1950 that included a 14–14 tie in 1948.
In the 75 meetings since 1936 when theAssociated Press College Poll began, the Aggies and Longhorns have faced each other 59 times when one or both teams have been ranked (the Aggies have been ranked 25 times, whereas the Longhorns have been ranked 44 times). In those 59 meetings, the lower-ranked or unranked team has won 11 times (the Aggies did it six times—1951, 1979, 1984, 1999, 2006, and 2007; the Longhorns did it five times—1941, 1955, 1957, 1974, and 1998).
In 2024, #3 Texas defeated #20 Texas A&M to clinch a spot in the2024 SEC Championship Game in the rivalries first match up after a 13-year hiatus, following Texas move to the conference that fall.
Texas A&M andLSU were both members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 1903 to 1908 and 1912–1914 and are both members of the SEC. The Aggies first played the Tigers in College Station in 1899, winning 52–0. The Tigers are the Aggies' seventh-oldest collegiate-football rival. Last played in 1995, the Aggies and Tigers then faced off in the2011 Cotton Bowl Classic. The series resumed in 2012, when the Aggies joined the SEC. Between 2014 and 2024, the Aggies became LSU's final regular season opponent. LSU leads the series 32*–25–3 through the 2025 season.[189]
Over the life of the series, the Aggies have claimed the largest margin of victory with a 63–9 final score in 1914 (the Aggies also have the next two largest margins of victory with the 52–0 win in 1899 and 47–0 win in 1922). The Aggies have shut-out the Tigers 7 times (including the Aggies' non-university recognized National Championship Season of 1917 when they did not surrender a point during 8 games, and beat the Tigers 27–0). The Tigers have shut-out the Aggies 9 times (including the Tigers' non-university recognized National Championship season of 1908, when they beat the Aggies 26–0, and the Tigers' non-university recognized National Championship season of 1962, when they beat the Aggies 21–0). Add to those totals the game in which the Aggies and Tigers shut each other out 0–0 in 1920. The Tigers hold the series' longest winning streak of 7 games from 2011 to 2017. The 1960 winning streak was part of a 10-game unbeaten streak for the Tigers from 1960 to 1969 which included a 7–7 tie in 1966. From 1945 to 1973 was the most dominant span by either team in the series history. LSU was 17–3–1 vs Texas A&M during this span.[189]
*4 LSU wins have beenvacated by the NCAA
The Aggies first played theRazorbacks in 1903. From 1934 to 1991, the two teams played annually asSouthwest Conference members. In 1991, however, Arkansas left the Southwest Conference to join theSoutheastern Conference. Arkansas leads the all-time series 42–37–3 through the 2025 season.[190]
On March 10, 2008, officials from both schools announced the revival of the series, which recommenced on October 3, 2009. The game is played atCowboys Stadium, which was initially expected to hold about 80,000 fans. The game is dubbed "The Southwest Classic", which pays homage to both schools' past relationship to the Southwest Conference. The initial agreement between the two schools allows the game to be played for at least 10 years, followed by five consecutive four-year rollover options, allowing the game to be played for a total of 30 consecutive seasons.[191][192][193]
Once the Aggies joined the SEC, the agreement with Cowboys Stadium came to an end because the SEC does not allow its members to entertain potential recruits at neutral-site games. However, the SEC has removed this recruiting rule, and the Aggies and Razorbacks will again move the rivalry toAT&T Stadium in 2014. (cf. Georgia and Florida, which play at a neutral site, do not intend to entertain recruits at that site.) This agreement lasted 11 seasons, or through the 2024 football season. In 2025, the series moved back to local stadiums, with the first game played inFayetteville.
Over the life of the series, the Aggies have shut out the Razorbacks 10 times, and been shut out 9 times. The Aggies hold the largest margin of victory with a 58–10 win in College Station on September 29, 2012 (the Aggies also hold the second-largest margin of victory with a 41–0 win in College Station in 1942). The Razorbacks and Aggies are tied for the longest winning streak at 9, the Razorbacks from 1958 to 1966, and the Aggies from 2012 to 2020.
The Aggies first played theBaylor Bears in 1899, and competed with them annually since 1945.[194] It is the Aggies' eighth-oldest collegiate-football rivalry, and their third most played behind TCU and Texas. The rivalry is nicknamed theBattle of the Brazos, a term coined after theBrazos River, which flows by the two schools which are only90 miles (145 km) apart. Texas A&M leads the series 68–31–9.[195] The Aggies' 68 wins against the Bears is the highest number of wins that the Aggies have accumulated against any team. From 1960 to 1990 the rivalry was very competitive as A&M won 16 times, Baylor won 13 times, and 2 games ended in ties; while many of the games were decided by 7 points or less.
Over the life of the series, the Aggies have shutout the Bears 29 times (including scoreless ties in 1903, 1923, 1932, and 1936). The Bears have shutout the Aggies 11 times (including those same scoreless ties). The Aggies hold the largest margin of victory with a 73–10 win in College Station on October 11, 2003, as well as the second-largest margin of victory with a 53–0 win in College Station in 1912. The Aggies hold the longest winning streak in the series of 13 games from 1991 to 2003. That winning streak is also part of an 18-game unbeaten streak for the Aggies from 1986 to 2003 (the Aggies and Bears played to a 20–20 tie in 1990).
As with the Texas Longhorns rivalry, the Baylor rivalry was put on hold after the 2011 season with the Aggies decision to leave the Big 12 Conference. When A&M announced its decision to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC in 2011, then-Baylor presidentKenneth Starr filed suit in federal court in an attempt to block A&M from moving. Eventually the lawsuit was dropped, and soon thereafter, Missouri announced it was joining A&M in departing the Big 12 for the SEC.
The Aggies first played theRed Raiders in 1927. The Aggies lead the all-time series 37–32–1.
Over the life of the series, the Aggies have shutout the Red Raiders four times, and the Red Raiders have shutout the Aggies four times. The Aggies hold the largest margin of victory with a 47–6 win in College Station on November 28, 1927. The Aggies and Red Raiders each have win streaks of six games, which are the longest in the series (the Aggies' streak included the 1927 and 1932 games as well as the games from 1942 to 1945; the Red Raiders' streak was uninterrupted from 1968 to 1973).
The series continued from the Southwest Conference to the Big 12, with the Aggies defeating the Red Raiders only 6 times between 1996 and 2011, 3 of which came in a row between 2009 and 2011. However, following the Aggies move to the SEC, the rivalry has not been played, with the most recent game being a 45-40 Aggie victory inLubbock during the 2011 season.
The rivalry withTCU began in 1897 and is the Aggies' third-oldest collegiate-football rivalry. Though the Aggies no longer play the Horned Frogs annually since the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1996, this series is still notable because it contains the longest, active winning streak that the Aggies have against any opponent. The Horned Frogs have not beaten the Aggies since October 21, 1972, when they won in College Station with a final score of 13–10. Adding further intrigue to this series is the fact that the Aggies' National Championship Season of 1939 succeeded the Horned Frogs' National Championship Season of 1938. Texas A&M leads the series 56–29–7 through the 2025 season, although the two teams have not played since 2001.[196]
Top 5 finishes for Texas A&M players:
| Year | Name | Position | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | John Kimbrough | FB | 5th |
| 1940 | John Kimbrough | FB | 2nd |
| 1957 | John David Crow | RB | 1st |
| 2012 | Johnny Manziel | QB | 1st |
| 2013 | Johnny Manziel | QB | 5th |
In the years since 1889, several organizations and publications have recognized the top players in the nation by naming them to All-America teams. To be considered an All-American, a player needs to be named to the first-team on at least one of the lists of these organizations. In addition, the NCAA further recognizes certain players by honoring them with the "Consensus" All-American title. At present, the Consensus honor is determined by referencing the first, second, and third teams of five organizations and assigning a varying number of points for each time a player appears on one of those five lists. The points are totaled and the player with the most points at his position is awarded the Consensus honor. The five organizations whose lists are used for the Consensus determination are theAssociated Press (AP),[204]American Football Coaches Association (AFCA),[205]Football Writers Association of America (FWAA),[206]Sporting News (TSN),[207] andWalter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF).[208] Finally, a player can be recognized with the "Unanimous Consensus" honor if all five of the previously listed organizations have recognized that player as a First-Team All-American.
Texas A&M has had 53 players that have been named First-Team All-Americans for a total of 72 seasons (19 players have been honored in two different seasons). 30 of those were Consensus All-Americans. Texas A&M has had 27 All-Americans on Offense, 34 All-Americans on Defense, and 11 All-Americans on Special Teams. The Linebacker position is the most represented position with 14 selections (Offensive Tackle/Offensive Guard is the next highest with 12 selections). Texas A&M has had an All-American selection at every position, and has had at least one All-American in every decade since the 1930s. The highest number of All-Americans during one decade took place from 1990 to 1999 when 16 players were named All-Americans for a total of 18 seasons.
| Name | Position | Years at Texas A&M | All-America | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP (Since 1925) | AFCA (Since 1945) | FWAA (Since 1944) | TSN (Since 1934) | WCFF (Since 1889) | Other | Consensus | Unanimous Consensus | |||
| Sam Adams | DE | 1991–1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993[209] | 1993 | ||
| Antonio Armstrong | LB | 1991–1994 | 1994 | 1994[210] | ||||||
| Mike Arthur | C | 1987–1990 | 1990 | |||||||
| Patrick Bates | FS | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 1992[211] | |||||
| Rod Bernstine | TE | 1983–1986 | 1986[212] | |||||||
| Joe Boyd | OT | 1936–1939 | 1939[213] | |||||||
| Marcus Buckley | LB | 1990–1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 1992[209] | 1992 | 1992 |
| Randy Bullock | PK | 2008–2011 | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 | 2011[214] | 2011 | ||
| Ray Childress | DT | 1981–1984 | 1984 | 1983, 1984[215] | 1984 | |||||
| Quentin Coryatt | LB | 1989–1991 | 1991[212] | |||||||
| John David Crow | RB | 1955–1957 | 1957 | 1957 | 1957 | 1956, 1957 | 1957 | 1957[216] | 1957 | 1957 |
| Dave Elmendorf | FS | 1968–1970 | 1970 | 1970 | 1970 | |||||
| Mike Evans | WR | 2012–2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 |
| Tony Franklin | PK | 1975–1978 | 1976, 1978 | 1976[217] | 1976 | |||||
| Myles Garrett | DE | 2014–2016 | 2016 | 2016 | 2015, 2016 | 2016 | 2015, 2016 | 2016[218] | 2016 | 2016 |
| Aaron Glenn | DB | 1992–1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993[219] | 1993 | 1993 |
| Dennis Goehring | OG | 1953–1956 | 1956 | |||||||
| Jacob Green | DE | 1977–1979 | 1979 | 1979 | 1978 | |||||
| Kenyon Green | OT | 2019–2021 | 2021 | 2020 | 2020, 2021 | 2020, 2021 | 2020, 2021 | |||
| Lester Hayes | FS | 1973–1976 | 1976 | |||||||
| Bill Hobbs | LB | 1965–1968 | 1967 | 1968[215] | ||||||
| Johnny Holland | LB | 1983–1986 | 1985 | 1985 | 1986[210] | 1985 | ||||
| Robert Jackson | LB | 1973–1976 | 1976 | 1976 | 1976 | 1976 | 1976 | 1976[220] | 1976 | 1976 |
| Luke Joeckel | OT | 2010–2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012[221] | 2012 | 2012 |
| Drew Kaser | P | 2012–2015 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013, 2015[222] | 2013 | 2013 |
| John Kimbrough | FB | 1938–1940 | 1939, 1940 | 1939, 1940 | 1939,[223] 1940[224] | 1939, 1940 | 1940 | |||
| Christian Kirk | PR | 2015–2017 | 2015[225] | |||||||
| Charlie Krueger | OT | 1955–1957 | 1957 | 1956,[226] 1957[226] | ||||||
| Rolf Krueger | OT | 1965–1968 | 1968 | 1968[227] | ||||||
| DeMarvin Leal | DE | 2019–2021 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | ||||
| Shane Lechler | P | 1996–1999 | 1999 | 1998 | 1999[228] | |||||
| Darren Lewis | RB | 1987–1990 | 1988, 1990 | 1990 | 1988 | 1990 | 1990[229] | 1990 | ||
| Jack Little | FB | 1949–1952 | 1951 | 1952 | ||||||
| Leeland McElroy | AP/KR | 1993–1995 | 1995 | 1994 | 1994 | 1994 | 1994[230] | 1994 | ||
| Braden Mann | P | 2016-2019 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018, 2019 | 2018 | 2018 |
| Johnny Manziel | QB | 2012–2013 | 2012,2013 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012,2013[221][231] | 2012 | ||
| Jake Matthews | OT | 2010–2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2012,2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 |
| Tommy Maxwell | FS | 1965–1968 | 1968 | 1968[227] | ||||||
| Ray Mickens | DB | 1992–1995 | 1995 | |||||||
| Von Miller | DE/LB | 2007–2010 | 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009,[232] 2010[233] | 2010 | |||
| Brandon Mitchell | DE | 1993–1996 | 1995 | |||||||
| Keith Mitchell | LB | 1993–1996 | 1996[210] | |||||||
| Damontre Moore | DE | 2010–2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012[231] | 2012 | |||
| Maurice "Mo" Moorman | OT | 1966–1967 | 1966 | 1966 | 1966[227] | |||||
| Dat Nguyen | LB | 1995–1998 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998[210] | 1998 | 1998 |
| Steve O'Neal | P | 1965–1968 | 1968 | |||||||
| Jack Pardee | FB | 1954–1956 | 1956 | 1956[234] | ||||||
| Marshall Robnett | OG | 1938–1940 | 1940 | 1940[235] | 1940 | |||||
| John Roper | LB | 1985–1988 | 1987 | 1987 | 1987 | |||||
| Joe Routt | OG | 1935–1937 | 1936, 1937 | 1937[236] | 1937 | |||||
| Ed Simonini | LB | 1972–1975 | 1975 | 1975 | 1975 | 1975 | 1975 | 1975[229] | 1975 | 1975 |
| Bob Smith | RB | 1949–1951 | 1950[237] | |||||||
| Kevin Smith | CB | 1988–1991 | 1991 | 1991 | 1991 | 1991 | 1991[238] | 1991 | ||
| Jace Sternberger | TE | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | ||
| Garth TenNapel | LB | 1973–1975 | 1975[212] | |||||||
| Pat Thomas | CB | 1972–1975 | 1974, 1975 | 1975 | 1974 | 1975 | 1974,[212] 1975[239] | 1974, 1975 | ||
| Jason Webster | DB | 1996–1999 | 1999[240] | |||||||
Texas A&M has six coaches inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame.[241]
| Coach | Years | Induction |
|---|---|---|
| Madison A. "Matty" Bell | 1929–1933 | 1955 |
| Dana X. Bible | 1917, 1919–1928 | 1951 |
| Paul "Bear" Bryant | 1954–1957 | 1986 |
| Homer H. Norton | 1934–1947 | 1971 |
| Gene Stallings | 1965–1971 | 2010 |
| RC Slocum | 1982–2002 | 2012 |
Texas A&M has 12 players inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame.[241]
| Player | Position | Years | Induction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Childress | DT | 1981–1984 | 2010 |
| John David Crow | HB | 1955–1957 | 1976 |
| Dave Elmendorf | S | 1968–1970 | 1997 |
| Jacob Green | DE | 1977–1979 | 2019 |
| Joel Hunt | HB | 1925–1927 | 1967 |
| John Kimbrough | FB | 1938–1940 | 1954 |
| Charlie Krueger | T | 1955–1957 | 1983 |
| Dat Nguyen | LB | 1995–1998 | 2017 |
| Jack Pardee | FB | 1954–1956 | 1986 |
| Joe Routt | G | 1935–1937 | 1962 |
| Gene Stallings | DB | 1954–1956 | 2010 |
| Joe Utay | HB | 1905–1907 | 1974 |
| Player | Position | Years | Induction | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale Lary | S | 1948–1951 | 1979 | [242] |
The Aggies play at Kyle Field, which has been the home to the Aggies in rudimentary form since 1904, and as a permanent concrete stadium since 1927.[243] Theseating capacity of 102,733 in 2015 makes the stadium the largest in theSoutheastern Conference and thefourth-largest stadium in theNCAA, thefourth-largest stadium in the United States, and thesixth-largest non-racing stadium in the world. It is also the largest football stadium in the state of Texas.
Aggie football fans call themselves the 12th Man, meaning they are there to support the 11 players on the field. To further symbolize their "readiness, desire, and enthusiasm," the entire student body stands throughout the game.[244] In a further show of respect, the students step "off the wood" (step off the bleachers onto the concrete) whenever a player is injured or when the band plays theAggie War Hymn orThe Spirit of Aggieland.[245][246]
Seniors wearing either theirSenior boots or Aggie Rings are also encouraged to join the "Boot Line." As theFightin' Texas Aggie Band leaves the field after theirhalf-time performances, seniors line up at the south end of Kyle Field to welcome the team back onto the field for the second half.[247]
The tradition began inDallas on January 2, 1922, at theDixie Classic, the forerunner of theCotton Bowl Classic. A&M played defending national championCentre College in the first post-season game in the southwest. In this hard fought game, which produced national publicity, an underdog Aggie team was slowly defeating a team which had allowed fewer than 6 points per game. The first half produced so many injuries for A&M thatCoach D. X. Bible feared he wouldn't have enough men to finish the game. At that moment, he called into the Aggie section of the stands for E. King Gill, a student who had left football after the regular season to play basketball. Gill, who was spotting players for a Waco newspaper and was not in football uniform, donned the uniform of injured player Heine Weir and stood on the sidelines to await his turn. Although he did not actually play in the game, his readiness to play symbolized the willingness of all Aggies to support their team to the point of actually entering the game. When the game ended in a 22–14 Aggie victory, Gill was the only man left standing on the sidelines for the Aggies. Gill later said, "I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me."[248]
In the 1980s, the tradition was expanded as coachJackie Sherrill created the 12th Man squad led by 12th man standout Dean Berry. Composed solely of walk-on (non-scholarship) players, the squad would take the field for special teams' performances.[248] This squad never allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown.[249] Sherrill's successor,R. C. Slocum, amended the tradition in the 1990s to allow one walk-on player, wearing the No. 12 jersey, to take the field for special teams' plays.[248] The player is chosen based on the level of determination and hard work shown in practices. CoachDennis Franchione has continued Slocum's model, while also keeping an all-walk-on kickoff team that played three times in the 2006 season.[249]
Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing tradition atTexas A&M University as part of acollege rivalry with theUniversity of Texas at Austin, known as t.u. by Texas A&M students. For ninety years, Texas A&M students built and burned a largebonfire on campus each fall. Known within the Aggie community simply as Bonfire, the annual fall event symbolized the students' "burning desire to beat the hell outta t.u."[250] The bonfire was traditionally lit around Thanksgiving in conjunction with the festivities surrounding the annual game between the schools.[251]
The first on-campus Aggie Bonfire was burned in 1909, and the tradition continued for the next 90 years.[251] For almost two decades, Bonfire was constructed from debris and pieces of wood that Aggies "found," including lumber intended for a dormitory that students appropriated in 1912.[252] The event became school-sanctioned in 1936, and, for the first time, students were provided with axes, saws, and trucks and pointed towards a grove of dead trees on the edge of town.[251] In the following years the Bonfire became more elaborate, and in 1967 the flames could be seen 25 miles (40 km) away. In 1969, the stack set the world record at 111 feet (30 m) tall.[251][253]
In 1978, Bonfire shifted to a wedding-cake style, in which upper stacks of logs were wedged on top of lower stacks. The structure was built around a fortified centerpole, made from twotelephone poles.[254] Although tradition stated that if Bonfire burned through midnight A&M would win the following day's game, with the introduction of the wedding cake design Bonfire began to fall very quickly, sometimes burning for only 30 or 45 minutes.[255]
At 2:42 am on November 18, 1999, the partially completed Aggie Bonfire, standing 40 feet (10 m) tall and consisting of about 5000 logs, collapsed during construction. Of the 58 students and former students working on the stack, 12 were killed and 27 others were injured.[254] On November 25, 1999, the date that Bonfire would have burned, Aggies instead held a vigil and remembrance ceremony. Over 40,000 people, including former PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush and his wifeBarbara and then-Texas governorGeorge W. Bush and his wifeLaura, lit candles and observed up to two hours of silence at the site of the Bonfire collapse.[256] The Bonfire Memorial was officially dedicated on November 18, 2004.[257]
Bonfire was postponed until 2002 in order to restructure it to make it safer. Delays in the development of a safety plan and a high estimated cost (mainly due toliability insurance), led A&M president Ray Bowen to postpone Bonfire indefinitely.[258] Despite the university's refusal to allow Bonfire to take place on campus, since 2002 a non-university sanctioned Bonfire has burned annually.[259] Known as Student Bonfire, the off-campus event draws between 8,000 and 15,000 fans.[260] Student Bonfire utilizes many changes for safety purposes, and has only recorded two serious injuries since its inception, neither life-threatening. The newly designed stack was designed by a professional engineer (a former student) and features a center pole with 4 perimeter poles connected via "windle-sticks". In the new design, the height is capped at 45 feet (not including the outhouse), and all the logs touch the ground. Alcohol is strictly prohibited from all student bonfire functions as it was revealed that a number of the students working on the collapsed bonfire in 1999 hadBACs higher than the legal driving limit.
The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band (also known as The Noble Men of Kyle or the Aggie Band) is the officialmarching band ofTexas A&M University. Composed of over 400 men and women from the school'sCorps of Cadets,[261] it is the largestmilitary marching band in the world. The complex straight-line maneuvers, performed exclusively totraditional marches, are so complicated and precise that computer marching simulations say they cannot be performed.[262]
Since its inception in 1894, its members eat together, sleep in the samedormitories, and practice up to forty hours per week on top of a full academic schedule. The Aggie Band performs at all homefootball games, some away games, anduniversity andCorps functions throughout the year. Other events in which the band participated include inauguration parades for manyUnited States Presidents andTexas Governors,major annual parades across the country, and the dedication ceremony for theGeorge H. W. Bush Presidential Library.[263][264][265]
Midnight Yell Practice is apep rally usually held the night before a football game. If the football game is to be held at Kyle Field, midnight yell takes place the day of the football game at 12:00 am. If the football game is an away game, a yell is held on the Thursday night before at the Corps Arches on the Texas A&M campus, and Midnight Yell will be held in the city the game is being played.
The termWrecking Crew is a name given to defenses of the football team.[266][267] The term, coined by defensive backChet Brooks, became popular during the coachR. C. Slocum's tenure in 80s and the 90s. After the coach's firing, many fans, coaches, and sports analysts feel that recent Aggie defenses have not "earned" the title.[267][268] Despite this, the university still owns a trademark on the term.[269]
Yell Leaders are five students who lead the crowd in yells during the games. The team consists of three seniors and two juniors elected by the student body. The Yell Leaders take the place of traditional "cheerleaders" and perform many of the same functions without the gymnastics and dance routines. They also participate in post-game activities such as being thrown in the Fish Pond if the team wins, or leading the student body in the singing ofThe Twelfth Man if the team loses.
From 2012 to 2023, Texas A&M played in the West Division of the SEC and played each opponent in the division each year along with several teams from the East Division. The SEC will expand the conference to 16 teams and will eliminate its two divisions in 2024, causing a new scheduling format for the Aggies to play against the other members of the conference.[270] Only the 2024 conference schedule was announced on June 14, 2023, while the conference still considers a new format for the future.[271] The 2025 conference schedule was announced on March 20, 2024, in which teams will play the same opponents in 2025 that they played in 2024, with sites changed for equal home and away competition over the course of the two seasons.[272]
| Opponent | Site | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Auburn | ||
| Mississippi State |
| |
| Florida |
| |
| atArkansas | ||
| atLSU | ||
| atMissouri | ||
| South Carolina |
| |
| atTexas |
Announced schedules as of November 6, 2025.[273]
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTSA | Missouri State | Texas State | Louisville | atLouisville |
| Utah State | Arizona State | atArizona State | Abilene Christian | |
| atNotre Dame | New Mexico | |||
| Samford |
