Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up ahead of of the Longhorns’ game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 22, 2025.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
If it seems like the college football universe has Friday night’s Lone Star Showdown rivalry game between the No. 16 Texas Longhorns and No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies squarely in its center, it’s only because of the enormity of the matchup: the Longhorns need a win to help their College Football Playoff chances and the Aggies, who appear to be a CFP lock, need a win to secure a spot in next week’s SEC championship game. Throw in the fact that there will be 100,000-plus at Royal-Memorial Stadium watching that game for the first time since 2010.
But the Longhorns and Aggies are one of a handful of rivalry matchups this Thanksgiving week. There’s also Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, Alabama vs. Auburn, Arizona vs. Arizona State and Ohio State-Michigan on the schedule.
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FULL PREVIEWS: For Texas | Texas A&M
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Here’s how American-Statesman college beat writers Tony Catalina, Danny Davis, David Eckert, Thomas Jones and Caleb Yum and Statesman columnist Cedric Golden are picking 15 top matchups.
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The season: 1. Golden 138-57; 2. Davis 129-66; T3. Catalina 126-69; T3. Jones 126-69; T3. Yum 126-69; 6. Eckert 113-82
Last week: Golden 13-2, Yum 13-2, Eckert 10-5, Jones 10-5, Catalina 9-6, Davis 8-7
Mike Sherman, head coach of Texas A&M, joins players in a post-game singing of the Aggie War Hymn following the Aggies 24-17 win over Texas at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Nov. 25, 2010 in Austin. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
Darren Carroll/Getty Images
Week 14 games
Friday’s games
No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas (6:30 p.m., ABC): Texas A&M — Catalina, Golden and Jones; Texas — Davis, Eckert and Yum
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No. 7 Ole Miss at Mississippi State (11 a.m., ABC): Ole Miss — Catalina, Davis, Golden, Jones and Yum; Miss. State — Eckert
No. 4 Georgia at No. 23 Georgia Tech (2:30 p.m., ABC): Georgia — Davis, Golden, Eckert, Jones and Yum; Georgia Tech — Catalina
No. 25 Arizona at No. 20 Arizona State (8 p.m., Fox): Arizona — Davis, Golden, Eckert and Yum; Arizona State — Catalina, Jones
Saturday’s games
LSU at No. 8 Oklahoma (2:30 p.m., ABC): LSU — Davis; Oklahoma — Catalina, Golden, Eckert, Jones and Yum
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No. 10 Alabama at Auburn (6:30 p.m., ABC): Alabama — Catalina, Davis, Golden, Eckert, Jones and Yum; Auburn — None
No. 1 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan (11 a.m., Fox): Ohio State — Catalina, Davis, Golden, Eckert, Jones and Yum; Michigan — None
No. 6 Oregon at Washington (2:30 p.m., CBS): Oregon — Catalina, Davis, Golden, Eckert, Jones and Yum; Washington — None
No. 12 Miami at No. 22 Pittsburgh (11 a.m., ABC): Miami — Catalina, Davis, Eckert; Pitt — Golden, Jones and Yum
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No. 14 Vanderbilt at No. 19 Tennessee (2:30 p.m., ESPN): Vanderbilt — None; Tennessee — Catalina, Davis, Golden, Eckert, Jones and Yum
Clemson at South Carolina (11 a.m., SEC Network): Clemson — Davis, Eckert; South Carolina — Catalina, Golden, Jones and Yum
Houston at Baylor (11 a.m., TNT/HBO Max): Houston — Catalina, Jones and Yum; Baylor — Davis, Golden and Eckert
Missouri at Arkansas (2:30 p.m., SEC Network): Missouri — Catalina, Davis, Golden and Yum; Arkansas — Eckert, Jones
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Florida State at Florida (3:30 p.m., ESPN2): Florida State — Davis, Yum; Florida — Catalina, Golden, Eckert and Jones
South Alabama at Texas State (2 p.m., ESPN+): South Alabama — Davis; Texas State — Catalina, Golden, Eckert, Jones and Yum