The stage is officially set for one of the most anticipated college football matchups of the 2025 season: Texas vs. Texas A&M in the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown, scheduled for Friday, November 28 at 6:30 PM CT. This historic rivalry, revived after years of separation, will be played under the Friday night lights in a contest that promises to deliver all the passion, pageantry, and pride the Lone Star State has to offer.
The announcement of the kickoff time and date is already generating buzz around the college football world. Played just one day after Thanksgiving, this primetime showdown provides the perfect centerpiece for a holiday weekend filled with food, family, and fierce football. It’s not just a game—it’s a cultural event, a reunion, and for many fans, a long-awaited return to tradition.
The Lone Star Showdown dates back to 1894, a rivalry born out of geography, pride, and shared dominance in the Texas collegiate football landscape. For over a century, Texas and Texas A&M met almost every year, with the game becoming a Thanksgiving staple. However, after Texas A&M departed the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012, the series went on a decade-long hiatus, leaving a massive void in the hearts of both fanbases. With Texas joining the SEC starting this season, the rivalry was finally given the chance to breathe again—this time with even higher stakes and national implications.
This year’s meeting in late November won’t just be about bragging rights; it could carry massive implications for the SEC standings and potentially the College Football Playoff picture. Both programs have loaded rosters and legitimate aspirations of contending for a conference title. Texas, led by head coach Steve Sarkisian, is coming off a strong season and features one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Quarterback Arch Manning, now entrenched as the face of the Longhorns program, has grown into a confident leader, blending legacy with production to guide Texas into a new era. His ability to stretch defenses vertically and deliver in clutch moments has made him one of the most watched players in college football.
On the other side, Texas A&M enters the 2025 campaign with renewed confidence under head coach Mike Elko, who has brought defensive toughness and a disciplined identity back to the program. Quarterback Conner Weigman continues to evolve into one of the top signal-callers in the SEC, showcasing poise in the pocket and the arm talent to push the ball downfield. His chemistry with a young and talented receiving corps could prove to be the x-factor when the Aggies make their trip to Austin in November.
Both programs have recruited at an elite level in recent years, stockpiling blue-chip talent on both sides of the ball. That means this year’s edition of the Lone Star Showdown won’t just feature future NFL players—it may define the trajectories of these programs for years to come. The intensity, both on the field and in the stands, is expected to reach fever pitch. From Bevo to Reveille, burnt orange to maroon and white, every corner of Texas will be dialed in.
The 2025 installment of the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown also carries significance beyond just the game itself. It’s a symbolic return to balance and rivalry in a college football landscape increasingly shaped by conference realignment and media deals. While many traditional rivalries have either faded or changed drastically, Texas vs. Texas A&M is poised to reclaim its place as one of the premier showdowns in the sport. There’s a sense of nostalgia and renewal all wrapped into one powerful 60-minute clash.
Beyond the Xs and Os, the Friday night time slot is a strategic choice that elevates the game to national prominence. In the past, marquee college football matchups were typically reserved for Saturdays, but this year’s decision places the Lone Star Showdown front and center in the national spotlight. With few other games on the calendar that evening, all eyes will be on Texas Memorial Stadium, which is expected to host one of the most raucous crowds in the program’s history. The atmosphere will be electric, with fans packing the stands hours before kickoff, tailgating in droves, and creating a sea of color and sound that reflects the deep-seated emotions behind this rivalry.
For players, the opportunity to compete in this game is the stuff of dreams. Many grew up in Texas watching past legends like Vince Young, Colt McCoy, Johnny Manziel, and Von Miller battle it out on the gridiron. Now, they’ll have their own chance to make history, to author their chapter in the book of one of college football’s most compelling rivalries. Whether it’s a game-winning drive, a momentum-shifting interception, or a bone-crushing hit, heroes will emerge—and they’ll be remembered forever.
Of course, rivalries are not just built on mutual respect; they are fueled by animosity, history, and the burning desire to win. The stakes are always high when these two teams meet, but the added pressure of SEC implications raises the temperature even further. It’s not just about pride—it’s about positioning. A win in this game could propel a team toward Atlanta and a spot in the SEC Championship Game. A loss could derail months of hard work and shatter championship dreams.
The coaching staffs on both sides are undoubtedly already preparing. Film sessions, game-planning meetings, and matchup simulations are all quietly underway behind the scenes. For Sarkisian and Elko, this game is more than just another rivalry; it’s a measuring stick for their respective programs and a legacy-defining moment that can establish or reinforce their place among the SEC elite.
In a time when college football seems to be constantly evolving, the return of the Lone Star Showdown offers fans a familiar and beloved piece of the sport’s fabric. It’s a reminder that rivalries matter. They drive passion, boost ratings, attract recruits, and preserve the soul of the game. With a 6:30 PM CT kickoff on November 28, the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown reintroduces the country to one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries in all its glory.
There’s no shortage of storylines heading into this matchup. Will Texas continue its rise as an SEC contender under Manning’s leadership? Can Texas A&M spoil the party and make a definitive statement on the road? Which fanbase will have the upper hand at the Thanksgiving dinner table? These questions—and so many more—will be answered under the lights on that Friday evening in Austin.
Tickets are expected to be among the most expensive and hardest to obtain of any regular-season game in the country this year. The resale market has already begun buzzing, with some early listings hinting at prices soaring well into the thousands for prime seating. Hotels across the Austin area are filling fast. Local businesses are preparing for a boom in traffic. And students on both campuses are counting down the days.
The players will take the field with pride, knowing the weight of the uniforms they wear and the history they represent. The fans will scream until their voices are gone, knowing this is more than just a game—it’s a battle for state supremacy. The Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown on Friday, November 28 at 6:30 PM CT is shaping up to be a defining moment not just for Texas and Texas A&M, but for the sport of college football in 2025.
When the whistle blows and the first play is run, decades of memories, heartbreaks, triumphs, and legends will all come rushing back. The Lone Star State will be watching. The nation will be watching. And as the sun sets on Thanksgiving weekend, a new chapter will be written in the timeless saga of Texas vs. Texas A&M.