Texas A&M Football: Power Ranking 5 Big 12 Teams Aggies Will Miss the Most

As Texas A&M now officially resides withing the confines of the SEC, many Aggies believe their program has left the Big 12 behind. However, rivalries and friendships built up over years playing one another as conference foes do not fade instantaneously.

For the most part, A&M will be missing some of their former Big 12 opponents dearly, especially now that they compete in the deadly SEC West. Over the course of the next few decades, expect the Aggies to try and keep some of their old SWC and Big 12 rivalries alive with non-conference matchups every now and then.

We take a look at five programs out of the Big 12 the Aggies will miss the most as they continue to burrow deeper into the highly-coveted SEC.

5) Oklahoma

All-Time Record: 11-19 (.367)

Since forming the Big 12 with the Sooners in 1996, the Aggies have been less than fortunate competing against Oklahoma on the football field. However, A&M will certainly miss their upset-minded matchups with OU now that they've moved into the SEC.

Many of the Aggies' most memorable Kyle Field experiences have been against the Sooners. Freshman Reggie McNeal's 2002 phenomenal four touchdown performance to take out then top-ranked Oklahoma 30-26 comes immediately to mind.

Then, of course, one can't forget Ja'Mar Toombs stunning TD run in the 2000 matchup where the big-shot halfback carried multiple Sooner defenders just over 10 yards and into the endzone. Most recently in 2010, A&M trounced a powerful Oklahoma team 33-19 behind Von Miller's multiple fourth-and-goal stops, helping the Aggies continue their unprecedented win-streak.

While the 77-0 2003 loss can certainly be forgotten, the Sooners will always hold a special place in many Aggies' hearts. I mean, how can one stay angry at a program that loves to beat Texas almost as much as A&M does?

4) Texas Tech

All-Time Record: 37-32-1 (.529)

Since the Red Raiders joined the Southwest Conference in 1956, the Aggies have had the opportunity to compete against the best football team from the Texas panhandle for decades. Spanning two leagues together, Texas Tech and A&M have grown to cherish their minor rivalry, particularly once it flourished following the formation of the Big 12.

With the arrival of Mike Leach in 2000, the Red Raiders evolved into an increasingly more competitive squad, winning the program's only division title in 2008. The in-state clash has always provided ample entertainment for college football fanatics due to the high-scoring nature and intense fan bases each university owns.

From the tortilla throwing to the Zoro-esque Red Raider, Aggies will miss facing off against Tech every season. However, not a single one will lose sleep over losing the "opportunity" to travel to distant Lubbock every other year.

3) Oklahoma State

All-Time Record: 17-10 (.630)

Formerly known as Oklahoma A&M, the Cowboys and the Aggies have always had a certain "connection" due to their likenesses across state lines. Both universities have, essentially, been considered the "little brother" to their larger counterparts during the majority of their stays in the Big 12. 

For all intensive purposes, the Aggies have resided in Texas' shadow since the Longhorns' resurgence in the early part of the century. Oklahoma State, essentially, has always played that role with Oklahoma, never even preceding to take the lead as A&M did over UT during the 1980s and 1990s.

Even following last season's impressive run to a Fiesta Bowl victory over Stanford, the Cowboys will continually rank below the Sooners until they can prove consistent success on the field. Overall, there is no other former conference opponent the Aggies will be pulling for more often than Oklahoma State, especially against the big shot programs such as Texas, Oklahoma and, now, West Virginia.

2) Baylor

All-Time Record: 68-31-9 (.630)

The A&M-Baylor Battle of the Brazos is the Aggies' eighth-oldest college football rivalry due to its early start in 1899. Overall, the Aggies have owned the series, and their 68 victories are the most the program has against any singular entity.

During A&M's 1990s powerhouse days, the Aggies didn't drop one game to the Bears, winning 17 of 18 from 1986 to 2003 (1990 finished as a tie). The rivalry, while never particularly thrilling or overly exciting, finished in stunning fashion last season when Ryan Tannehill and the offense led a 55-28 victory over future Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, culminating one of his three losses for the year. 

The game was especially intense due to Baylor's recent activity in trying to legally lock A&M out of the their now-current conference of the SEC. For the most part, many Aggies consider the rivalry to be lackluster compared to others the program has created around their former conference.

However, Baylor almost always managed to provide A&M with one simple thing every season—an easy victory. No "rivalry" is better than one you win on a consistent basis. 

1) Texas

All-Time Record: 37-76-5 (.314)

Who could forget the Longhorns?

Texas and Texas A&M have participated in the Lone Star Showdown 118 times together, forming one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in the history of college football. With the matchup going unplayed for the first time since 1914 this next season, multiple fans and alumnus on both sides of the fence are sad to see one of the most popular games in the country come to a close.

Lopsided over the course of the entire series in favor of Texas, both teams have managed to create a relatively evenly-matched rivalry since 1974 as each program has won 19 games. The in-state battle is considered one of the fiercest in the nation as both universities compete over the same recruits and overall prominence, pushing their brand with continuous force.

Despite what many fans may say or even believe, the ending of this historic matchup will tarnish both programs in the long run. While A&M has been open to rescheduling the rivalry as a non-conference game, the Longhorns have refused to approach the negotiating table.

Losing a rival that not only challenges one's program on the field, but also as an institution, will be tough to bear for the coming years. At least the Aggies and the Longhorns will continue to fight over all the top talent that Texas high schools produce each season.