Texas vs. Texas A&M: Aggies Will Get Last Laugh in Rivalry's Final Game

The Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies first played each other in 1894. Over the next century or so, they forged a rivalry that ranks among the best in college football. 

It will come to an end today. In a few short hours, Texas and Texas A&M will hit the gridiron at Kyle Field, take care of business and then call it a rivalry. Texas will linger in the Big 12, and A&M will bolt for the SEC.

It's a sucky end to a great rivalry, but I guess it's an all-too-fitting end given the circumstances that have led to it. The battle between Texas and Texas A&M became a battle between a greedy enterprise (Texas) and an envious enterprise (Texas A&M). Ultimately, Texas A&M got tired of being Texas' plaything and decided it would rather be a plaything for the best of the best in the SEC West.

It's possible that this rivalry will pick up again a few years down the road, but hardly likely at this juncture. As it is, Texas AD DeLoss Dodds has already informed Texas A&M that his school's nonconference schedule is full through 2018. There's simply no room for the new kid on the block in the SEC.

Well, if he says so.

The bright side is that all of this is going to be moot for at least a few hours when the Longhorns and Aggies hit the field. The only question at that point will be which team is going to get the last laugh in this rivalry.

Given the circumstances, it would be almost too perfect if the Aggies won the game. It would afford them the opportunity to leave the Big 12 on a high note whilst flipping Texas the bird—like a boss.

And I think this is exactly what's going to happen.

Say what you will about Texas A&M falling well short of expectations this season (they have), but they're still a team that can be dangerous on any given day. This is especially true of their offense, as the Aggies can kill you through the air and on the ground. Their defense sucks, but don't make the mistake of underestimating their offense.

Texas is pretty much the exact opposite. The Longhorns run the football pretty well, but you could replace either one of their quarterbacks with your humble narrator and you probably wouldn't notice much difference. The trouble against the Aggies is that they won't be able to take advantage of one of the country's worst pass defenses.

The Longhorns certainly have enough thump defensively to keep the Aggies from running away with the game, but it's hard to imagine the Aggies being held under wraps for a full four quarters.

It's not going to be a blowout, mind you. This game is going to be more like a schoolyard brawl, which I guess is what it's supposed to be. In the end, you're going to see the Aggies emerge as the bigger, stronger bully.

Then the Aggies will flip Texas the bird and walk away, never to be seen again.

Texas A&M 28, Texas 14