The Lone Star Showdown returns to Austin with playoff-scale stakes and 100+ years of animus. On Friday night, the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown brings undefeated Texas A&M (11-0, 7-0 SEC) to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium to face Texas (8-3, 5-2 SEC) in a renewal of the rivalry following a long break in annual meetings. Texas has won three of the last four in the series and beat A&M 17–7 in 2024, but the Aggies arrive perfect and in the College Football Playoff chase. Texas can play spoiler—and bolster its own postseason case—with a statement win under the lights.

Note

Kickoff time, TV details, lines, and weather can shift week-of. Always confirm via official team sites or your sportsbook before heading out or placing wagers.

Game essentials

  • Event: Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown
  • Venue: DKR–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX)
  • Kickoff: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, 6:30 p.m. CT
  • TV: ABC (check local listings; stream via ABC)
  • Line/Total: Texas A&M -2.5; O/U 48.5
  • Weather (Austin): 67°F, cloudy, 10% precip., 66% humidity, winds ~12 mph

How to watch and attend

  • Broadcast: The game airs nationally on ABC (more on ABC’s site and app).
  • Tickets: Official channels are sold out. Verified resale tickets start around $380 on SeatGeek.
  • Stadium app: The University of Texas recommends the official app for live game center features and Stadium HQ experiences (UT Athletics info).
Heads Up

Plan transit and security time like a playoff game: expect packed rideshares, road closures around campus, and longer screening lines. Factor in at least 45–60 extra minutes from “near the stadium” to “in your seat.”

Why this game matters

  • Texas A&M: 11-0, 7-0 SEC. A win preserves an undefeated season and keeps the College Football Playoff path clear.
  • Texas: 8-3, 5-2 SEC. A victory over an undefeated rival could be the rĂ©sumĂ© jolt Texas needs; a loss dents postseason positioning.
  • Historic spark: After years apart, the edge is back. Texas leads the last four meetings (3-1), including 2024's 17–7 win.

Key Texas players to watch

  • Arch Manning (QB, #16): 2,763 passing yards leading the Longhorns offense. His efficiency under pressure will be pivotal.
  • Quintrevion Wisner (RB, #5): 442 rushing yards; early-down consistency matters in a field-position game.
  • Ryan Wingo (WR, #1): 736 receiving yards; Texas needs him as the vertical stressor and third-down separator.

What the weather means

  • 12 mph winds can nudge kick trajectory and deepen hash-to-sideline throws. Expect offenses to script more high-percentage concepts early: slants, glance routes, crossers, and RPOs that don't hang in the air.
  • Cloud cover with mild temps favors tempo offenses—cramping and hydration should be manageable.
Pro Tip

Sideline or end-zone? With mid-teens winds, lower-bowl seats closer to midfield reduce wind chill and give a better sense of play development, while higher rows and end-zone corners feel gustier but offer great views of red-zone strategy.

Matchups that shape the night

  • Texas explosive shots vs. wind and coverage: If the wind holds, Texas may prioritize layered route concepts that let Arch Manning attack the middle and find Wingo in stride rather than long-developing go-balls.
  • Texas run efficiency on standard downs: Wisner's 4–6 yard gains keep Manning in second-and-manageable, which unlocks boot action and the full motion package.
  • Red-zone decision-making: With a total at 48.5, four-point swings (FG vs TD) are massive. QB movement near the goal line could be the difference.
  • Hidden yards: Punts into the wind and fair catches versus risky returns may flip two possessions all by themselves.

Insider intelligence: Edges within the edges

  • First 15 plays: Expect Texas to test perimeter leverage early with quick game and orbit motion, forcing A&M's safeties to declare. If A&M widens, Texas counters with inside zone and duo to Wisner behind double teams.
  • Tempo toggles: Texas can steal momentum with sudden tempo after explosive plays—watch for quick huddle-to-line shifts to prevent A&M from substituting its pass-rush packages on second-and-medium.
  • Third-and-4 to -6 is Texas' sweet spot: It allows Texas to keep the full playbook—QB keepers, choice routes for Wingo, and play-action slants—without telling on run/pass.
  • Special teams leverage: In crosswind, pooch and corner coffins are more valuable than usual. The coaching staff may trade distance for placement to pin A&M and hunt a short field.
  • Crowd cadence war: In a sold-out DKR, sound matters. Look for Texas to mix silent counts and clap cadence on offense and to use late defensive stems to induce A&M false starts on third-and-long.
  • Live-betting tell: If Texas is winning early down yardage (≄4 yards on first down) and protecting the ball, live totals can drift upward despite the pregame wind—because the playbook widens and red-zone aggression increases.

Betting lens (informational only)

  • Market: Texas A&M -2.5; O/U 48.5. Key numbers nearby: 3 and 48. If you like Texas, many bettors prefer +3 or better; if you like A&M, numbers below -3 are prized. Totals around 47–48 move materially on weather swings or early pace.
  • Game scripts that favor Texas: Sustained drives, plus-one turnover margin, and keeping Manning clean on third downs.
  • Game scripts that favor Texas A&M: Early lead that forces Texas off balanced play-calling; compressed red-zone field where field goals stack up for Texas instead of touchdowns.
  • Wager responsibly. Odds and availability change rapidly; always check legal sportsbooks in your state.

Rivalry refresher: Last four meetings

  • Nov. 30, 2024: Texas 17, Texas A&M 7
  • Nov. 24, 2011: Texas 27, Texas A&M 25
  • Nov. 25, 2010: Texas A&M 24, Texas 17
  • Nov. 26, 2009: Texas 49, Texas A&M 39
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Texas A&M arrives perfect and hunting a playoff berth; Texas walks in knowing it can both wreck that dream and spike its own résumé in one night.

Rivalry, in one line

Gameday tips in Austin

  • Arrive early. Security lines swell for rivalry kickoffs. Save your mobile tickets to your wallet and update the UT app before you leave home (Texas Athletics).
  • Hydrate and layer. Humidity plus crowds can feel warmer pre-kick; it cools once the sun is down.
  • Postgame plans. Win or lose, Austin's food scene will be buzzing—see curated picks below.

Curated local picks for your weekend

Primary sources

What to watch for in the first quarter

  • Texas tempo tells: If you see Texas string two quick snaps after chunk gains, the staff is probing A&M's sub packages. Successful toggling is a positive Texas signal.
  • A&M early pressure: If Texas keeps a clean pocket on early third downs, it shifts the leverage back to Wingo's route-running and Texas' RPO menu.
  • Field position chess: Inside the first three drives for each team, note who's starting beyond their own 30. If Texas wins this category, the in-game model tilts toward Texas covering small numbers.

Bottom line
Expected a possession game with playoff intensity. Texas A&M's perfection quest meets a Texas team with the personnel—and home-field surge—to dictate pace and script. If Texas wins early downs and protects the football, the Longhorns can turn this into a four-quarter duel where one red-zone stand flips the night.