Ross Bjork indicates LSU would be permanent opponent in eight-game schedule

It remains to be seen what scheduling model the SEC will use moving forward with Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference. However, if the league goes with an eight-game format with one permanent opponent, we now know who Texas A&M will likely have as its yearly foe.

Aggies Athletics Director Ross Bjork indicated on Wednesday at SEC spring meetings that LSU will be Texas A&M’s permanent rival.

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said earlier this week at the SEC spring meetings that he wanted to face Texas every year. But Bjork said Wednesday that annually facing the Longhorns isn’t an option.

“When the whole conversation started on really who are the primary rivals, Texas was not going to give up Oklahoma and Oklahoma was not going to give up Texas,” Bjork said. “So that was never discussed.”

Ross Bjork indicates LSU is A&M’s permanent football rival of SEC opts for 8-game schedule model. pic.twitter.com/4722NaKLmA

— Olin Buchanan (@olinbuchanan) May 31, 2023

Still, Texas A&M has a solid option in LSU as a permanent rival.

The two SEC West foes have had some intense battles in recent years. LSU and Texas A&M have split the past six meetings, including a seven-overtime showdown in 2018. That game, which was played in College Station, ended with the Aggies securing a 74-72 victory.

The two programs currently finish the regular season by facing off against each other every year.

“We’ve built a really good rivalry with LSU. The last game has been meaningful,” Bjork said. “The seven-overtime game. I mean those games have been high profile. So there was never a discussion. If it stays at an eight-game and it’s a one-seven model, there was never a discussion to change.”

Jimbo Fisher tabs Texas as choice for one SEC rival due to ‘traditional’ route

As mentioned, while it seems unlikely to happen, Fisher would love for the Aggies to face Texas every year. He did acknowledge that LSU is also a really good option.

“When Texas comes into the thing, of course, you’d want Texas,” Fisher said. “Because that’s a traditional rival. Of course, there’s a lot of great ones in the SEC. LSU’s become a great rivalry for us, but I think you go a traditional route.”

We have not seen a Texas-Texas A&M matchup since 2011 when Justin Tucker famously walked off the rivalry with a game-winning field goal at Kyle Field. Since then, it’s been a lot of built-up passive aggressiveness between the programs. Not just fans but also people involved with the programs.

But the only problem with Texas and Texas A&M being each other’s only permanent rivals?

Oklahoma.

It’s doubtful Texas would choose the in-state matchup with all of the Red River Showdown history with Oklahoma. Adding the rivalry onto the annual schedule played a factor in why the SEC decided to add the Longhorns and Sooners.

Somebody pointed out the scenario to Fisher and was quick to brush off the thought. He said Texas A&M was going to worry about themselves and not what’s going on across the state.

“We’re not going to live our life worrying about Texas,” Fisher said. “We’ll worry about A&M. That has nothing to do with them. They’re a great school. They do what they need to do; we do what we need to do.”