Texas A&M star Ainias Smith on rekindling rivalry with Texas: Big Horns Down

Let the trash talk begin. With Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC in 2024, SEC veterans question the programs’ abilities to hang with such a high-level competition. A specific matchup fans are looking forward to is the Texas A&M-Texas rivalry game. Fans aren’t alone in their excitement.

“Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith offered a very thoughtful answer about the return of the rivalry between the Longhorns and the Aggies. He hopes he is in the NFL and not playing in the game when it returns. But his summarizing thoughts? ‘Big horns down,'” Inside Texas’ Joe Cook wrote on Twitter.

Obviously, time doesn’t heal all wounds. The Longhorns and Aggies have not squared off since 2011 when UT defeated A&M 27-25 in College Station. The victory is one of many the Longhorns boast over the Aggies.

Texas holds a 76-37-5 all-time record against A&M, per Winsipedia. The bitter rivals’ first contest dates back to the 19th century. Texas defeated A&M 38-0 in the programs’ first meeting in 1894. Texas has more than a head-to-head record to brag about.

UT has four championships compared to A&M’s three. Texas has 936 all-time wins compared to A&M’s 771. Lastly, the Longhorns have produced 357 NFL Draft picks in the face of the Aggies’ mere 302. By the statistics, the rivalry is a bit lopsided.

Nonetheless, Texas A&M is a rising program. From 2019 to 2022, Texas A&M had a top 10 recruiting class yearly. After a subpar 2022 season, the program hired legendary offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.

One of Petrino’s top weapons will be the trash talker himself: Ainias Smith. Smith recorded 15 receptions for 291 yards and two touchdowns in just four games last year before suffering a season-ending injury. Smith should be back and better than ever for the upcoming season.

A&M isn’t alone in its return to glory. Entering his third season as UT’s head coach, Steve Sarkisian returns 15 starters, including all five members of the 2022 offensive line. Additionally, Texas has one of the best quarterback rooms in the country, with starter Quinn Ewers backed up by five-star Arch Manning and Maalik Murphy.

Whether Texas and the Aggies face off in 2024 or later down the line, there are bound to be sparks. For now, the two teams will begin their respective 2023 campaigns on Sept. 2. Follow along on On3 to see if more competitive banter arises at SEC Media Days.