Chris Del Conte on moving Texas A&M game to Thanksgiving: 'I would love that to happen sooner than later'

Texas and Texas A&M will finally be back on a football field together on Nov. 30, renewing a rivalry after over a decade apart. Debates still rage on about exactly when the game should be played though, with answers varying between Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the Saturday following the two holidays.

If you ask Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte, Thanksgiving Day is ideal. His only downside is potentially competing against the NFL, which now plays a primetime matchup for Americans to watch after having dinner.

“I would love for that to happen sooner than later,” Del Conte said. “Yes, I like the game being played on Thanksgiving. It just used to be the (Dallas) Cowboys and us. Now, they have three NFL games. So, maybe it’s Friday. But as long as we’re playing, strap it on.”

On Thursday, the SEC announced they would move the Egg Bowl between Mississippi State and Ole Miss off Thanksgiving, opting for Black Friday instead. Georgia and Georgia Tech will follow them with some Clean, Old Fashioned Hate. No specific reason has been given but the NFL seemingly plays a factor, based on Del Conte’s comments.

Texas and Texas A&M are set to play on Saturday but a kickoff time has not yet been determined.

Despite the NFL’s primetime presence, Del Conte prefers moving the game to Thanksgiving. If you add in the Dallas Cowboys playing in the afternoon, it’s a football-filled holiday for Texans across the state.

There are not many things Texas and Texas A&M agree on and apparently, the scheduled date of the rivalry game is one of them. Aggies athletic director Trev Alberts later said they do not want to play the Longhorns on Thanksgiving Day, likely wanting to be later in the weekend holiday.

“Texas A&M Athletic Director Trev Alberts said A&M would not want to play future games against Texas on Thanksgiving Day,” Olin Buchanan of TexAgs said via X. “This season the Aggies and Longhorns play on Saturday, Nov. 30.”

Del Conte’s “strap it on” stance has stayed persistent throughout many conversations, including where the first matchup would take place. College Station ultimately won out, with Kyle Field likely producing one of the best atmospheres college football sees during the 2024 season.

Even with the rivalry’s revival, many questions still surround Texas-Texas A&M. Locking down a consistent date will be one of the more eye-opening answers once provided.