Chris Del Conte, Ross Bjork go back and forth over restarting Texas-Texas A&M rivalry game

When Texas joins the SEC in 2024, the Longhorns will renew their rivalry with Texas A&M for the first time since 2011. Of course, there are still a few things to figure out, including where the first game will be played and how it’ll fit into the SEC schedule — whatever that might look like.

If you ask Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte, it’s not clear where they’ll play that first game. But if you ask Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork, the answer is simple: College Station.

Then, the question becomes when they’ll square off. To Bjork, he didn’t seem too concerned about that. Although, he said he prefers Thanksgiving weekend if he had a choice.

“Doesn’t matter if it’s the first game of the season or in middle, it’ll be a monumental game,” Bjork said, via the Austin American-Statesman’s Kirk Bohls.

Those were just some parts of the back-and-forth between the two athletic directors and one-time Big 12 rivals at this week’s SEC spring meetings. They didn’t just have some fun about renewing their rivalry on the field, though.

It started with Bjork having some fun at Del Conte’s expense when he showed up in shorts and flip flops. After all, it’s his first time attending the meetings in Florida, so he was the summer spirit. Bjork, however, saw an opportunity.

“Come on, man. Have some respect,” he joked, via Bohls.

Later Wednesday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was asked about where the game would play. He wasn’t as committal as Bjork was — but told reporters when everyone would know.

“You’ll have the answer when we release the schedule,” he said, via Bohls.

Scheduling takes center stage at SEC spring meetings

As much fun as Bjork had about Del Conte’s wardrobe, scheduling remained a big topic of conversation throughout the week. Multiple opinions came in about whether the SEC should stay with an eight-game slate or move to nine games when Texas and Oklahoma join the league.

Some coaches, such as Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, made the case for a nine-game schedule. Del Conte agreed with him and called for a nine-game schedule, according to The Athletic’s David Ubben.

The two potential schedule models both have “permanent” opponents involved. Under the eight-game slate, teams would have one permanent opponent every year. With the nine-game idea, teams would have three permanent opponents.

It’s unclear when — or if — a schedule decision will come this week, but the conversation is sure to continue as the SEC prepares to expand to 16 teams in 2024.