Paul Finebaum explains how Texas A&M impacted Texas' decision to join SEC

In 2012, Texas A&M — a founding member of the Southwest Conference and a member of the Big 12 since 1996 — officially departed for the SEC during a major round of conference realignment. It was a huge decision, especially considering the Aggies were breaking away from Texas at the time to do so.

Starting in 2024, though, the Longhorns will join their in-state rivals in the SEC. According to Paul Finebaum, Texas A&M’s decision to join the league likely played a big role in that decision.

Finebaum acknowledged that despite the Aggies’ 48-41 record in conference play since the switch, the Aggies still made the right move considering the difference in revenue and exposure. However, he pointed out how much their move to the SEC got Texas to do so — and, as a result, renew their rivalry.

“I think it’s been good. I agree with you, the record does not support that. But I think in many ways, they’re a more relevant school,” Finebaum told Matt Barrie of Texas A&M’s move to the SEC. “This is going to sound really backwards, Matt, but the greatest accomplishment that Texas A&M has achieved is that they, in essence, forced Texas to follow them into the SEC. And that’s as convoluted as anything you’ve ever heard, but that’s really why Texas decided to make that move, because they saw how much money A&M was making. They saw, recruiting-wise, they were doing so much better.

“Nobody really uses straight logic in college sports anymore. You gamble. It’s a little bit like the futures table. While you can argue that even, hey, look at Missouri. They also came in at the same time. They made the championship game two years in a row and have not been heard from since. But it’s about being relevant. And Texas A&M is a very relevant school.”

Texas and Texas A&M haven’t played each other since 2011 — a 27-25 Longhorns victory in the Aggies’ last year as a Big 12 member. That will change in 2024 when UT joins the SEC and Texas A&M becomes a permanent opponents, meaning they’ll play each other every year under the league’s new eight-team scheduling model.

The Longhorns own the all-time series with a 76-37 record against the Aggies, including victories in nine of the last 11 matchups. Texas, along with Oklahoma, will join the SEC in 2024 as the latest round of realignment got underway.