SEC wrongly plays 'Aggie War Hymn' to introduce Steve Sarkisian at Media Day

While introducing Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian at the 2025 SEC Kickoff on Tuesday, the event accidentally played Texas A&M‘s fight song, the Aggie War Hymn. Several attentive media members in attendance immediately pointed out the colossal mistake online.

Texas HC Steve Sarkisian takes the stage at SEC Media Days to… The Aggie War Hymn??? pic.twitter.com/iRGhHatBoB

— 𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕤 𝕃. 𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕟 (@Travis_L_Brown) July 15, 2025

Sarkisian exchanged a smile and laugh with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey on the way to the podium, but didn’t say anything about the awkward mix-up during his opening statement. It’s the first time the wrong fight song has been played at the event this year.

Of course, it didn’t help that the event’s technical team played Texas’ in-state rival’s fight song of all the possible choices. Luckily for the SEC Kickoff team, Texas A&M’s fight song doesn’t exactly conjure any bad memories for Sarkisian.

Sarkisian and Texas marched into Texas A&M’s Kyle Field last season and defeated the Aggies, 17-7. It was the first time the two programs had met since 2011. The two programs played every year from 1915 to 2011, but the rivalry was put on hold after Texas A&M left the Big 12 to join the SEC.

Texas boasts a 77-37-5 all-time record against Texas A&M and has won four of the programs’ last five meetings. Sarkisian was ecstatic to have a chance become a part of the rivalry’s history last season.

“You have to remember, as a kid growing up, I watched this game on Thanksgiving,” Sarkisian said last November. “That’s how I fell in love with Texas from the very beginning – the uniforms, the helmets. I knew that the rivalry was what it was. Because what did you do as a kid, you watched football, that’s what I did.

“… You quickly find out households are divided and the state’s divided. But that’s the fun part, that’s what this last game of the regular season is supposed to feel like. And I’ve been a part of some great (rivalries) and I’m really grateful and thankful that this one is revived, and humbled and honored I get to be a part of it. Really, I’ve been watching this game since I was this big. So it’s pretty cool.”

Texas will host Texas A&M at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Nov. 28 in the upcoming season. As they enter their second season under head coach Mike Elko, the Aggies will look to stun the Longhorns. Nonetheless, they can rest assured, Steve Sarkisian and Co. won’t make it easy.