Arkansas and Texas A&M have agreed to resume their long-term football series at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington beginning in 2014 and extending through the 2024 season.
The two schools first played at Cowboys Stadium in 2009 in a series that was dubbed the “Southwest Classic.” The Razorbacks won all three games: 47-19 (2009), 24-17 (2010), and 42-38 (2011).
When Texas A&M announced that they were joining the SEC, the neutral site contest was put on hold. For the next two years, the game will be played at campus sites. The Razorbacks and Aggies will meet at Kyle Field in College Station on Sept. 29, 2012 and at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Sept. 28, 2013.
“We appreciate Jerry Jones and everyone in the Cowboys’ organization working with us over the past year concerning the future of the Arkansas series at Cowboys Stadium. This was a significant, unresolved issue as part of our transition to the SEC, and it was imperative for Texas A&M to play Arkansas at Kyle Field this season – our first as a member of the conference,” said Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin. “Having a game annually in the MetroPlex is very advantageous for Texas A&M from a visibility and recruiting standpoint, and we have an annual opportunity for our student-athletes to experience one of the country’s finest football stadiums.”
“We are excited to have reached a new agreement to return our series with Texas A&M to Cowboys Stadium,” Arkansas Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. “The addition of Texas A&M into the SEC will only increase the excitement surrounding the Southwest Classic played in the world’s most spectacular stadium. In the past three years, the University of Arkansas has seen the benefit of an annual appearance in the Metroplex with increased enrollment from the area and in student-athlete recruiting in all sports. We appreciate the efforts of the Jones Family and the Dallas Cowboys for working with both institutions to maintain what has quickly become one of college football’s premiere games.”
Arkansas opens the 2012 season on Saturday at home vs. Jacksonville State. Texas A&M was supposed to open on Thursday night against Louisiana Tech in Shreveport, but Hurricane Isaac forced a postponement to Oct. 13. The Aggies will now open the season at home vs. Florida on Sept. 8.
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