When Texas A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC, they left behind several games against in-state schools and others in the Southwest region.
More importantly, their move to a new conference signaled the end to their rivalry game against the Texas Longhorns, a contest that had been played annually from 1915 through 2011.
Texas A&M and Texas have traded quotes and some barbs since that time, and they’ve even shown mutual interest in scheduling a future game. But that “mutual interest” was over a year ago and still nothing has materialized.
If that wasn’t enough, Texas A&M’s 2015 football media guide (page 20) brought to light a new scheduling nugget that will occur for the first time in the history of the Aggies football program — no games against a team from the state of Texas.
From Page 20:
Although the Aggies play nine games within the boundaries of the state of Texas, Texas A&M will not face a single opponent from the Lone Star State for the first time in program history in 2015.
No games against teams from their own state. That’s what realignment has done to Texas A&M’s football schedule. That and the rise of neutral-site games. The Aggies play one in Houston in 2015 against Arizona State.
After opening the 2015 season vs. Arizona State, the Aggies welcome Ball State and Nevada to Kyle Field in consecutive weeks.
In the recent past, Texas A&M has played several in-state teams each season. After Texas and other in-state Big 12 schools dropped off the schedule, the Aggies faced two Texas schools in 2012 (SMU and Sam Houston State), four in 2013 (Rice, Sam Houston State, SMU, and UTEP), and three in 2014 (Lamar, Rice, and SMU).
With scheduling being a puzzle each season, it’s hard to decipher exactly how the Aggies ended up without an in-state opponent this season. But there are 11 FBS teams and eight FCS teams to choose from.
Looking ahead, Texas A&M hosts UTSA in 2016 and travels to face the Raodrunners in 2019. The Aggies have no in-state teams set for 2017, but they do have one opening remaining, as well as three in 2018 and from 2020 onward.