Is Arkansas About to Be Done Playing Texas A&M?
Kent Smith16 hours ago
FRISCO, Texas – The Arkansas Razorbacks are almost done facing Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, but there's a low buzz out there that would have people believe the Hogs will soon be done with the Aggies all together.
So, before diving into any specifics, this is a 99.9% no. Texas A&M isn't going anywhere. Of course, that 0.1% is still left open because they're the Aggies and there's always just a little bit of irrational cowardice tucked away in the psyche, especially if the Texas Longhorns are involved.
It's an idea that has begun making its way around the internet that seems to be tied to a single media outlet. The Sportskeeda website began reporting a month ago that Texas A&M and Notre Dame were primary targets of the Big Ten in a desire to expand to 20 teams. The exact same reporter then wrote Monday that "...college football insider Greg Swaim reports that the conference is looking to become a 20-team league with the addition of Notre Dame and Texas A&M."
That the story didn't pick up traction the first time it was written indicates there's not a lot to it at the moment. The fact the commissioners of the Big Ten and SEC basically declared themselves the de facto leaders of the future of college athletics as part of a partnership the following week damages the idea even further.
These are two entities who are trying to scoop up every valuable property on the Monopoly board and then fully abandon the powerless NCAA and all the other schools not on their membership rolls. The only thing between themselves and total domination of the college sports world would be to double-cross one another.
Unless there's some back room deal that's been done between the two conferences where SEC commissioner Greg Sankey offered his blessing to send Texas A&M to the Big Ten in exchange for Tony Pettiti not going after an ACC property Sankey wants so both can expand into new markets, this isn't happening.
There's too much at risk for the Big Ten to knife the SEC in the back. Sure, there was no issue with doing that to the Pac 12 and Big 12, but this is a different monster all together. There's too much to lose with such a petty move.
The other reason Arkansas is going to have to keep hearing those weird little cult chants of the Aggies is it would mean they truly are the Longhorns' whipping boys. When Texas A&M came to the SEC, it was viewed as a strong move of independence.
The Aggies didn't need Texas to make decisions for their program. They were assertive and made the move to biggest, baddest, richest conference in the country and left the Longhorns behind crying in the dust bowl of a crumbling Big 12.
They immediately reaped rewards as money to improve facilities helped them become the flagship of the Lone Star State while the Whiny Orange were simply flagging as a program. What Texas A&M did was a respectable move that showed true independence.
However, running to the Big Ten, and let's make no mistake about it because running would be what they are doing, would be seen as a lateral move and a gutless act of fear of a Texas program over which Texas A&M has ruled for over a decade. All the respect the Aggies have gained would go up in smoke just like all that Jimbo Fisher buyout money.
Sure, there are people down in College Station who will always see themselves as the Longhorns' inferior little brothers just like there are still people around Arkansas who see Texas as a rival even though the Hogs were third fiddle at best back when they used to regularly play over 30 years ago. Some people are just brainwashed and there's nothing anyone can do to reset how they think.
Now, Ross Bjork, who was the Aggies' athletics director for much of their time in the SEC, kept a certain loving eye toward the Big Ten. That's why when Fisher finally got the hook there were a lot of people who thought he would soon be the boss of Ohio State's Ryan Day.
Technically, those people were right because Bjork's love for the Big Ten became so overwhelming that he left to become the Buckeyes' AD. Perhaps that's where all these rumors originate.
Yes, the SEC kinda did Texas A&M dirty by bringing in Texas against the Aggies' wishes. However, if Clemson, Florida State or Miami come waltzing into the conference any time soon, the argument and hurt feelings will have to go by the wayside because the unwritten clause to which A&M pointed at the time it was announced would be officially out the window for everyone.
So, there's no need for Arkansas fans to feel stressed about no longer getting an early SEC game with the Aggies that will undoubtedly serve was the weather vane that shows which direction the season's winds are going to blow. That pivotal game is going to keep happening with the accuracy of meteorologist Melinda Mayo predicting Harp's will be soon be out of bread after confirming snow is on the way.
That is unless the Aggies decided to Ag. Old habits are hard to break.
