On Nov. 24, 2011, Texas and Texas A&M faced off in a thrilling final matchup before the Aggies’ departure from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference. At Kyle Field, the Lone Star Showdown culminated in a narrow victory for the Longhorns over their rivals from College Station, with a final score of 27-25.
The Aggies, led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill and a roaring home crowd, struck quickly in the first quarter.
On their first drive, Tannehill threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Ben Malena, taking an early 7-0 lead. Shortly after, A&M extended their lead when kicker Randy Bullock drilled a 49-yard field goal, making it 10-0 with 5:40 left in the first quarter. Another field goal drive put the Aggies up 13 in the second quarter.
In contrast to the Aggies’ early surge, the Longhorns struggled offensively. It wasn’t until midway through the second quarter that a quick spark came in the form of a trick play. Texas wide receiver Jaxon Shipley threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to tight end Blaine Irby, cutting the Aggies’ lead to 13-7 and making it a one-score game.
A&M responded before halftime with Bullock’s third field goal, a 29-yarder that increased their lead to 16-7.
The Longhorns struggled on their final drive of the half. Quarterback Case McCoy was sacked by defensive end Damontre Moore for a 6-yard loss. Then, compounding their troubles, a false start penalty on wide receiver Marquise Goodwin tacked on another 5 yards and a 10-second runoff, preventing the Longhorns from capitalizing on the time they had left before the break.
However, Texas quickly made up for their mistakes in the first half.
The Aggies’ opening drive was cut short by Longhorn cornerback Carrington Byndom. Intercepting Tannehill’s pass, Byndom returned for a 58-yard touchdown, bringing the Longhorns within two points at 16-14. Shortly after, Texas capitalized on a stalled A&M drive and kicker Justin Tucker nailed a 23-yard field goal, giving Texas its first lead at 17-16.
At the 6:53 mark in the third quarter, Tannehill threw his third interception, picked off by Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro for 24 yards. The drive was capped off by running back Cody Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown rush, putting Texas ahead 24-16.
The fourth quarter saw A&M fight back, with Bullock making his fourth field goal, a 32-yarder, and narrowing Texas’ lead to 24-19. Then, with 4:12 left, Tannehill led a clutch 68-yard drive, ending with a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jeff Fuller. However, A&M’s two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Aggies ahead 25-24.
With under two minutes left, Texas responded with urgency. McCoy led the Longhorns on a determined final drive down the field. In seven plays, with the clock hitting zero, Tucker nailed a 40-yard field goal, clinching the 27-25 win and igniting jubilation amongst Longhorn fans in an unforgettable Lone Star Showdown.
Thirteen years after Tucker’s iconic 40-yard kick sealed the win, Texas still holds onto that last victory in the Lone Star Showdown. Now, as SEC rivals, the Longhorns and Aggies are set to reignite their storied battle, with Texas looking to extend the legacy Tucker’s kick preserved.
