In the first quarter of the 2024 Lone Star Showdown, then-junior defensive back Michael Taaffe intercepted then-freshman Marcel Reed in what he later described as “the top moment of (his) life.”
About 365 days later, playing undefeated Texas A&M in Austin for the first time in 15 years, Taaffe picked Reed off again in the last four minutes of a senior night game that may have turned into the saving grace of a Texas season full of both struggles and almost beyond belief comebacks.
“You go from walking on to living out your dream,” Taaffe said postgame. “And the last game that you get an interception in is against your rival at home, last game at DKR. It felt so good … I don’t think I could have wrote the story better. And the hard times made this so much more sweet.”
For the second time since the rivalry was reignited last year, the Longhorns celebrated a win over the Aggies as the packed stands erupted in cheers and songs, holding horns up to “The Eyes of Texas” before belting out Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” while the players skipped into the tunnel with the screen overhead flashing the final score of 27-17.
Last year, both Texas and Texas A&M couldn’t have been in much more different places. Texas was looking to secure its place in the Southeastern Conference Championship during its first year in the SEC, and Texas A&M was just holding on to the hope that a win over the then-No.3 Longhorns might give the Aggies more time before their season ended.
This season, however, the two seemed to have pulled a “Freaky Friday,” with Texas A&M heading into the cold November night with hopes of securing its first SEC Championship since joining the conference in 2012. For Texas, this game was a last resort to pitch its eligibility to the College Football Playoff committee. The Longhorns now have three wins against top-10 teams under their belt — the first team to do so since the 2019 national champion, LSU.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the team we have in that locker room downstairs is a playoff football team and worthy of an opportunity to play for a national championship,” Sarkisian said.
The win over Texas A&M opened up parts of the playbook that were missing over the course of the season. Tight end play finally jumped into action, with junior Jack Endries leading in receptions with four catches and 93 yards and freshman Nick Townsend making his first career touchdown to open the fourth quarter.
Junior running back Quintrevion Wisner also had one of his best nights of the season. Although the Texas ground game seemed to have stalled during conference play, Wisner found his stride against the Aggies, rushing for over 100 yards for the first time this season. Manning’s legs also helped to open up the field with the quarterback rushing for 53 yards and a 35-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
As the clock ticked down the final seconds of the game, Manning took a knee on each final down and a light mist drizzled over Darrell K Royal Texas-Memorial Stadium. Long after fans had filed out of the stands and everyone had left the field empty, several seniors on the team took a moment to go back on the field, closing out the night by gathering around and basking in the glory of a final win.
“To know that I can’t run out there ever again is this bittersweet feeling. I think I gave DKR everything that I had,” Taaffe said.
