"Always going to mean something": Texas A&M Mike Elko explains significance of rivalry with Texas ahead of high-stakes matchup

Mike Elko’s first season in charge at No. 20 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 SEC) has been quite impressive. Just as he did at Duke, he’s transformed the Aggies into a potential contender in the SEC. The coach now faces his most important game of the season against Texas (10-1, 6-1 SEC).

With a potential berth in the SEC championship game at stake, Elko underscored the immense importance of the matchup. He highlighted not only the present-day implications but also the deep historical significance of this rivalry, making it a defining moment for both teams.

“This game was always going to mean something,” Mike Elko said on Monday. “You guys have been asking me about it since the day I got hired, and now it means everything.

“We have that opportunity to right the last two wrongs in SEC play (road losses to South Carolina and Auburn) and go out with a bang and put ourselves in the SEC Championship Game. That’s the focus, that’s the task at hand. Obviously, we’re excited and ready for the challenge.”

The winner of the clash will face Georgia in the conference title game at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This has heightened the stakes around the long-anticipated rivalry game.

Mike Elko expects a more electric atmosphere at Kyle Field

The game atmosphere at Kyle Field is always a charged one. However, the stakes and intense rivalry promise to amplify that on Saturday. Mike Elko expressed his belief that this matchup could elevate the energy to an unprecedented level, setting a new standard for the stadium.

The coach expects an electric environment, with the fans’ passion and enthusiasm playing a pivotal role in creating a hostile setting for the in-state rival. This will further showcase the spirit of Texas A&M football in a rivalry matchup that hasn’t been played in more than a decade.

“The best it’s ever been,” Elko predicted with a great level of confidence. “Listen, you get a primetime TV game against your rival in a game that is for the SEC Championship.”

“I would imagine that will break the rafters a little bit. I would imagine attendance will be really large. I know the ticket pull was really large. There will be a lot of excitement and electricity in the air for sure on Saturday night.”

The storied rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M, which began in 1894, was put on hold when the Aggies departed the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012. For more than a decade, this iconic matchup has been eagerly anticipated by many, making its return a momentous occasion.