Texas vs. Aggies rivalry reaches new heights as Lone Star Showdown retails for $445 more than NFL’s Thanksgiving game

The rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies is strong. The teams used to play each other regularly, but ever since the Aggies joined the SEC, this fixture became rare on the football field.

That is until this season. With the Longhorns now in the SEC, the teams can now face each other more frequently. That is what they are doing this season, as the two teams will meet on Nov. 30 at Kyle Field, the home of the Aggies.

It is safe to say that demand for this game is high.

Data from the SeatGeek website shows that the cheapest ticket for the Longhorns vs. Aggies game is $557. In contrast, the closest NFL game in the state near the date of the game is the Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving game against the New York Giants. SeatGeek has these tickets starting at $121.

The NFL tickets are approximately 78 percent cheaper than the college football game. But why?

Why are tickets to Texas vs. Texas A&M more expensive than the NFL?

One of the reasons is the prestige of the matchup.

Both games are between division rivals, but the Giants and Cowboys meet twice a year and have done so since the Cowboys joined the NFC East in 1967, when it was the Capitol Division. In contrast, this is the only time the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies will meet this year — that alone will generate more interest. But this game will be the first time the two have met since 2011.

Add in the notion that this game is the final game of the regular season, where a place in the SEC Championship Game and places in the College Football Playoffs could be up for grabs. It is no wonder that people want to see these two historic programs battle it out.

The appeal of the Texas Longhorns

Apart from the fixture itself, another draw is that the game features the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns are one of the biggest programs in college sports, and this year, there are high expectations for their program.

Texas is one of the favorites to win the SEC this year and to make a run for the national championship. Victory against the Aggies will then be vital if they are to have the best chance to achieve these goals.

But if Texas were to slip up in the final game against the Aggies, a sellout crowd could see the Longhorns' season end in disappointment.