Texas enters Saturday night as the No. 3 team in the current College Football Playoff rankings, on track to both qualify for the 12-team field and earn a first-round bye (given to the winner of each of the Power 4 conferences). The Longhorns will quickly lose that comfortable position with a loss Saturday night.

Thirteen years ago, future Hall of Fame kicker Justin Tucker nailed a 40-yard field goal that sent Texas to an emotional 27-25 victory over Texas A&M. The next year, the Aggies joined the SEC and the game went dark.

Thanksgiving Week has blessed us with rivalry games — old and renewed — featuring endless conference tiebreaker and College Football Playoff scenarios, including Michigan at Ohio State, a top-15 Palmetto Bowl and the return of Texas versus Texas A&M.

The Wolverines are overmatched, but well-prepared, playing their third top-five team of the season in their version of this season’s championship game. Ohio State is 0-5 against the spread as a favorite of a touchdown or more against Michigan since 2013.

SportsLine's model revealed its college football predictions for Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies in the 2024 Lone Star Showdown

We've reached the final weekend of the 2024 regular season, and rivalry week is filled with exciting matchups. Still, the Lone Star Showdown revival between Texas A&M and the Texas Longhorns has major postseason implications.

After blowing out Oklahoma State in a lopsided Big 12 Championship Game, the Texas Longhorns have a path to the College Football Playoff still. However, Steve Sarkisian's team is anything but a shoo-in for the Top 4 in the final CFP rankings.

This column will give out four college football picks per week: the game of the week, a favorite, an underdog and a wild card, which can be anything (another favorite or underdog in a game that might be flying under the radar or a total,