Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and everyone will be joining their families around the table. The Lone Star Showdown is finally back with the Texas Longhorns joining the SEC last season. Another chapter in the rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M will happen on Friday night at DKR Memorial Stadium.
If Texas were to upset the Aggies on Friday night, it would be a great resume' builder for being one of the wildcard teams in the College Football Playoffs. On the other hand, if A&M were to beat the Longhorns, they would have an undefeated season heading into the SEC Championship and an at-large bid for the playoffs.
Here are four massive storylines heading into the Lone Star Showdown Friday night:
1. Time to rain on A&M's parade
If the Aggies want to have an undefeated season heading into the SEC Championship, they'll have to go through Bevo and the Longhorns first. Wouldn't it be amazing if the Longhorns were able to ruin the Aggies' season by beating them in their final regular-season game? While the team would love the resume' builder, Texas fans will drive Aggie fans insane on social media.
2. Marcel Reed Heisman hopes
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed is one of the players who is considered to be a Heisman Trophy Finalist this season. The Longhorns' defense will have to prepare as it did last week against Taylen Green. He's a dual-threat quarterback who's not afraid to run the ball if his options aren't open downfield. Texas doesn't want to be shown on his Heisman highlight reel, and it could be a long game for Texas if the defense can't keep Reed in check on Friday night.
3. Texas's College Football Playoff destiny is still at stake
If Texas is going to get back into the College Football Playoff race this weekend, it's going to need a lot of help from teams across the country in addition to beating the Aggies. If the Longhorns were to receive their fourth loss of the season, it would all but cement a spot in one of the bowl games in December. If the Longhorns were to win, they could have a shot at getting back inthe mix as a wildcard in the College Football Playoffs.
4. Time for Arch to add another top 10 victory
Arch Manning has done a good job during his first season as the starting quarterback at Texas, and he has two victories against top-ten teams this season. With this being the final game of the regular season, why not close it out with his third victory against a top team? If Manning was able to take care of Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, why can't he add Texas A&M to that list as well?
It would be a huge momentum builder for his development going into next season if Manning were to pull off the upset this weekend.