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Texas A&M Football: Dream Non-Conference Matchups

By Graham Harmon

Nov 26, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Moose Muhammad III (7) celebrates with wide receiver Noah Thomas (9) after scoring a touchdown against the LSU Tigers during the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Moose Muhammad III (7) celebrates with wide receiver Noah Thomas (9) after scoring a touchdown against the LSU Tigers during the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 12, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) celebrates with offensive linesman Juice Scruggs (70) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) celebrates with offensive linesman Juice Scruggs (70) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas A&M football vs. Penn State

In recent years, Texas A&M has seen very few matchups against Big 10 programs, whether in regular season non-conference or bowl games. Their last game against a team from the conference was the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas in 2011 against Northwestern—the last game they played before moving to the SEC.

There were all the rumors from 2020 that the Aggies may quickly schedule a game with Ohio State on the final week of the season, when both teams had games canceled due to COVID issues with their opponents and needed another data point. That never materialized, of course, but it would have been quite a game—the teams ended up with identical scores against their one common opponent (eventual national champ Alabama), with Texas A&M football coming out with slightly better stats.

Regardless, a game against a top Big 10 program would be huge for the Aggies. My grandfather graduated from Penn State, so I’ve always liked seeing the two schools match up in any sport (this spring’s basketball result notwithstanding). Even aside from personal stakes, this is a matchup that makes a lot of sense. Penn State has the second-biggest stadium in the Big 10, and the Aggies have the biggest in the SEC. Penn State has demonstrated a willingness to schedule these types of games, coming off a home-and-home against Auburn. The Nittany Lions don’t get much exposure in Texas typically, nor do the Aggies in the Midwest or Northeast. Both are huge universities with massive alumni bases. This one would sell tickets without a doubt.