Lone Star Showdown Named On3's Top SEC Matchup of 2026 as Manning Era Builds

The Lone Star Showdown between Texas and Texas A&M has been ranked the No. 1 SEC matchup of the 2026 college football season by On3, according to a list assembled by analysts Crain and Cone. The designation underscores the renewed national profile of the rivalry since it returned to conference play.

On3's ranking placed the Texas-Texas A&M game above all other intra-conference matchups on the 2026 SEC schedule. The rivalry resumed within the SEC last season, with Texas defeating the Aggies in that initial meeting.

The Lone Star Showdown tops the list as Crain & Cone's biggest SEC game of 2026. The rivalry returned to the SEC last season, with Texas defeating…

— On3, via Burnt Orange Nation

Manning Headlines Texas Entering 2026

Much of the attention surrounding Texas heading into 2026 centers on quarterback Arch Manning, who is entering his fourth year with the program and his second as the team's starter. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has built a roster described as loaded with talent, though Manning remains the program's most prominent storyline entering the season.

Texas A&M, meanwhile, enters the season with questions of its own on offense. On3 analyst J.D. PicKell did not include the Aggies in his Top 10 college football offense rankings for 2026, a notable omission heading into a year when the program faces elevated expectations.

The Longhorns' schedule carries additional weight beyond the rivalry game. Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt has pointed to Texas's matchup with Ohio State as a pivotal early test, stating on his podcast that the loser of that game could face an uphill path to the College Football Playoff. Combined with the Lone Star Showdown's top billing among SEC games, Texas is positioned as one of the most closely watched programs in the country as the 2026 season approaches.