Will the Texas Legislature Require Texas A&M and the University of Texas to Play a Football Game

When Texas A&M University left the Big 12 Conference to join the Southeastern Conference, it ended a football rivalry with the University of Texas , at least for the time being, that has spanned more than one hundred (100) years. It has been widely reported that both sides have discussed competing against one another again, but have not been able to do so due to schedules that are locked in for many years in the future. Texas State Rep. Lyle Larson, a Republican from San Antonio, has an idea to expedite the process. He filed House Bill 412, which states as follows:

Sec. 51.9246. FOOTBALL GAME BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AND TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY. (a) The intercollegiate football teams of The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University shall play a nonconference, regular-season football game against one another on the fourth Thursday, Friday, or Saturday of November each year.

(b) If The University of Texas at Austin or Texas A&M University refuses to play the football game required by Subsection (a) in a year, the university may not award to any student for the following academic year an athletic scholarship, grant, or similar financial assistance funded by state funds and conditioned on the student's participation on the university's intercollegiate football team.

It is unlikely that House Bill 412 will be adopted, but it was worth a shot.