COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Patrick Lewis #61 of the Texas A&M Aggies prepares to snap the ball against the Texas Longhorns in the second half of a game at Kyle Field on November 24, 2011 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

Houston (CBS Houston) – One of the most storied rivalries in the history of football could make its way to the field for one night only in the bowl that bears the name of the state both sides call home.

The University of Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies could potentially meet in the Advocare V100 Texas Bowl.

“I would, like 99 percent of the fans in the state of Texas, love it,” said former Texas A&M Head Coach Jackie Sherrill. “There’s no question, you wouldn’t be able to get a ticket.”

“I think it would be great for all parties involved, especially the Texas Bowl,” said former Texas linebacker Brian Jones who played at UT for two years where he was All-SWC in 1990. “It’s called the Texas Bowl! Why not have two teams from Texas? And who better than arch-rivals Texas and Texas A&M.”

It would be the first football meeting between the two universities since their 2011 showdown in College Station which saw the Longhorns win with a field goal as time expired.

College football hasn’t felt the same since the rivalry went dormant. To say it ended would be an understatement.

Jones said he thinks it is one of the best rivalries in college football and it might even be bigger than Texas-Oklahoma.

“Even though we hate them just as much, but maybe we hate A&M, maybe just a couple of inches, couple of ounces more.”

The two schools have gone in different directions since the departure. Texas A&M hired Kevin Sumlin while Texas finally bid farewell to Mack Brown replacing him with Charlie Strong. The Longhorns still played on Thanksgiving, alternating Texas Tech and TCU as opponents on that night. The Aggies make their return to Thanksgiving football this year with a game against LSU.

The old Thanksgiving time showdown could be back on the table this December with a little luck.

“The SEC and Big 12 are two of the elite conferences in the country,” said David Fletcher, the executive director of the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl. “We have them here in Houston for the first time. Given the proximity to the area, and how well those two conferences have performed, I think anytime you can put two of the best together in a great city like Houston it’s a good thing for everybody.”

Texas would need to finish fourth or fifth in the Big 12 to see the Aggies across from them in the Texas Bowl. Finishing there would ensure the Texas Bowl, which picks third in the Big 12 bowl committments, has a shot at the Longhorns. Texas’ odds to end up there increase if Baylor or TCU make the college football playoff.

The Longhorns currently sit at 5-3 in the Big 12 with only TCU left on their schedule. It seems likely Oklahoma will finish with six conference wins as they have four now with Oklahoma State and Kansas left. West Virginia would need to win out to finish ahead of Texas, as the tiebreaker goes against the Mountaineers.

The Aggies part may already be done. The SEC will work with bowl officials to determine the best bowl fit for their teams. There is a chance SEC officials could protect the Aggies by placing them in another bowl, but it is hard to imagine a better fit for Texas A&M than Houston on Dec. 28.

“In the state of Texas, it would rekindle a lot of special feelings-a lot of special memories,” said voice of the Longhorns Craig Way. “There’s some things about that rivalry that were pretty special.”

Way said Texas is already excited about turning their season around and making a bowl game. There would be some extra excitement to see the Aggies as the opponents.

“Now the fact that it perhaps could be against old rival, seems to make it even more exciting, especially for some people.”

Would the schools shy away from squaring off? Recent public conversations would lead people to believe there are important parties on both sides which may not want to play the special game again.

“Each side went about its business and went its separate ways, and I understand the reasons they both put forward for that,” Way said.

Former Texas A&M linebacker Dat Nguyen said the sides may be content to stay apart.

“I don’t know if the school officials would like this to happen, seems like they have accepted that the two schools have gone their separate ways.”

Nguyen said he would be in favor or the teams ending up playing again each year, but said playing later in the season, like the traditional Thanksgiving date, could be tough because of A&M’s conference slate.

Jones and Sherrill both want the game back.

Jones called it a “great rivalry” and said he hated the thought it could be done for good.

“I’ve always held out hope that something would bring the two parties back together.”

Sherrill treasures what the potential showdown between Texas A&M and Texas could mean.

“That game is a state treasure,” Sherrill said. “The people of the state of Texas deserve to have it and to see it played.”

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