Texas A&M vs. LSU: Both schools happy to see rivalry renewed

Since first meeting in 1899, only two teams (Tulane, Rice) have faced the LSU Tigers more times in history than the Texas A&M Aggies. It was a rivalry that spanned nearly a century before fizzling in the early 1990s, but will finally have new life as the two teams are in the same conference for the first time since 1914 when both were in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Now in the SEC, the Aggies have a chance to re-kindle that rivalry and fans are excited to do so, says Jim Kleinpeter of The Times-Picayune.

"A lot of fans went to the game in the '80s and '90s and see it as a renewal of a great rivalry," said Herb Vincent, LSU's vice chancellor and senior associate athletic director. "There are a lot of similarities between the schools with their military traditions. A lot of the old-time fans are excited about bringing Texas A&M into the league."

The two teams got a head-start on the renewal of their rivalry in January 2011 when facing each other in the Cotton Bowl. It was the first time the Aggies and Tigers faced each other in 15 years and only the second bowl game between the two teams. LSU won, 41-24.