AUSTIN, Texas — Texas A&M heaped one final insult on Texas’ miserable season.
Cyrus Gray rushed for 223 yards, including two long touchdowns, to help No. 17 Texas A&M beat Texas 24-17 on Thursday night and send the Longhorns to their first losing season since 1997.
“We set out at the beginning of the season to do this,” Texas A&M senior center Matt Allen said. “Beat Texas and win in November.”
Gray had touchdown runs of 84 yards in the second quarter and 48 yards in the third. Von Miller intercepted a tipped pass at the Texas A&M 11 with 2:37 left to kill what looked like a Texas drive for the tying TD.
Jeff Fuller also caught a touchdown pass and Randy Bullock kicked a 50-yard field goal for the Aggies (9-3, 6-2 Big 12), who won their sixth game in a row.
Texas’ fifth home loss kept the Longhorns (5-7, 2-6) from earning bowl-eligibility just one season after playing for the national championship.
“From the first scrimmage of the year, I didn’t see what I wanted,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “I learned I don’t like losing. It’s been 20 years since I haven’t been to a bowl.”
The Aggies still have a chance to win a share of the Big 12 South if Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Aggies still would be a longshot for the Big 12 championship game because of a tiebreaker based on BCS standings.
“Our fans want to be relevant, and we are this year,” said third-year Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman, who was 4-8 and 6-7 in his first two seasons.
The Aggies have a chance to get their first 10-win season since 1998, when they won their only Big 12 championship.
Gray carried the Aggies to this victory. He is the first Texas A&M running back to reach 200 yards since 1995 and has six consecutive 100-yard games.
