The first Texas-Texas A&M football game in 13 years is going to be as big as everyone hoped.

No. 3 Texas did its part, capturing a 31-14 win over Kentucky on Saturday. The Aggies dug themselves out of a 21-point hole, but No. 15 A&M ultimately fell to Auburn 43-41 in a four-overtime heartbreaker at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

It doesn’t matter. The hype machine can still go into overdrive with the SEC's tiebreakers falling in A&M's favor.

Next Saturday, the two teams will meet at Kyle Field with both teams angling for a spot in the SEC championship game. The SEC office confirmed Saturday night that the Longhorns-Aggies winner will meet Georgia in Atlanta.

Georgia (9-2, 6-2 SEC) clinched a spot in the title game with Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma on Saturday.

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Texas (10-1, 6-1 SEC) has controlled its own destiny for weeks. A&M (8-3, 5-2) probably figured its championship hopes went up in smoke against Auburn. Alas, not so much. They’re very much alive. 

ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be in College Station to showcase the rivalry’s return. The game will have a plum 6:30 p.m. prime-time spot on ABC.

“I mean, it's going to be amazing,” Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron said. “You know, these are the type of moments you live for.”

Barron said he was going to “go home, sit on the couch and eat some ice cream” and watch the A&M-Auburn game.

“This whole team is fired up for just another opportunity, especially for this one coming back with the tradition it has,” UT quarterback Quinn Ewers said. “We’re all pretty fired up.”

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has refused to talk about future opponents all season long. But now, the A&M game is here. “I also know how much it means to every household in the state of Texas, so it’s pretty cool to be part of. I’m excited.”

“For us, the game is the game. As far as what are we trying to accomplish, to win that game, to get into the SEC championship game,” Sarkisian said. “But I’m not naive to know the rivalry is the rivalry and what this game means to the entire state of Texas and households being divided Thanksgiving weekend.”

Sarkisian said he told the players that as cool as the situation may be, “what we are doing today right now, when I get done speaking, to prepare for that?” In his mind, every minute should be consumed with thinking about preparing to play your best.

No need to check how the Aggies feel. Coach Mike Elko made that clear last week in the run-up to Auburn.

“I think our focus is singlehandedly on Texas. Or, I mean on Auburn right now and locked in what we’ve got to get done,” Elko said last Monday during a press conference to talk about the Tigers, not the Longhorns.

A&M looked like a team that saw its season slipping away Saturday night. The Tigers jumped out to a 21-point lead. But Marcel Reed engineered three scoring drives, including touchdown throws of 14 and 73 yards to Noah Thomas.

It went back and forth from there, and Amari Daniels’ eight-yard touchdown run put the Aggies ahead with 4:01 remaining. Auburn tied the game with five seconds left in regulation with a 29-yard field goal, and the two teams went to overtime.

In the fourth OT, A&M ran a trick play where Reed looked to connect with Daniels in the end zone. But Daniels simply dropped the catchable pass, and Auburn fans stormed the field.

The Aggies were stunned Saturday night. But they’ll be ready to go Saturday when the Longhorns roll into town.

It’s been 13 years. Hard to wait a few more days. But the rivalry is back.