Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M's 2010 win stands out in an otherwise lopsided rivalry with OU

Gridiron providence has extended the series with a bonus game, a Cotton Bowl that Friday night offers one of the few bowl showdowns: ninth-ranked A&M against the 11th-ranked Sooners.

And here's what the Aggies like to remember: 2010. Their only victory over OU since 2002.

“My best memory is when we beat ‘em in Kyle Field,” said A&M tight end Michael Lamothe. “I guess the best memory was the first snap. They snapped it over the head of Landry Jones for a safety. That was fun.”

The Aggies won that game 33-19 and eventually tied OU and OSU atop the Big 12 South Division. The Sooners won the tiebreaker and went on to win the Big 12 championship.

Since Stoops' arrival, OU won seven titles in a Big 12 that included A&M. The Aggies won none.

“Obviously, OU, they had so much history,” said A&M flanker Ryan Swope. “They've been to so many bowl games, done so many great things. The history of OU, just a great football team. Well coached. Great athletes. They get recruits. Just a great program itself. It's a privilege to play a prestigious program like that.”

A privilege to play, and a rush to beat.

“We came out and played,” said offensive tackle and Outland Trophy winner Luke Joeckel. “We really didn't mistakes. We didn't turn the ball over. The team that plays smart usually wins the game.”

Actually, the Sooners played a cleaner game in 2010 than did the Aggies. A&M had two turnovers to the Sooners' one, and A&M had 83 penalty yards to the Sooners' 29.