If you're frantically refreshing your feed or asking anyone who will listen, "what's the score to the texas longhorns game," you aren't alone. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the Forty Acres is buzzing because we’ve got a massive rivalry renewal on our hands. The Texas Longhorns are currently facing off against the Texas A&M Aggies at the Moody Center in Austin.
As of right now, the game is in a halftime break with the score tied at 29-29.
This isn't just any regular-season matchup. This is the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown, a game that feels like it has about a century’s worth of tension packed into forty minutes of basketball. Honestly, watching these two teams go at it in the SEC era hits a little different than it used to. The atmosphere in Austin is reportedly electric, with the student section practically vibrating.
The Lone Star Showdown: Breaking Down the First Half
The first twenty minutes were exactly what you'd expect from a rivalry of this magnitude: gritty, a bit sloppy at times, and incredibly physical. Texas came into this one with some serious momentum after a massive 80-64 win over Vanderbilt earlier this week. Coach Sean Miller seems to have found a rhythm with this rotation, but the Aggies aren't exactly rolling over.
Texas A&M is playing that "bruiser" style of basketball that keeps games close. They’ve been crashing the boards hard, which is making life difficult for the Longhorns' frontcourt. On the flip side, Texas has been lean-and-mean in transition when they can actually get a stop. The 29-29 halftime score tells you everything you need to know about how tightly contested this thing is.
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Key Performers to Watch
While the box score is still developing, a few names are popping off the screen. For Texas, the backcourt duo of Jordan Pope and freshman sensation Tre Johnson are the focal points. Pope has been the steady hand all season, while Johnson is that "X-factor" who can turn a three-point lead into a ten-point lead in about sixty seconds.
For the Aggies, it’s all about surviving the Texas pressure. They’ve been relying on their veteran leadership to slow the pace down. If they can keep this a half-court game, they have a real shot at stealing one on the road.
What's at Stake for the Longhorns Tonight?
Beyond just bragging rights—which, let’s be real, are 90% of the reason we care—this game has huge SEC standings implications. Texas is currently sitting with an 11-6 record (and a 3-2 mark in conference play). After a rough patch earlier in January where they dropped games to Mississippi State and Tennessee, they’ve clawed back with wins over Alabama and Vandy.
Winning tonight would:
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- Solidify their spot in the top half of the SEC.
- Keep them in the conversation for a protected seed in the NCAA Tournament.
- Shut up the Aggie fans for at least a few months.
It’s worth noting that the Longhorns have been nearly unbeatable at the Moody Center this season. They play with a different kind of swagger at home. However, the Aggies have a history of making things "weird" in Austin, and tonight is no exception.
Around the Forty Acres: Other Longhorn News
It’s a massive weekend for Texas Athletics in general. While you're tracking the basketball score, the Track and Field team is up in Lubbock at the Corky Classic. We just saw a program record fall yesterday—junior transfer Giavonna Meeks absolutely shattered the women’s weight throw record with a toss of 22.37 meters. That’s the kind of elite performance we’ve come to expect from Coach Flo’s squad.
Also, for the tennis fans, the No. 2 ranked men’s team is prepping for a top-five clash against Virginia tomorrow at the Texas Tennis Center. It's basically a non-stop highlight reel for the Burnt Orange right now.
And let’s not forget the transfer portal drama. Football news never sleeps, and with the recent news of star edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen hitting the portal, every Longhorn fan is wondering if Steve Sarkisian is going to make a move to bring the Manor, Texas native back home.
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How to Follow the Second Half
If you can’t get to a TV, the game is being broadcast on ESPN. You can also catch the radio call on the Longhorn Radio Network or Sirius XM channel 380.
Basically, if you were wondering what's the score to the texas longhorns game, you're looking at a dead heat. The second half is likely going to come down to whoever can take care of the ball and hit their free throws in the final four minutes. Rivalry games usually aren't about X's and O's; they're about who wants it more when the legs get heavy.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Tune in now: The second half is about to tip off on ESPN.
- Check Live Stats: If you're on the move, the official Texas Sports website (texassports.com) has a live stat feed that is faster than most cable broadcasts.
- Watch the Women's Game Tomorrow: Don't forget the No. 4 ranked Texas Women's Basketball team takes on these same Aggies tomorrow, Sunday, Jan 18, at 3 p.m. CT.
The tension in the Moody Center is thick enough to cut with a knife. Stay tuned, because this one is heading for a photo finish.