Battle of the Brazos

Texas A&M (68)	Baylor (31)
1899 1901 1902 1902 1903 1903 1904 1904 1905 1905 1909 1911 1912 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1925 1931 1933 1934 1939 1940 1941 1945 1946 1947 1955 1956 1957 1958 1961 1962 1966 1967 1969 1971 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1982 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011	1901 1901 1908 1922 1924 1926 1935 1937 1942 1948 1949 1950 1952 1953 1954 1959 1960 1963 1964 1965 1968 1970 1972 1978 1979 1980 1981 1984 1985 2004 2008
Tie (9)
1903 1913 1923 1932 1936 1938 1951 1983 1990

The Battle of the Brazos is the official collegiate sports rivalry between the Baylor Bears

Baylor Bears

Baylor Bears refers to the sports teams of Baylor University. Baylor's men's sports teams are nicknamed the Bears, and some women's teams are nicknamed the Lady Bears. Student athletes participate in the NCAA's Division I, and Baylor is the only private school in the Big 12 Conference...

 and Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M Aggies refers to the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University. The nickname "Aggie" is common at land-grant or "Ag" schools in many states. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...

. The rivalry is named for the Brazos River

Brazos River

The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...

 that flows by the two schools, which are only 90 miles apart. The Battle of the Brazos debuted in 1899, the year the first football game was played.

History

In the early days of the rivalry (1905 and earlier), Baylor and Texas A&M played each other multiple times, possibly due to a dearth of regional opponents. In 1996, the NCAA introduced overtime to college football

College football

College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

, eliminating the chance of ties that had only infrequently occurred in the rivalry since 1939.

In the early days of the rivalry, Texas A&M was an all-male college, and Baylor was the closest college that had female students. Many Baylor coeds chose to date Aggies causing some resentment among the male students at Baylor, who did not have a corresponding pool of young women from Texas A&M to date.

The Brawl

The 1926 football game coincided with Baylor's homecoming. During halftime Baylor Homecoming floats paraded around the field. When a float - actually a car pulling a flatbed trailer with several female Baylor students - neared the section where the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets sat, a cadet raced towards the car to try to steer it away. The motion caused Louise Normand to fall off the truck, injuring her and inciting a large riot. Students began using metal folding chairs and planks of wood that had been used as yard markers for weapons. Texas A&M student Lt. Charles Sessums was hit over the head with a chair in the melee and, although he initially appeared to recover, he died following the game.

On December 8, 1926, the two school presidents agreed to temporarily suspend athletic relations between the schools. The schools would not compete against each other in any athletic event for the next four years. Baylor and Texas A&M would not meet in football again until 1931.

Pranks

In the 1950s, two Aggie students drove to Waco and stole the Baylor mascot, a young bear cub, from the Baylor campus. While they were driving back to College Station in a brand–new car belonging to one of their families, the bear became terrified. Twenty–miles from Waco, the bear ripped out the inside of the car, and the boys set it free. The young men were caught when they took the car to be repaired.

Baylor students likewise pranked the Aggies, often sneaking onto the Texas A&M campus

Campus of Texas A&M University

The campus of Texas A&M University, also known as Aggieland, is situated in College Station, Texas, USA. Aggieland is centrally located within 200 miles of three of the 10 largest cities in the United States and 75% of the Texas and Louisiana populations...

 to spray green paint on the statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross

Lawrence Sullivan Ross

Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross was the 19th Governor of Texas , a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War, and a president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, now called Texas A&M University.Ross was raised in the Republic of Texas, which was later annexed to...

. Ross was the third president of Texas A&M, who attended Baylor as an undergraduate.

Former U.S. House Majority Leader

Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives

Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives are elected by their respective parties in a closed-door caucus by secret ballot and are also known as floor leaders. The U.S. House of Representatives does not officially use the term "Minority Leader", although the media frequently does...

 Tom DeLay

Tom DeLay

Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...

 was expelled from Baylor after he was in part found painting one of A&M's buildings green.

Football

The competitive peak of the series between Baylor and Texas A&M most likely occurred between 1960 and 1990 where Baylor won 13 games, A&M won 16 games, and two games ended in ties. During that same time period 18 of the 31 games played saw the final margin of victory to be 7 points or less. Texas Football magazine voted the 1986 game between the schools the Game of the Decade of the 80s in the Southwest Conference. Baylor led the game 17–0 in the 1st half and was positioned to score again when the Texas A&M defense was able to stop the Bears. The Aggies came back to win the game in the final minutes 31–30 to claim the SWC Championship and advance to the Cotton Bowl. while Baylor finished in 2nd and ended the year with a victory over Colorado in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
Another exciting game was the 1978 contest in which little-known Baylor freshman Walter Abercrombie rushed for 207 yards in a 24–6 Baylor win in College Station. The 207 yards were a then NCAA record for rushing yardage in an initial game. In the 1980 contest Baylor won by the blowout score of 46–7, going on that year to win the SWC Championship by a record 3 games and garnering a berth in the Cotton Bowl.
The thrilling 1986 A&M win began a period of domination in the series, in which Baylor did not beat A&M for 18 seasons (17 losses and a tie in 1990). The most lopsided match in the history of the rivalry occurred in 2003 when the Aggies routed the Bears by a score of 73-10. However, in 2004 an underdog Baylor Bear team defeated the No. 16 ranked Aggies 35–34 in overtime at Floyd Casey Stadium when the Bears converted a dramatic 2 point conversion on the final play of the game to earn their first win over the Aggies since 1985. The rivalry again became bitter in 2005 when the Aggies completed two fourth down conversions to win at home 16–13 in overtime.

The Baylor Bears defeated the Aggies for only the second time in 22 years in 2008. Baylor has not won at Kyle Field since 1984 (11 games) but has won 2 of the last 4 series games in Waco. The series future will be in doubt starting in 2012, when Texas A&M joins the Southeastern Conference

Southeastern Conference

The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...

.

Texas A&M currently leads the football series with Baylor 68–31–9.

Game results

Baylor victories

Texas A&M victories

Tie games

Date	Location	Winning team		Losing team		Series
1899	College Station	Texas A&M	33	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 1-0-0
1901	College Station	Texas A&M	6	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 2-0-0
1901	College Station	Baylor	17	Texas A&M	6	Texas A&M 2-1-0
1901	College Station	Baylor	46	Texas A&M	0	Tied 2-2-0
1902	College Station	Texas A&M	11	Baylor	6	Texas A&M 3-2-0
1902	College Station	Texas A&M	22	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 4-2-0
1903	College Station	Baylor	0	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 4-2-1
1903	College Station	Texas A&M	18	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 5-2-1
1903	College Station	Texas A&M	5	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 6-2-1
1904	College Station	Texas A&M	5	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 7-2-1
1904	College Station	Texas A&M	10	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 8-2-1
1905	College Station	Texas A&M	42	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 9-2-1
1905	College Station	Texas A&M	17	Baylor	5	Texas A&M 10-2-1
1908	College Station	Baylor	6	Texas A&M	5	Texas A&M 10-3-1
1909	College Station	Texas A&M	9	Baylor	6	Texas A&M 11-3-1
1911	College Station	Texas A&M	22	Baylor	11	Texas A&M 12-3-1
1912	College Station	Texas A&M	53	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 13-3-1
1913	College Station	Baylor	14	Texas A&M	14	Texas A&M 13-3-2
November 11, 1916	Waco	Texas A&M	3	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 14-3-2
November 10, 1917	Waco	Texas A&M	7	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 15-3-2
November 9, 1918	Waco	Texas A&M	19	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 16-3-2
November 8, 1919	Waco	Texas A&M	10	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 17-3-2
November 6, 1920	Waco	Texas A&M	24	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 18-3-2
November 5, 1921	Waco	Texas A&M	14	Baylor	3	Texas A&M 19-3-2
November 4, 1922	Waco	Baylor	13	Texas A&M	7	Texas A&M 19-4-2
November 3, 1923	Waco	Baylor	0	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 19-4-3
November 1, 1924	Waco	Baylor	15	Texas A&M	7	Texas A&M 19-5-3
November 31, 1925	Waco	Texas A&M	13	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 20-5-3
November 30, 1926	Waco	Baylor	20	Texas A&M	9	Texas A&M 20-6-3
October 24, 1931	College Station	Texas A&M	33	Baylor	7	Texas A&M 21-6-3
October 22, 1932	Waco	Baylor	0	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 21-6-4
October 28, 1933	College Station	Texas A&M	14	Baylor	7	Texas A&M 22-6-4
October 27, 1934	Waco	Texas A&M	10	Baylor	7	Texas A&M 23-6-4
October 26, 1935	College Station	Baylor	14	Texas A&M	6	Texas A&M 23-7-4
October 24, 1936	Waco	Baylor	0	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 23-7-5
October 23, 1937	College Station	Baylor	13	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 23-8-5
October 22, 1938	Waco	Baylor	6	Texas A&M	6	Texas A&M 23-8-6
October 28, 1939	College Station	Texas A&M	20	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 24-8-6
October 26, 1940	Waco	Texas A&M	14	Baylor	7	Texas A&M 25-8-6
October 25, 1941	College Station	Texas A&M	48	Baylor	10	Texas A&M 26-8-6
October 24, 1942	Waco	Baylor	6	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 26-9-6
October 27, 1945	College Station	Texas A&M	19	Baylor	13	Texas A&M 27-9-6
October 26, 1946	Waco	Texas A&M	17	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 28-9-6
October 25, 1947	College Station	Texas A&M	24	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 29-9-6
October 23, 1948	Waco	Baylor	20	Texas A&M	14	Texas A&M 29-10-6
October 22, 1949	College Station	Baylor	21	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 29-11-6
October 28, 1950	Waco	Baylor	27	Texas A&M	20	Texas A&M 29-12-6
October 27, 1951	College Station	Baylor	21	Texas A&M	21	Texas A&M 29-12-7
October 25, 1952	Waco	Baylor	21	Texas A&M	20	Texas A&M 29-13-7
October 24, 1953	College Station	Baylor	14	Texas A&M	13	Texas A&M 29-14-7
October 23, 1954	Waco	Baylor	20	Texas A&M	7	Texas A&M 29-15-7
October 22, 1955	College Station	Texas A&M	19	Baylor	7	Texas A&M 30-15-7
October 27, 1956	Waco	Texas A&M	19	Baylor	13	Texas A&M 31-15-7
October 26, 1957	College Station	Texas A&M	14	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 32-15-7
October 25, 1958	Waco	Texas A&M	33	Baylor	27	Texas A&M 33-15-7
October 24, 1959	College Station	Baylor	13	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 33-16-7
October 22, 1960	Waco	Baylor	14	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 33-17-7
October 28, 1961	College Station	Texas A&M	23	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 34-17-7
October 27, 1962	Waco	Texas A&M	6	Baylor	3	Texas A&M 35-17-7
October 26, 1963	College Station	Baylor	34	Texas A&M	7	Texas A&M 35-18-7
October 24, 1964	Waco	Baylor	20	Texas A&M	16	Texas A&M 35-19-7
October 23, 1965	College Station	Baylor	31	Texas A&M	0	Texas A&M 35-20-7
October 22, 1966	Waco	Texas A&M	17	Baylor	13	Texas A&M 36-20-7
October 28, 1967	College Station	Texas A&M	21	Baylor	3	Texas A&M 37-20-7
October 26, 1968	Waco	Baylor	10	Texas A&M	9	Texas A&M 37-21-7
October 25, 1969	College Station	Texas A&M	24	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 38-21-7
October 24, 1970	Waco	Baylor	29	Texas A&M	24	Texas A&M 38-22-7
October 23, 1971	College Station	Texas A&M	10	Baylor	9	Texas A&M 39-22-7
October 28, 1972	Waco	Baylor	15	Texas A&M	13	Texas A&M 39-23-7
October 27, 1973	College Station	Texas A&M	28	Baylor	22	Texas A&M 40-23-7
October 26, 1974	Waco	Texas A&M	20	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 41-23-7
October 25, 1975	College Station	Texas A&M	19	Baylor	10	Texas A&M 42-23-7
October 16, 1976	College Station	Texas A&M	24	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 43-23-7
October 15, 1977	Waco	Texas A&M	38	Baylor	31	Texas A&M 44-23-7
October 21, 1978	College Station	Baylor	24	Texas A&M	6	Texas A&M 44-24-7
September 15, 1979	Waco	Baylor	17	Texas A&M	7	Texas A&M 44-25-7
October 18, 1980	College Station	Baylor	46	Texas A&M	7	Texas A&M 44-26-7
October 17, 1981	Waco	Baylor	19	Texas A&M	17	Texas A&M 44-27-7
October 16, 1982	College Station	Texas A&M	28	Baylor	23	Texas A&M 45-27-7
October 15, 1983	Waco	Baylor	13	Texas A&M	13	Texas A&M 45-27-8
October 20, 1984	College Station	Baylor	20	Texas A&M	16	Texas A&M 45-28-8
October 19, 1985	Waco	Baylor	20	Texas A&M	15	Texas A&M 45-29-8
October 18, 1986	College Station	Texas A&M	31	Baylor	30	Texas A&M 46-29-8
October 17, 1987	Waco	Texas A&M	34	Baylor	10	Texas A&M 47-29-8
October 15, 1988	College Station	Texas A&M	28	Baylor	14	Texas A&M 48-29-8
October 21, 1989	Waco	Texas A&M	14	Baylor	11	Texas A&M 49-29-8
October 20, 1990	College Station	Baylor	20	Texas A&M	20	Texas A&M 49-29-9
October 19, 1991	Waco	#19 Texas A&M	34	#16 Baylor	12	Texas A&M 50-29-9
October 24, 1992	College Station	#5 Texas A&M	19	Baylor	13	Texas A&M 51-29-9
October 16, 1993	Waco	#13 Texas A&M	34	Baylor	17	Texas A&M 52-29-9
October 15, 1994	College Station	Texas A&M	41	Baylor	21	Texas A&M 53-29-9
October 21, 1995	Waco	Texas A&M	24	Baylor	9	Texas A&M 54-29-9
November 9, 1996	Waco	Texas A&M	24	Baylor	7	Texas A&M 55-29-9
November 8, 1997	College Station	#21 Texas A&M	38	Baylor	10	Texas A&M 56-29-9
October 17, 1998	Waco	#10 Texas A&M	35	Baylor	14	Texas A&M 57-29-9
October 9, 1999	College Station	#13 Texas A&M	45	Baylor	13	Texas A&M 58-29-9
October 14, 2000	Waco	Texas A&M	24	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 59-29-9
October 6, 2001	College Station	#22 Texas A&M	16	Baylor	10	Texas A&M 60-29-9
October 12, 2002	Waco	Texas A&M	41	Baylor	0	Texas A&M 61-29-9
October 11, 2003	College Station	Texas A&M	73	Baylor	10	Texas A&M 62-29-9
October 30, 2004	Waco	Baylor	35 (OT)	#17 Texas A&M	34	Texas A&M 62-30-9
October 1, 2005	College Station	Texas A&M	16 (OT)	Baylor	13	Texas A&M 63-30-9
October 28, 2006	Waco	#22 Texas A&M	31	Baylor	21	Texas A&M 64-30-9
September 29, 2007	College Station	Texas A&M	34	Baylor	10	Texas A&M 65-30-9
November 15, 2008	Waco	Baylor	41	Texas A&M	21	Texas A&M 65-31-9
November 21, 2009	College Station	Texas A&M	38	Baylor	3	Texas A&M 66-31-9
November 13, 2010	Waco	#23 Texas A&M	42	Baylor	30	Texas A&M 67-31-9
October 15, 2011	College Station	#21 Texas A&M	55	#20 Baylor	28	Texas A&M 68-31-9

Basketball

In men's basketball, Baylor and A&M have competed since the 1914–15 debut season of the Southwest Conference. Since the formation of the Big 12, the teams have followed parallel paths. Both spent the early years of the conference as lower-division teams (they combined for one NIT appearance and zero NCAA appearances from 1996 to 2004, and both suffered winless conference seasons during that span). However, in more recent years, they have grown into Big 12 contenders, with A&M reaching the NCAA's six straight years between 2006 and 2011 and Baylor reaching both in 2008 and 2010, with an elite eight appearance in the latter. In 2011, Baylor did not reach postseason play but swept the series with the NCAA Tourney-Bound Aggies.