The new tradition “Ruck Across the Brazos” marks the return of the rivalry game between UT and Texas A&M

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a 13-year hiatus, the University of Texas Longhorns travel to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies in renewed Lone Star Showdown competition.

The “Ruck Across the Brazos” began Friday in Austin as a new intercollegiate tradition. According to UT, groups of cadets and student veterans will walk and ride football to College Station along with traditional military backpacks.

The new tradition began at 8:30 a.m. in the Veterans Memorial Plaza in front of the Darell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. The walk ends in College Station at Kyle Field, where Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko receives the ball at approximately 5:30 p.m

One-star generals from the Air Force Recruiting Service will cheer on the groups at the beginning and end of the trip. Brigadier General Christopher Amrhein, a 1995 Longhorn, and Brigadier General Craig McPike, a 1992 Aggie, will be with cadets at the start of each leg.

Jacob Tegtmeier, Longhorn Battalion cadet master sergeant, said he hopes the tradition will continue for decades to come with the camaraderie between veterans and cadets from both schools.

“It honors not only this rivalry game, but also the military history of both of our schools,” he said.

The Longhorns play the Aggies in College Station on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on ABC.