Mike Elko expecting 'electric' atmosphere for Texas A&M vs. Texas

This is a big deal for many reasons. Texas A&M and Texas have a long and historic rivalry, but they haven't played since 2011.

The beef between these two universities and their football programs goes all the way back to 1894. It may not have the hype of a Michigan versus Ohio State or the "Iron Bowl" between Auburn and Alabama, but there's not much love lost between the Aggies and Longhorns.

With the game being back and the stakes of this season's renewal game ... that's a big deal for folks on both sides of the rivalry.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is new to the whole thing, being that this is his first season with the Aggies (for what it's worth, this will be Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian's first experience in the rivalry as well), but he knows just how much it means to the Aggies fan base.

He was asked recently if there was anything that has been brought up to him more in Year 1 than this rivalry game.

"No. Not even a little bit. Yeah, this means a lot," Elko told the media (h/t On3).

It's already a big game, but the stakes are massive in this one. Texas is ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings at 10-1. Texas A&M is 8-3 and coming off a loss to Auburn, but the Aggies still have CFP hopes. Not only that, but the winner of this game will take on Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.

The game will be played at Kyle Field in College Station, and Elko is expecting the atmosphere to reflect the intensity of this rivalry.

"I think just, in general, and I’ve said this from day one, when you have two programs as large as these two programs are as close to each other as they are, it doesn’t make a ton of sense for them not to play. So, it always felt weird not playing," Elko said. "And so now, to be playing and to be playing for what we’re playing for? Yeah, I’d imagine will be pretty electric Saturday."