Hmm, so LSU @ TAMU on Thanksgiving...wondering if this is a full time scheduling change considering this has been Arkansas/LSU since the league expanded.
I've heard some Aggies suggest they have more history with LSU than Arkansas does.
I've heard LSU fans say about the same, but they use the term rivalry.
Fact is, there never has been a "classic game" between any combination of the two. LSU is 28-19-3 all time against the Aggies. Take a wild guess as to how many of those 50 games both teams were ranked when they played each other?
36-20-2 is the record with LSU vs Arkansas in the same time period (1900-2012.) Take a wild guess as to how many of those contest featured both teams ranked—either at game time OR at any time during that year (for both teams.)
Just as a comparison, since LSU is considered one of our big rivalry games by some now, here's what LSU vs Bama looks like over the same time period.
LSU is 24-47-5. Now, just as another comparison, in that stretch of 76 games LSU has won 6 of 16 games played when both teams were ranked.
In answer to the question above...when LSU was ranked and Arkansas and Texas A&M were ranked...how many times did they play each other. Eight, combined.
Bottom line, there isn't any history, tradition, or rivalry between the two schools when it comes to football.
Oh, and yes, it's part of the schedule changes. If I recall correctly, the goal was to also put Arkansas facing Mizzou that same weekend.