Later, in February 2019, during Texas A&M's spring student body elections, 88.71 percent (13,359) of 15,060 voters said "Yes" when asked if they were in favor of reintroducing the rivalry as a non-conference matchup.

Each school has elaborate pregame preparations for the annual football clash, including the Aggie Bonfire and Hex Rally.

The State Farm Lone Star Showdown, a full sports rivalry between the two schools, began in 2004, and ended in 2012 when Texas A&M moved to the Southeastern Conference.

In addition, the Texas Exes student chapter canceled the Hex Rally in favor of a "Unity Gathering" at the UT Tower and extended an invitation to all Aggies and their friends.

The tower was darkened out of respect for those who had died in the collapse or been affected by it, and participants lit white candles instead of the usual red in memory of the fallen Aggies.

US Senator Phil Gramm, who taught economics at A&M from 1967 to 1978, donated the flyover he was entitled to upon his death as an elected official, asking instead that it be given in the honor of the 12 Aggies who died.

At half-time, the Texas Longhorn Band dedicated their performance to the students lost and injured in the collapse, and ended by playing "Amazing Grace" and "Taps", then removing their white hats in a show of respect as they walked off the field.

The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band also played a tribute to the victims and, contrary to the usual tradition, marched off the field in a silent cadence.

[25][26] As of November 30, 2024 In October 2006, General Mills announced they would honor the then third-longest running college football rivalry with a special edition Wheaties box.

Although several individual college basketball and football teams had been featured previously on special edition boxes, this was the first time Wheaties had honored a rivalry series.