Tarleton State and Abilene Christian have named their football rivalry “The Hundred-Mile Showdown,” replacing the sometimes-used “I-20 Rivalry,” which could be geographically confusing. The new name reflects the schools’ roughly 100-mile separation and their shared cowboy identity. It debuts Saturday in Stephenville, where the No. 1 Texans host No. 22/23 ACU in a matchup of undefeated United Athletic Conference teams.

By the Numbers
  • Rivalry dates to 1920, with 41 games played.
  • The teams have met 25 times since 1993.
  • Tarleton State is 9-0 overall; ACU is 5-4. Both are 4-0 in conference play.
  • Saturday’s game starts at 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
Yes, But

The rivalry has also been called the “I-20 Rivalry,” but both schools said that name caused geographic confusion. The new title is intended to be clearer, distinctive and rooted in the teams’ shared regional character.

Bottom Line

The schools are giving a century-old rivalry a shared identity just as it reaches a high-profile moment: an undefeated conference showdown between nationally ranked teams.