The past year has been a good time to be a citizen of Aggieland.

Texas A&M University announced on Tuesday that it has raised more than $740 million in gifts between September 2012 and August 2013. The 12-month figure is the highest ever recorded in school history.

The spectacular total includes grants made to the research programmes of the school, the Texas A&M Foundation, and the George Bush Presidential Library, among others. Out of $740 million, $271.5 million went to the school's 12th Man Foundation, named after the student section that regularly attends games. The foundation also helps fund the school's athletic programs.

The Texas A&M administration and alumni representatives attributed the increased donations to a number of factors, including increasing numbers of alumni, a better student selectivity ratio, and the entry of the school into the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The change in conference, many believe, has pulled A&M out of the shadow of in-state rival Texas in the Big 12.

The football program's initial success in the SEC has also been a factor in alumni and donor giving. The Aggies went 11-2 in 2012-2013, their first year in the new conference, and made it to the Cotton Bowl, where they beat Oklahoma 41-13.

Of course, there's the little factor called Johnny "Football" Manziel.

"You have a young man like our quarterback who has been a media magnet and you have the success you have, I do think that euphoria does spill over into success in fundraising," Texas A&M Foundation President Ed Davis told the Bryan-College Station Eagle newspaper.

Manziel became the first-ever freshman to win the Heisman Trophy and is expected to lead the Aggies to another banner season, despite the controversy that he faced early in the season, when he was accused of signing memorabilia items in exchange for cash.

The record donation figures have helped the athletics program provide better facilities for their athletes. Between 2012 and 2013, a weight room was dedicated specifically for football players and a nutrition center was constructed behind the Bright Football Complex.

The biggest build of them all, though, is a planned renovation of Kyle Field that will expand its seating capacity to 102,500 spectators. The project will be completed in 2015, and is projected to cost $450 million.

That figure alone surpasses the donations made to the University of Texas during the period 2012-2013. Texas was able to raise just above $400 million.

People like to say that things are bigger in Texas, but apparently, College Station has everything bigger than the rest of the state.