Alabama takes on Texas in Highly Anticipated Top-15 CFB Matchup

The No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide will face the No. 11 Texas Longhorns at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Saturday at 7 p.m. When these teams met last season in Austin, the Crimson Tide narrowly defeated the Longhorns 20-19.

Alabama Cruises in Week 1

The Crimson Tide opened their season with a 56-7 victory over Middle Tennessee Saturday. Quarterback Jalen Milroe completed 13 of his 18 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns and led the team’s rushing attack with 48 yards and two touchdowns. Milroe is the first quarterback in school history to throw for three and rush for two touchdowns in a single game. The Tide offense was very efficient on the field, possessing the ball for just under 30 minutes and still managing to score two touchdowns in each quarter of the game.

Milroe’s athleticism and style of play have been compared to former Alabama and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Texas’ Last Time Out

To kick of its season, Texas took down in-state rival Rice by a score of 37-10. Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers went 19/30 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Ewers also scored the lone rushing touchdown of the day.

Looking ahead, Ewers will need to work on his deep ball accuracy. He was 0/7 on passes of 20 yards or more against the Owls.

The defense also put up a strong front with Jaylan Ford and Austin Jordan both recording interceptions, and Jett Bush recovering a Rice fumble.

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Past Meetings

This will be the 11th meeting between the two teams, with the Longhorns holding the series lead at a record of 7-2-1. This will be the Crimson Tide’s first time hosting the matchup since the programs’ first meeting in 1902.

Texas’ only losses to Alabama have both come during Nick Saban’s tenure, one of which was during the 2010 BCS National Championship game.

Saban vs. Sarkisian

Steve Sarkisian, the current Longhorns head coach and former Alabama offensive coordinator, has the chance to join an elite group of coaches: Former assistants that have beaten Nick Saban.

Saban boasts a record of 28-2 against teams coached by his former assistants. The only two that have ever defeated him are Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher and Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.

Insight from Nick Saban

Saban commented that this meeting will be a great opportunity for the Crimson Tide to “see where they’re at as a team” because Texas is a “very well prepared team”.

Saban praised Quinn Ewers abilities on the field and said that “it will be a real challenge” for them to effect him.

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