Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Alabama Football Early Opponent Preview, Game 2: Texas
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Tuscaloosa hotels and restaurants are already preparing for it. Fans have been waiting for it since the matchup was announced. And now, it is less than three months away.
This year's return trip on the home-and-home between the Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide will be by far the biggest non-conference game at Bryant-Denny Stadium of the Nick Saban era. (Let's just ignore the fact that this will be considered an SEC game in 2024.)
The two teams met for an epic matchup on a warm Austin day last September with Bryce Young leading the Crimson Tide on a game-winning drive in less than two minutes to set up Will Reichard's go-ahead field goal as Alabama beat Texas 20-19.
Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns make the trip to Tuscaloosa for the first time ever. Will it live up to the hype and produce another thrilling game? Here's a look at the 2023 Longhorns.
Offense
Texas is bringing back nine starters on offense, including sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers and all five offensive lineman. Ewers started the game against the Crimson Tide last season and got off to a hot start, but left with an injury on a hard hit from Dallas Turner in the first quarter and did not return.
Even though Ewers threw for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, he has two strong candidates behind him at quarterback in redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy and highly-touted, five-star freshman Arch Manning.
The Longhorns also return their top two receivers from a year ago in Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington. Sarkisian also brought in Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell from the portal. Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is another pass-catching options as the Longhorns third-leading receiver last season with 613 yards and five touchdowns.
However, the biggest hole on offense is left by first round draft pick Bijan Robinson at running back. He accounted for nearly 65 percent of Texas' rushing yards last season. The Longhorns do bring back Jonathon Brooks and former Alabama running back Kelian Robinson. Plus, Sarkisian signed the top running back in the class of 2023 in CJ Baxter.
Sarkisian is an offensive genius and turned Alabama into an offensive juggernaut during his time in Tuscaloosa as offensive coordinator. His first two seasons at Texas haven't been as successful, but this season he has the veteran pieces in place alongside a lot of talent to put up big numbers on offense.
Defense
Until the final drive last season, the Texas defense was very effective in limiting Young and the Alabama offense. Obviously, Alabama will be without Young, but the Longhorns return several players that helped the defense lead the country in quarterback pressures last season.
Last season's leading tackler, Jaylan Ford, is back for his senior season after earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. In 2022, Ford had 119 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four interceptions (team leader), three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The secondary is highlighted by returners Jahdae Barron, Jerrin Thompson and Ryan Watts while T’Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy II and defensive end Barryn Sorrell will anchor things up front.
The Longhorns showed improvement on defense from year one to year two under defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, but Texas still averaged over 360 yards and 21 points per game allowed on defense.
Texas will be looking to make even bigger strides this season while facing a less experienced Alabama team on offense.
Schedule
Like last year, the teams will meet up in Week Two of the regular season. Both teams face Group of Five teams in the season openers as tuneups to prepare for the big matchup.
The biggest question mark looming over the Alabama program this summer that could still be come Sept. 9 is who the starting quarterback will be. Even though Saban would hope to have it figured out by then, there's a good chance that this game could be the make-or-break opportunity for one of the Crimson Tide's quarterbacks.
It has already been announced that it will be a night game on ESPN under the bright lights of Bryant-Denny Stadium. For whichever team wins, this early-season matchup will provide a quality win and resume boost that could hold strong at the end of the season when it's time for the College Football Playoff Committee to make its selections.
Outlook
There is no doubt revenge will be on the minds of the Longhorn players and coaches. Saban and Sarkisian know each other well, and it showed in last season's meeting.
Once again, Texas comes into the year with high expectations and is considered the favorite to win the Big 12, but the early game at Alabama will be a big test. Alabama has only lost three games in the month of September under Saban and two came in his first season. The other September loss came against Ole Miss in 2015– the last time the Crimson Tide had a quarterback battle that lasted multiple games into the season.
Regardless of who the starting quarterbacks will be for both teams, I expect this to be a higher scoring matchup than a year ago. Even with the revenge factor and uncertainty at quarterback, I think Alabama will ultimately prevail in front of the home crowd and settle the quarterback debate once and for all. Saban doesn't lose in September, and Alabama is still the more talented team.
Texas at Alabama
The Game
Date: Sept. 9
Time: 6 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Series: Texas leads 7-2-1
Last meeting: In an high-profile, early-season matchup that led to both ESPN and Fox having their morning game-day shows on site, Texas stuffed Alabama on fourth-and-inches late to set up a go-ahead field goal with 1:39 remaining, only to see Bryce Young lead the Crimson Tide back for the 20-10 on Will Reichard's 33-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining. Young was 27-for-39 passing and 213 yards. His only touchdown came while scrambling and hitting running back Jahmyr Gibbs for the 7-yard score and 17-16 lead. Jase McLellan had an 81-yard touchdown run for Alabama in the first quarter, while Texas standout running back Bijan Robinson was limited to 57 yards on 21 carries and a 1-yard touchdown.
Scott Wachter/ USA Today Sports
The Team
The Coach: Former Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, third year 13-12 (10th year overall, 59-47)
Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Flood
Defensive Coordinator: Jeff Choate/Pete Kwiatkowski
2022 Record: 8-5
2022 Rankings: Total offense No. 35; Total defense No. 54
Returning Starters: 16, 10 on offense, 6 on defense
Players to Watch: WB Quinn Ewers, WR Xavier Worthy, TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, T Kelvin Banks, WR Jordan Whittington, T Christian Jones, DE Barryn Sorrell; DT T'Vondre Sweat, G Hayden Connor, MLB Jaylan Ford, CB Ryan Watts, S Jale Catalon, PR, Xavier Worthy, K Bret Auburn, LS Lance St. Louis
Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. runs through drills during football spring practice.
Ricardo B. Brazziell / USA Today Network
Top Newcomer: QB Arch Manning and Baxter have been getting the most attention among the true freshmen, but LB Anthony Hill could be a huge cog to the defense this season as Texas lost its leader tackler (Jaylan Ford) and its Butkus Award finalist (DeMarvion Overshown). The Longhorns may not even need to have three linebackers on the field in the base defense for Hill to get regular playing time.
Biggest Question: Can Texas get over the hump this season? All five losses last year were by seven points or less, including the Week 2 home defeat to Alabama after quarterback Quinn Ewers got hurt in the first quarter. On paper, the Longhorns are better, especially offensively, but Texas fans have heard that before. This is clearly the best team in the Big 12. Can it live up to expectations and win the program's first Big 12 title since 2009, or make it first appearance in the College Football Playoff?
The School
The Program
Coaching Changes During Saban Era: Three
Last Time Beat Alabama: 1982 Cotton Bowl, Texas 14-12
Last Time Won Big 12 Championship: 2009
National Championships (4): 1963, 1969, 1970, 2005
Playoff Appearances: None
Conference championships (32): However, Texas has won just three Big 12 titles, in 1996, 2005 and 2009. Is set to join SEC in 2024.
Bowl Appearances: 31–25–2
Last Time Didn’t Play in a Bowl: 2016
Heisman Trophies (2): Earl Campbell (1977) and Ricky Williams (1998)
Consensus All-Americans During Saban Era (14): Brian Orakpo, DL, 2008; Colt McCoy, QB, 2008-2009; Jordan Shipley, WR, 2009; Earl Thomas, DB, 2009; Anthony Fera, PK, 2013; Jackson Jeffcoat, DL, 2013; Malcom Brown, DL, 2014; D’Onta Foreman, RB, 2016; Connor Williams, OL, 2016; DeShon Elliott, DB, 2017; Michael Dickson, P, 2017; Joseph Ossai, LB, 2020; Bijan Robinson, RB, 2022.
First-Round NFL Picks During Saban Era (5): Brian Orakpo, DL, 2009; Earl Thomas, S, 2010; Kenny Vaccaro, DB, 2013; Malcom Brown, DT, 2015; Bijan Robinson, RB, 2023.
2022 NFL Draft: RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons, first round, eighth overall; LB, Demarvion Overshown, Cowboys, third round; RB Roschon Johnson, Bears, fourth round; DT Keondre Coburn, Chiefs, sixth round; DT Moro Ojomo, Eagles, seventh round
Last Four Recruiting Class Rankings: No. 3 in 2023. Previously No. 5 in 2022, No. 15 in 2021, No. 8 in 2020.
The Schedule
Did You Know?
This is the second story in series previewing Alabama's opponents
