Texas Longhorns Week 2 Opponent Preview: Alabama Crimson Tide
The Texas Longhorns were a safety away from pulling off the ultimate upset against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 2 of the 2022 season.
Had the Longhorns pulled off the victory, it would have been the sixth victory over a No. 1-ranked opponent in school history and the first time it had been done by an unranked Texas team. A win would have also been the program's first over Alabama since 1981 — a 14-12 Longhorns Cotton Bowl victory against the Crimson Tide.
However, this time around No. 11 Texas (1-0) will have someone it didn't due to injury for the majority of that game last year: quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Ewers made his debut against the Rice Owls Saturday and, despite criticisms of his accuracy, he went 19-for-30 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Ewers looked uncomfortable under duress Saturday, but distributed the ball nicely as wide receivers Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, Adonai Mitchell and Johntay Cook II, tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders and running back Jonathon Brooks all had at least two receptions.
Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
Meanwhile, No. 4 Alabama's quarterback situation — which was a huge point of contingency in the offseason, considering the Crimson Tide (1-0) brought in Tyler Buchner through the transfer portal — looks like it's back to normal.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe showed great poise in his first start in 2023, completing 72.2 percent of his 18 pass attempts for 194 yards and three touchdowns. He flashed his threat in the ground game as well, rushing for a game-high 48 yards and two touchdowns on seven attempts and taking the load off of running back Jase McClellan's shoulders.
The Crimson Tide's defense is back to the classic stout Alabama defenses, even after six of its top-eight tacklers last season were drafted to the NFL.
After former defensive coordinator Pete Golding took the Ole Miss job, the Crimson Tide brought in Kevin Steele, who has an embarrassment of riches especially on the defensive line.
Though Alabama will look to replace former linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who racked up 204 tackles, 58.5 for loss and 34.5 sacks in his three-year collegiate career, it'll return edge rushers Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell, both of whom are more than capable of filling the void.
Turner's four sacks and eight tackles for loss in 2022 were both the most among returning Crimson Tide defenders in 2023.
Alabama's secondary struggled at times last year, especially against Tennessee when it surrendered 385 yards and five touchdowns, but it has optimism heading into 2023 with the returns of All-American Kool-Aid McKinstry and Malachi Moore.
This is in addition to the emergence of Caleb Downs, the No. 6 player in the class of 2023 and the top safety. Downs led the Crimson Tide's defense with eight tackles against Middle Tennessee with one for loss.
Texas will look to avenge its 20-19 loss from a year ago against Alabama Saturday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Alabama Crimson Tide
2023 Record: 1-0, 0-0 Southeastern Conference
Head coach: Nick Saban
Offensive Leaders:
Passing: QB Jalen Milroe
2023 stats: 13-for-18, 194 yards, three touchdowns
Rushing: QB Jalen Milroe
2023 stats: seven carries, 48 yards, two touchdowns
Receiving: WR Isaiah Bond
2023 stats: five receptions, 76 yards, 15.2 yards per catch, one touchdown
Defensive Leaders:
Tackles: DB Caleb Downs, 8
Interceptions: DB Jaylen Key, 1
Sacks: LB Deontae Lawson, LB Chris Braswell, LB Quandarrius Robinson, 1
You can follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419
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