The horns are up in Austin, and Texas may very well be again in spite of everything.
The Eleventh-ranked Longhorns, as landing underdogs, went on the highway and upset No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa with a 34-24 victory Saturday evening.
It was a story of two halves – the primary half-hour solely noticed 19 factors of scoring whereas there have been 39 factors scored within the second half.
Adonai Mitchell #5 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates his landing catch with Xavier Worthy #1 through the fourth quarter in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 9, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos)
The Crimson Tide opened up the second half with their third discipline purpose of the evening to chop their deficit to 4 factors, and the Longhorns missed their discipline purpose on the following drive. With momentum of their palms, Bama took benefit.
Proper earlier than the closing of the third quarter, on 2nd and 11, Jalen Milroe threw a dot to Jermaine Burton for a 49-yard landing, and after the PAT, it was a 16-13 Alabama lead.
However early within the fourth, Texas had an enormous 50-yard acquire, and on the following play, Quinn Ewers hit Adonai Mitchell for a landing, and the Longhorns had been up 4. On Bama’s first play of the following drive, Milroe threw an interception that Jerrin Thompson returned to the Bama five-yard line. Working again Jonathan Brooks rushed into the tip zone on the following play, leading to a 27-16 Texas lead.
ALABAMA ‘ABLE TO RECIPROCATE’ SIMILAR UPPER-DECK SEATING ARRANGEMENT FOR VISITING LONGHORNS IN WEEK 2
Jonathon Brooks #24 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates with teammates after operating for a landing through the fourth quarter in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 9, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos)
The Tide wasn’t useless, although, as Amari Niblack had a 39-yard catch-and-run for a landing, and the two-point conversion was good. Nevertheless, the Longhorns answered with one other lengthy landing, discovering Mitchell once more for the rating, and Texas was again up by 10.
The Longhorns protection then pressured a three-and-out, getting the ball again with simply over seven minutes to go, they usually ran the ball 9 straight instances to waste the clock. On 4th and three, Texas was in a position to attract Bama offsides, giving them the primary down, permitting them to kneel out the clock.
Texas outscored Alabama 21-8 within the fourth quarter.
Ewers accomplished 24 of his 38 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Ja’Tavion Sanders led the Longhorns with 114 receiving yards, whereas Xavier Worthy added 5 catches for 75 yards with a rating.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) passing in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide through the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports activities)
The 2 colleges will probably be convention rivals subsequent yr when Texas joins the SEC.
The Longhorns will host Wyoming subsequent week, whereas the Tide will head to South Florida.