In 2022, Bryce Young and the Crimson Tide left Austin, Texas with a one-point win over the Texas Longhorns. The second installment of this home-and-home series takes place in Tuscaloosa on Week 2, and it has a lot riding on it.
What could possibly be at stake in a Week 2 game, you may be asking? Well, Texas looks stronger than ever as an overall program. An experienced and healthy Quinn Ewers, paired with elite talent on both sides of the ball could lead to a playoff berth for Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns. Texas has been claiming to be “back” for quite some time, and many believe this is the season they could actually mean it.
On the flip side of the same coin, Alabama ranks No. 4 in the AP top-25 Poll, which is the lowest the Tide has been ranked in a preseason poll since 2010. The program failed to make the College Football Playoff in 2022 and is looking to combat claims that the Nick Saban Dynasty is dead. A win over what could be a top-10 team would certainly boost the CFP resumé early in the season.
This matchup will also be the inaugural Allstate Crossbar Classic, which will be an annual title given to one game every season that is highly anticipated.
According to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, this could be the “game of the year.”
“Texas has to win (this matchup) if 2023 is finally going to be the year it returns to prominence. Alabama can’t afford to lose, not win the SEC and expect to make the CFP. Especially given there’s probably an SEC loss out there lurking for the Crimson Tide and Georgia may roll through its relatively easy schedule. Last’s one-point Alabama win in Austin, Texas, was a classic. They’ll be conference rivals in a year.”
Dodd mentions that the two programs will be conference rivals next season, as Texas and Oklahoma will be joining the SEC in 2024. On that note, it’s worth mentioning that Alabama has not lost to a nonconference opponent at home since 2008. A loss to the Longhorns in Week 2 of 2023 would snap that streak.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2023 college football season approaches.
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.