Tag: Alabama-Texas

5 bold predictions for the epic showdown of Alabama vs. Texas

Alabama vs. Texas is a must-watch game with major College Football Playoff implications. See 5 bold predictions for the matchup.

Alabama versus Texas is one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2023 season. The Longhorns are looking to avenge themselves after losing last season’s matchup against Alabama by a final score of 20-19.

In order to knock off Alabama, Texas will have to win in the trenches and eliminate Jalen Milroe’s dual-threat capabilities. This means Texas will have to prevent Milroe from using his legs as much as possible.

While that will be the emphasis, it will be interesting to see if Texas’ secondary can prevent Alabama’s wide receivers from making one, too many plays on Saturday night. The same can be said for Alabama’s secondary working to neutralize Texas’ explosive receiving core.

Roll Tide Wire makes five bold predictions for Alabama vs. Texas.

ESPN analyst picks Texas to upset Alabama in Week 2

Texas over Alabama? One ESPN analyst explains why he’s rolling with it.

Loud boos erupted on The Quad on Friday afternoon after ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky picked the No. 11-ranked Texas Longhorns to defeat the No. 3-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Orlovsky joined the Pat McAfee Show to announce the prediction and was quite adamant about it as well.

“I think Texas wins that game. Milroe scares me throwing the football,” Orlovsky said. In addition, he spoke negatively about Alabama’s backfield heading into Saturday’s game.

“I keep hearing people talk about Jalen Milroe like he’s a dual-threat quarterback. I see him way more as a runner right now than an accurate thrower,” Orlovsky said, “If I was Texas, I would blitz the tailbacks because I don’t think the tailbacks are good in pass protection right now for Alabama.”

Orlovsky upset the Alabama faithful with his prediction, but there are more naysayers out there. Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry has established a new acronym for people who doubt Alabama this season. The acronym is called “LANK”. It stands for “Let A Naysayer Know”. Alabama will look do just that on Saturday evening against the Longhorns.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama football program throughout the 2023 season.

Alabama DB Malachi Moore expected to play against Texas despite ankle injury

Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore is expected play in Alabama’s Week 2 matchup against Texas.

There was a lot of concern regarding the status of Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore heading into Saturday’s matchup against No. 11-ranked Texas. On Friday, ESPN’s Chris Low confirmed that Moore is expected to play.

Low reported the following statement on Moore’s status for the game: “Some good news for (Alabama Football’s) defense. Sources tell ESPN that senior DB/star Malachi Moore is expected to play Saturday against Texas after being injured last week in the opener. Still TBD on safety Jaylen Key.”

Moore’s presence will certainly help on the back end. Moore has played in 40 career games for the Crimson Tide and has the most experience of any defensive back on Alabama’s roster.

There has been no indication of how healthy Moore will be for Saturday’s game. Pregame warmups could indicate how Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele plans to use Moore. If he is 100%, his versatility will greatly impact the game. If not, I would expect other players like Trey Amos and Earl Little Jr. to step up.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama football program throughout the 2023 season.

Texas TE coach Jeff Banks downplays Longhorns’ visit to Tuscaloosa in September

Former Alabama assistant and current Texas tight ends coach Jeff Banks had something interesting to say when asked what he had told his team in preparation of the Alabama-Texas game in September.

Former Alabama assistant and Texas tight ends coach Jeff Banks downplayed the Longhorns’ visit to Tuscaloosa in September when he was asked by the media.

Banks was Alabama’s special teams coordinator and tight ends coach from 2018-2020.

He joined former Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s staff at Texas in 2021. Since then, he has served as Texas’ associate head coach, tight ends coach, and special teams coordinator.

“We’re just going to play another road game. Just as hard in Kansas and Iowa State and it is going to be in Tuscaloosa. It’s just bigger and more people,” Banks said.

Comparing playing Alabama to facing Kansas and Iowa State is an interesting choice. It being bigger with more people in attendance seems like it would make it very different than playing the Jayhawks and Cyclones.

This is a game between two of the biggest brands in college football that could impact the College Football Playoffs. The eyes of the nation will be on Tuscaloosa as the Longhorns seek revenge, while the Crimson Tide looks to reclaim the throne.

Alabama is scheduled to face Texas in Week 2 of the 2023 season. In 2022, the Crimson Tide defeated the Longhorns 20-19 in a tightly-contested battle. The much-anticipated matchup just got that much more interesting with Banks’ statement.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama football program.

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Texas OL coach Kyle Flood is as good as advertised

Kyle Flood could send two freshmen to All-American honors this year.

Texas has nailed a number of hires in the Steve Sarkisian era. Coaching is helping Texas separate from its past self.

Brennan Marion and Tashard Choice were great additions this year, while Bo Davis and Jeff Banks have proven to be elite recruiters and great leaders of men. Pete Kwiatkowski is settling in as defensive coordinator. Even so, Kyle Flood’s impact ends a near 15-year drought in consistently good offensive line play.

Flood is well on his way to sending two freshmen to All-American honors this year. Kelvin Banks and Cole Hutson look as good as any newcomer on the offensive line.

Flood’s presence is felt at Texas for how much he has improved his unit. If Saturday is any indication, his absence is felt at Alabama.

The Texas offensive line held their own against a defensive line that was supposed to bury them. The Crimson Tide offensive line lost the line of scrimmage battle against the Texas defensive front.

Coaching matters far more than tradition, past culture or prestige. Kyle Flood’s impact is a sign Texas could be good for years to come.

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Where Texas stands after a wild college football Saturday

Texas looked like a playoff contender with Quinn Ewers.

Texas lost a game for the ages Saturday against Alabama.

It seems the Longhorns have had far too many of those in recent years. Nevertheless, Steve Sarkisian and his team deserve a ton of credit for the fight they displayed against the No. 1 team in the nation.

Sarkisian’s squad looked like a playoff contender with Quinn Ewers. That’s a moot point now, as Alabama would have a tie-breaker over Texas and Ewers could be out for multiple weeks.

All in all, the Texas team that finished the game looked like a Big 12 title contender. At the very least, the Longhorns had the best performance in the conference Saturday.

After a handful of surprising outcomes, it’s time to reassess where Texas actually stands in the hierarchy of college football.

Postgame Thoughts: Alabama lucks past Texas, 20-19

Texas has a chance to be really good this year.

There is absolutely no way around it. Alabama did not beat Texas. Bad luck defeated Texas today.

For starters, Texas lost their starting quarterback after two drives. And there is no doubt about it, Ewers was ripping the Alabama secondary to shreds.

Through two drives, Ewers amassed 134 yards passing. He threw only three incompletions. One of those attempts should have been a touchdown, while the other was blatant missed interference call in the end zone, as noted by in-game analyst Joel Klatt.

In the end, Texas had the chance to win and they didn’t finish. Nevertheless, something tells me this team has unfinished business when they travel to Tuscaloosa next year.

As for this year, Texas looks like a vastly improved team overall. The defense, though it certainly missed opportunities and allowed big plays, kept their struggling offense in the game.

I don’t believe the game is fools gold either. Texas should be a good team even with Hudson Card at quarterback. Unfortunately, they will always have questions of what could have been.

With Quinn Ewers, the Longhorns looked like a playoff contender. That’s not hyperbole. Steve Sarkisian’s squad thoroughly outclassed the Tide with Ewers facilitating the offense. How many games they can win with Card leading the team is still to be seen.

Social Media reacts to the first half of Alabama-Texas

A look at some of the top social reactions after Texas-Alabama went to halftime tied.

Alabama probably just isn’t motivated through the first half. A sloppy half saw Texas outgain Alabama 174 yards to 169.

The Tide had 11 penalties for 58 yards in the first half, and there could have been a few more.

The big story of the first half was the injury of Quinn Ewers, who tore through the Alabama defense to the tune of 9-for-12 passing for 134 yards in two drives.

Ewers appears to be out for the game after a late hit by Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner. As you might expect, the play caused a stir on social media.

The play drew comparisons to another injury. Naturally, Colt McCoy’s injury to the same team in the 2009 National Championship became the focus of many Longhorns fans.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the game.

Quinn Ewers exits game with apparent shoulder injury

It wouldn’t be Alabama-Texas if the Tide didn’t injure a Longhorn QB.

Quinn Ewers was lighting up the Alabama defense until a red zone shoulder injury might have ended his day. Sound familiar?

After landing a haymaker throw to Xavier Worthy, Ewers scrambled in the pocket on a red zone play before throwing the ball away. A late hit by an Alabama defender forced Ewers onto his shoulder and sent him to the locker room.

Ewers looked like a seasoned veteran on the two drives. The freshman signal-caller went a scorching 9-for-12 for 134 yards passing.

One incompletion was forced from Xavier Worthy’s grasp as he fell in the end zone. Another was a missed pass interference call in the end zone.

Hudson Card will have an opportunity to erase last year’s performances from memory. Albeit, it would be an unfortunate end to a promising start for Ewers. Moving forward, Texas knows it has a star in Quinn Ewers if healthy.

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