Texas One of Few Programs With Winning Record Against Alabama, Nearly Entire SEC
There are only two Southeastern Conference schools that have a winning record against Texas, and they'll probably surprise you: South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
However, the Gamecocks enjoyed their only meeting with the Longhorns in 1957, long before South Carolina joined the SEC, and the Commodores haven't faced them since 1928.
Otherwise, Texas has an outstanding record against the teams in its new league, including against Alabama. Not only do the Longhorns have a winning record against the Crimson Tide, they have the best record of any team that has faced Alabama more than once outside of Rice (3-0).
Texas is 7-1 in the series.
A lot of the Longhorns' success against the SEC is due to being matched up for bowl games, many of which were played in the Cotton Bowl. Game organizers love to have a representative of the Lone Star State when possible, with Texas having the most appearances, and by a wide margin.
Texas has played 22 times in the Cotton Bowl, with Texas A&M second with 13, and Arkansas third with 12.
The Longhorns' first bowl game was the 1943 Cotton Bowl, and they were matched against Georgia Tech, when the Yellowjackets were still in the SEC. Texas won 14-7.
It also played Missouri in the 1946 version, long before the Tigers joined the SEC, and won again, 40-27.
It's probably not a coincidence that the only active SEC members who have not played in the Cotton Bowl are South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
The Alabama series dates back to 1902, and Texas won all three meetings before Alabama claimed its first national title in 1925.
The first postseason game was the 1948 Sugar Bowl, where No. 5 Texas thumped No. 6 Alabama, 27-7.
The Longhorns are 4-1-1 in postseason meetings. However, Alabama won the only time a national title was on the line for both schools, the 2010 BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl.
Marcell Dareus knocked Texas quarterback Colt McCoy out of the game, plus intercepted shovel pass and returned it 28-yards for a touchdown just before halftime, to help lead a 37-21 victory.
Alabama had two running backs top 100 rushing yards and score two touchdowns in the game, Mark Ingram II and Trent Richardson, and Eryk Anders had a crucial sack and strip that Courtney Upshaw recovered to help kill Texas' comeback chances.
This was Alabama's first title since 1992, its eighth since the advent of the polls in the 1930s and its seventh Associated Press championship. It also marked the beginning of the Crimson Tide dynasty under Nick Saban, with his second title overall and first at Alabama.
Texas vs. SEC
CFP record: 0-0
Bowl games: 16-8 (vs. current SEC teams)
Overall:
School, Record, Last Meeting
Alabama 7-1-1, 2010 Rose Bowl: Crimson Tide 31-27
Arkansas 56-22, 2014, Longhorns 31-7
Auburn 5-3, 1991, Tigers 14-10
Florida 2-0-1, 1940, Longhorns 26-0
Georgia 3-1, 1983, Longhorns 28-21
Kentucky 1-0, 1951, Longhorns 7-6
LSU 9-8-1, 2019, Tigers 45-38
Mississippi State 2-2 1998, Longhorns 38-11
Missouri 18-6, 2017, Longhorns 33-16
Oklahoma* 62-48-5, 2019, Sooners 45-43 (4 OT)
Ole Miss 6-2, 2013, Rebels 44-23
South Carolina 0-1, 1957, Gamecocks 27-21
Tennessee 2-1, 1968, Longhorns 36-13
Texas A&M 76-37-5, 2011, Aggies 33-31
Vanderbilt 3-8-1, 1928, Commodores 13-12
This is the final story in the "Welcome to the SEC, Texas" series that examines the history of the Longhorns football program, and what it will bring to the SEC. Parts of this post originated from the book, Huddle Up: Texas Football.
Welcome to the Southeastern Conference, Texas!
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Texas Football is Known for Star Players Like Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams
Texas Football Traditions Stand as Tall as a Tower