FINAL: Texas Beats Alabama 34-24 After Big Fourth Quarter
In a rematch from a game that came down to the wire a year ago, the No. 11 ranked Texas Longhorns will be on the road as they take on the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.
Texas lost a 20-19 heart-breaker to the then No. 1-ranked Tide in Austin last season. Led by Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young, Alabama marched down the field in the final minutes to kick a game-winning field goal.
Both sides will look different this time around. Young has gone on to the NFL and will be replaced by Texas native Jalen Milroe at quarterback.
The Longhorns have lost some of their star power to the NFL as well. Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson have departed from Austin, meaning the team's new-look backfield will have a major opportunity to show what they can do.
Safe to say that the Longhorns know the task at hand after taking care of business against Rice.
"We enjoyed (the win)," defensive lineman Byron Murphy said postgame. "We know what's ahead of us this week. ... We're not going to back down. We're going to play to the whistle until it's all over with."
Game Information: Texas Longhorns vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. CT
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Spread: Alabama -7.5
Over Under: 56.5
Moneyline: Texas +188, Alabama -250
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: FuboTV (Start your free trial)
How To Listen: Radio: Longhorn Radio Network - 104.9 The Horn
TICKETS: SI Tickets
BETTING via SI Sportsbook
First Quarter: Longhorns 3 Alabama 0
Texas came out firing on their first possession of the game with a first down pass to CJ Baxter, but from there, the Longhorns offense sputtered, punting the ball away.
Luckily for the Horns, they were able to down. the punt deep inside the Alabama five-yard line, giving the Tide 96 yards to go to the end zone.
Change of possession
Alabam was on a roll early on offensively, moving the ball out of the danger zone and near midfield. However, that is when Longhorns star Jahdae Barron stepped up and made the biggest play of the game yet, intercepting Jalen Milroe and putting the Longhorns in scoring position.
Change of possession
The Longhorns had the ball in great field position and nearly had the go-ahead touchdown from the goal line, but after a drop from Xavier Worthy, Texas was forced to settle for a field goal.
Change of possession
The Crimson Tide find some offense, mostly through the ground game before the Longhorns defense held them to a 42-yard field goal.
FIELD GOAL ALABAMA
Alabama 3, Texas 3,
Change of possession
After a defensive pass interference penalty was called on a trick play, Ewers went to the deep ball and found Xavier Worthy for a 44-yard touchdown pass as the Longhorns retake the lead.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS
Texas 10, Alabama 3
Change of possession
Alabama managed to pick up a first down on the drive as Milroe found a nine-yard completion to Jermaine Burton. But after that the Texas defense stepped up on third down as David Gbenda sacked Milroe to force a punt.
Change of possession
A 29-yard field goal from Bert Auburn caps off a promising drive from the Longhorns offense that almost ended in a touchdown as Ewers' pass to Jonathon Brooks was broken up just yards shy of the endzone.
Change of possession
The Texas defense continues to make it tough for Milroe and the Alabama passing game trouble. After a 20-yard run from Milroe on second-down, the Longhorn defense was able to get off the field on a third-and-11.
Change of possession
Backed up in their own territory after the Alabama punt, the Texas offense suffers their first three-and-out of the game as they are forced to punt.
Change of possession
Alabama settles for a field goal right before the half, as the Longhorns defense was able to get a stop once the Tide offense reached the redzone.
FIELD GOAL ALABAMA
Texas 13, Alabama 6
Third Quarter
After a big play through the air as Milroe found Isaiah Bond for a gain of 34 yards, a holding penalty negated a touchdown pass to Jermaine Burton, before a false start backed the Crimson Tide into a third and long. On third and 13, Milroe couldn't find anyone downfield, forcing him to scramble for a gain of five yards before settling for a field goal.
FIELD GOAL ALABAMA
Texas 13, Alabama 9
Change of possession
Nothing got going for the Longhorns offense as an under pressured Ewers fired a third-down pass over the outstretched hands of Jordan Whittington.
Change of possession
Texas defense bounces back after a first-down defensive pass interference penalty, forcing a punt.
Change of possession
The forced punt sparked the Texas offense as they started the drive with a big completion to Adonai Mitchell for a gain of 32 yards, before finding Ja'Tavion Sanders for 34 yards. Yet, a third-down pass to the endzone intended for Worthy fell incomplete as the Longhorns called on Auburn to make a 42-yard field goal, which was no good.
Change of possession
Another possession and another three-and-out for the Crimson Tide.
Change of possession
On a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-one, the snap is muffed by Ewers, then the loose ball is recovered by Brooks who advances the ball for a first-down. Then after going for it again on a fourth-and-two, Brooks run was stopped short of the sticks.
Change of possession
Bama responds with a touchdown as Milroe found Burton for a 49-yard touchdown pass to give the Crimson Tide their first lead of the game.
TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA
Alabama 16, Texas 13
Change of possession
Fourth Quarter
The Longhorns respond quickly as Ewers found Mitchell for a seven-yard touchdown pass to retake the lead. The touchdown pass to Mitchell was set up by a 50-yard completion to Sanders.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS
Texas 20, Alabama 16
Change of possession
The first play for Milroe was a interception by Jerrin Thompson who returned it to the Alabama five-yard-line.
Change of possession
Brooks capitalizes off the turnover with a five-yard rushing touchdown to extend the lead.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS
Texas 27, Alabama 16
Change of possession
Alabama finds the endzone to bring the game back within three after a two-point conversion. Milroe and the passing game started to heat up as he completed two passes for 44 yards before hitting Amari Niblack for a 39-yard touchdown pass.
TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA
Texas 27, Alabama 24
Change of possession
Texas fires back as Ewers finds Mitchell on a deep-ball for a 39-yard touchdown pass. After the first-down play was negated due to a false start penalty, Ewers found Whittington for a 31-yard gain on second and long, which helped set up the touchdown pass.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS
Texas 34, Alabama 24
Change of possession
The Texas defense comes up with another big three-and-out as Milroe first two passes fell incomplete before he was sacked by Anthony Hill on third down,.
Change of possession
FINAL: Texas 34, Alabama 24
