Longhorns' Steve Sarkisian Reveals Key to Beating Alabama

From Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian's point of view, this confidence in his team against Alabama goes beyond what's expected of them on the field this season.

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns aren't going blind into their matchup with the big and bad Alabama Crimson Tide this season. Looking at both the positives and negatives of last year's 20-19 loss to Alabama in Austin, they have tons to take away from before heading to Tuscaloosa. 

But for Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, the solution to beating his former team and coach Nick Saban is way simpler than any of the detailed critiques you could take away from game film. That's what he's making it look like on the surface at least.

"We thought we played them well a year ago. We didn’t play well enough," Sarkisian said at Big 12 Media Days Wednesday. "So the key to the drill when we go there, we have to play better than we did last year. I think we can."

Play better than last year? Simple enough, and something that would almost certainly result in a Longhorns win considering they lost by just a point to the No. 1 team in the country at the time.

But from Sarkisian's point of view, this confidence in his team goes beyond what's expected of them on the field this season. He sees a different Texas squad than the one that fans have grown used to seeing over the past decade.

"I think we’ll have the mental fortitude to go do it, the mental toughness to go do it, and the physical toughness to go do it because it’s going to be a physical football game," he said.

Per SI Sportsbook, Alabama currently has the second-best odds to win it all (+600) while the Longhorns are tied for the ninth-best odds (+2500).

Kickoff between the two teams in Tuscaloosa is set for Saturday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. CT.

---

You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Longhorns? Click Here to Subscribe to the Longhorns Country Newsletter

Want even more Texas Longhorns? Check out the SI.com team page here

Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook.

Make sure to subscribe to the Longhorns Country Podcast today! Click here To Listen.