Mental Intensity 'On Point' For Longhorns Ahead of Alabama Matchup

The Texas Longhorns are laser-focused on their trip to Tuscaloosa on Saturday to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide

AUSTIN - The No. 11 Texas Longhorns have a free shot at the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday in Tuscaloosa, in front of a national audience on ESPN.

Win, and the Longhorns shoot up the polls. Lose, and their dreams and goals of a Big 12 title and potential playoff berth remain intact - barring a blowout at least. 

Either way though, the Longhorns seem to be laser-focused ahead of what will be the most high-profile game of the Steve Sarkisian era thus far. 

“Last week, I thought we had a good week of preparation and felt good about it,” Sarkisian said. “Our players always seem to go to another level and take me to a space of ‘wow, they have more in there.’ I thought these four days of practice this week have been really good. Thought the intensity has been great. The mental intensity has been on point.”

And the Longhorns will need every bit of that mental intensity they can muster, as the Tide are nearly unbeatable at home under Saban at 104-8 all-time.

Not to mention just one of those losses came to a non-conference opponent - the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in Saban's first season at the helm in 2007.

The keys to those losses? Elite quarterback play, late-game shenanigans, or self-imposed Alabama mistakes.

Suffice it to say, Sark and the Horns have no illusions about who they are facing in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

“We’re playing a hard-nosed, tough, physical football team but yet extremely well-coached,” Sarkisian said. “Those details are going to matter in this game in all three phases.”

Can the Longhorns buck the trend of home dominance by the Tide? That remains to be seen. 

But we will find out one way or the other on Saturday night at Bryant-Denney Stadium.