'Texas Is Back': ESPN's Paul Finebaum Reignites Controversial Longhorns Debate

After taking down the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, ESPN's Paul Finebaum has reignited the biggest Longhorns debate of the last decade - Is Texas Back?

Since their struggles began in the post-Colt McCoy era, the Texas Longhorns have been the subject of ridicule from opposing fan bases and media alike, with one question standing out far above the rest. 

"Is Texas finally back?"

Well, after taking down Nick Saban and the Alabama juggernaut on their home field in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night - something only one other non-SEC team has done since 2007 - that question has now, once again risen back to the surface. 

This time, by outspoken ESPN personality Paul Finebaum, who proclaimed the Longhorns as unequivocally 'back' after their takedown of the Tide.

"I think we can all collectively say Texas is back and they’re in the top four," Finebaum said. "There’s no getting around that. When you go into Bryant-Denny Stadium and do what just a handful of teams in the [Nick] Saban era have done, you deserve considerable kudos."

Finebaum didn't stop there, however. 

According to the longtime media lightning rod, Texas not only dominated the game vs. Alabama, but it could have, and really should have, been much worse for Nick Saban and company.

"They not only won the game by double digits, they dominated the game," Finebaum continued. "This game really should have been a much bigger beatdown."

Following the win, Texas was indeed vaulted into the top four of the AP Top 25, just behind Georgia, Michigan, and Florida State.

And with a favorable schedule ahead of them, featuring matchups with Wyoming, Baylor and Kansas before their showdown with the No. 19 Oklahoma Sooners in Dallas on October 7, the Horns could sit even higher in the polls by the time College Football Playoff talk begins.

That said, it is only Week 2, and Texas has a lot of business to take care of before Finebaum is proven correct.