TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – This is the big one, as The Crimson Tide will play hosts to Texas for the first time since 1902, and with playoff implications already at play, here is everything you need to know for Saturday.

Alabama and Texas have played nine times, with Texas having a big 7-2 advantage in the series. The Crimson Tide have won that last two meetings however: last year’s 20-19 thriller in Austin and a 37-21 win in the 2010 BCS National Championship. Both games left Texas fans asking, “What if?” as the Longhorns had to play with backup quarterbacks both times.

Alabama and Texas are both going into this game 1-0 on the year. Alabama crushed Middle Tennessee State 56-7 in their season opener, while Texas beat Rice 37-10 in Austin. Texas was led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, who threw three touchdowns, and rushed for one against Rice in week one, and was impressive against Alabama in last season’s game.

Xavier Worthy will be the key player for Texas that Alabama needs to stop. The talented wide receiver had seven catches for 90 yards in week one and will be a high draft pick when he goes to the NFL. Kool-Aid McKinstry will be tasked with guarding him in man coverage, so that is an area of the field to keep an eye on.

The Alabama offense will be led by quarterback Jalen Milroe. The Texas native, Milroe was originally committed to the Longhorns, but changed his mind and came to Tuscaloosa. After his impressive week one outing, the lights will truly be on him Saturday.

Along with the big-time players, this will be Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian’s first trip back to Tuscaloosa since leaving Alabama as an offensive coordinator to take the Texas job in 2021. Along with Sarkisian, defensive line coach Bo Davis also coached at Alabama, meaning Nick Saban’s coaching tree goes a little bit deeper in Texas.

This meeting, however, will be the most hyped-up regular season meeting ever. Last years game was big, but a combination of Texas being unranked, and the dreaded 11 am C.T kickoff meant the game had a bit of a different feel. This year, the game will be in primetime, 6 pm CT, on ESPN, and a flurry of media will be covering the game.

ESPN’s “College Gameday”, “The Pat McAfee Show”, The Podcast “Late Kick with Josh Pate”, and the “Barstool College Football Show” will all have live shows from Tuscaloosa, along with the normal media and news outlets.

With all of the press coverage of huge game between two premier brands, Tuscaloosa is the place to be come Saturday night.

 

Joe Schatz is a senior writer for WVUA-FM and co-hosts The Low Tide from 7-8 p.m. on 90.7 FM on Sunday nights. He also co-hosts the 4th and Goal podcast, available on Spotify, Apple Music and online at https://www.voices.ua.edu.