There was a lot that went right for Texas in its upset bid against No. 1 Alabama on Saturday. After all, the Longhorns entered the game as 20-point underdogs, lost their starting quarterback in the first quarter and still had multiple opportunities to win against the No. 1 team in the country. The Texas defensive line did a great job of winning battles up front and making it tough for the Alabama offense to get in any kind of rhythm, and the Longhorns as a team mostly avoided costly penalties and the offense committed zero turnovers.
Yet it still was not enough to get the job done as the Tide came away with the 20-19 win, so let’s dive into why Texas couldn’t finish the job and hand Nick Saban his third loss in four meetings against a former assistant since the start of the 2021 season.
Quinn Ewers looked ready before exit
The high-profile transfer quarterback from Ohio State did not officially win the job as Texas’ starter until Aug. 19, and the time between his arrival in Austin, Texas, and that announcement brought some skepticism as to what to expect from the former five-star prospect from Southlake, Texas. That skepticism was put to bed early as Ewers came out poised and confident against a ferocious Alabama defense, completing 9 of his first 12 passes for 134 yards (11.2 per attempt) and showcasing his arm strength on a couple of deep balls that would make any scout weep with joy.
Ewers was playing with confidence and the Texas offense was moving the ball well. Then it all hit a speed bump that not only impacted the game but potentially the Longhorns’ season.
Under pursuit by both Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner, Ewers evaded Anderson and then was driven into the ground by Turner. Ewers suffered what Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said was a “clavicle sprain” after the game, and after going to the locker room for X-rays, he returned to the sideline in street clothes with a sling on his arm.
That put Hudson Card, Ewers’ competition throughout spring practice and early fall camp, into the QB1 role for the remainder of the game. Card brought a steady approach to the position, completing 14 of 22 passes for 158 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, but the ceiling for this Texas offense is different without Ewers in the lineup.
Offense couldn’t make the most of scoring chances
Even after Ewers’ injury, Texas was still able to move the ball…
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