Texas game offers tremendous opportunity for emotional Jalen Milroe

With uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position heading into the season, Jalen Milroe got the start on Saturday for the Crimson Tide and delivered, leading Alabama to a 56-7 over Middle Tennessee State.

Milroe started in one game last season for Alabama in relief for an injured Bryce Young, but Saturday felt like his true debut and potential coronation at the helm as the Crimson Tide’s QB1, as On3’s Andy Staples asked BamaOnline’s Tim Watts to asses Milroe’s Week 1 showing.

“I think kind of in a way it’s his first start because he took all the first-team snaps, I mean he started other games, but this program’s kind of built for him now instead of somebody else and just scheming for a game,” Watts said. “This game’s gonna be huge for Jalen, as far as how he did this week, I’d give him an A. I think he made good decisions, he kind of floated a ball, I mean you can kind of tell how well he did because the critics are picking he floated a ball to the right sideline, one thing.”

Milroe delivered a nearly flawless performance behind his arm and legs, completing 72.2% of his passes for 194 yards and three touchdown passes along with 48 yards on the ground and two rushing scores. And although it was against a lesser opponent, he definitely showed the Crimson Tide fanbase plenty to be optimistic about moving forward.

“He threw some money shots, I thought the one they called pass interference on was gonna be his best throw of the game. That was a deep pass that was going to be a score, beautiful ball, it was a dime. And of course his first touchdown, I was impressed because he was staring into a massive hit, stood in the pocket, and took it,” Watts explained. “And also the fumbled snap, I mean he did so many things. Everybody gonna say it’s Middle Tennessee State, the naysayers will, but you saw the athleticism, you saw he does have a good arm.”

He may have impressed in Week 1, but Milroe will face a much taller task in Week 2 as the Crimson Tide host Texas in one of the premier matchups of the entire college football season. This Saturday will serve as a homecoming of sorts for Milroe despite the fact that the game will be in Bryant-Denny Stadium, as the native of Katy, Texas definitely has some history with the Longhorns.

“Texas will be a different animal, and I imagine it’s going to be pretty emotional for him right? Remember, he was committed to Texas when he flipped to Alabama. So there’s a lot of little things happening in this game, and obviously just a huge game from two of the traditional blue bloods,” Watts said.

Texas also took care of business in Week 1 with a 37-10 win over Rice, and like Alabama is ranked as one of the top 15 teams in the nation.

All eyes will be on Milroe to see if he can replicate his season-opening performance against some stiffer competition, as Alabama and Texas will square off this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET in a marquee matchup airing on ESPN.