What a win over Alabama would mean to Texas

Texas has had some impressive performances under head coach Steve Sarkisian, but the Longhorns are still searching for a true signature win.

If they can upset Alabama on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, it’s safe to say that would qualify.

Bobby Burton of Inside Texas recently spoke with On3’s Andy Staples about what it would mean for the Longhorns to get a win this weekend.

“It’s the first top-10 road game for Texas, other than Texas-OU, with two top-10 opponents, since 2008 when Texas went to Texas Tech. Texas hasn’t traveled to Tuscaloosa in more than 100 years, by the way,” Burton said. “So take those two stats out of it and I would say that this is an ‘OK, we’re here.’ Not a ‘were back’ kind of statement game for Texas. ‘We are competitive and we can get things done.’ It is a statement in the state of Texas that Texas and Texas A&M can compete with the Alabamas and whoever of the world.”

Sarkisian’s squad nearly took care of business against the Crimson Tide last season, before falling by a score of 20-19 in Austin. The Longhorns battled Alabama until the end, despite not having starting quarterback Quinn Ewers for much of the game.

Ewers is now healthy and has a chance to complete the upset this weekend. Burton believes the Longhorns have a shot and feels that if the upset does happen, it would be the biggest victory of Steve Sarkisian’s career.

“I really believe… looking at the whole of the program, it would be the marquee win of Steve Sarkisian’s coaching career,” Burton said. “He needs a big win, too. Not just the University of Texas. Because he’s really struck a cord in the state of Texas with recruits, and even nationwide. This would be him playing the fiddle. He’d have a real chance in recruiting with a win like this. So from a Texas program perspective, where they’ve added talent, etc., it could be absolutely enormous.”

The Longhorns opened the season with an uninspiring 37-10 victory over Rice this past weekend. While they didn’t appear at their best in that game, it’s fair to assume that they will come out and give their best effort this weekend.

If they do, the Longhorns could finish Saturday clearly in the national title picture, and Sarkisian could leave Tuscaloosa with the biggest win of his career.

Kickoff at Bryant-Denny Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN, and College GameDay will be in town for the matchup.