Kirk Herbstreit: Texas run game vs Alabama run defense is 'game within the game'

During his preview of the Texas–Alabama game, college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit explained why the Longhorns’ ground game could decide the contest.

In an ESPN interview where he discussed many of the big topics of the game, Herbstreit took some time to highlight the “game within a game” that he’ll have his eye on when the Horns and Tide lock into battle.

“I think that we talked a little earlier about Quinn Ewers is going to get a lot of attention and he should, but I think Sark’s system has always been about balance, and it’s always been about not abandoning the running game,” says Herbstreit.

“A big part of what he does is run the football to set up the play action. He has so many looks on his play action and RPO game that look like they’ll run. It puts a lot of pressure on the defense. If you’re running the ball effectively, man, it really allows you to hit some big plays potentially in that pass game.”

Plus, if Texas can produce efficiently on the ground, Nick Saban will have to load the box and leave his defense vulnerable to some one-on-one matchups with Longhorn wideouts.

“Nick Saban loves to play with two deep safeties as much as he can, and if he can get away with that and not have to get one safety down in that run support role and he can keep him back, it’s having the best of both worlds,” Herbstreit added.

“If you ever see that safety start to be like, ‘uh-oh, we got to get him down,’ you know Sark’s going, ‘oh boy, here we go. We got him where we want him. Now we can create some one-on-one chances for Xavier Worthy and some of these other guys.'”

If Texas wants to be just the second team in 53 tries to beat Alabama on their home field, Kirk Herbstreit insists that a strong day on the ground is key.

“That’s a game within a game. The running game and the balance of Texas is essential if they’re going to go in there and win this game. If you can run the football, which they were able to do at times last year, it’s tough to do, especially between the tackles, but if you can get that going, then I think, as I said, it opens up what Sark really wants to do.”

What Sarkisian really wants to do is give Quinn Ewers and Xavier Worthy those one-on-one opportunities to go and make a play.