Playing for Notre Dame vs. Alabama and Steve Sarkisian led to this moment for Texas' Ovie Oghoufo

Texas and Alabama haven’t faced off since the 2010 BCS Championship when the Crimson Tide won 37-21. The Longhorns may not be very familiar with the Crimson Tide, but Texas linebacker Ovie Oghoufo is, as he played against them during his time at Notre Dame.

“I think we played them 2020 in the playoffs, they got us, they whooped us. But I was really excited, I love the game, I always love those big games, I love those challenging games because it really kind of shows individually what you’ve got going up against them. That’s kind of really what I remember, other than the L,” Oghoufo said.

Oghoufo was also asked if Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian ever gave him a hard time for that game against the Crimson Tide.

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“Oh yeah, especially when I got in, but you know it’s the game that got me here,” Oghoufo said.

Oghoufo definitely got the last laugh, and elaborated on how his performance in that playoff matchup helped him make his way to Austin for his junior and senior seasons.

“I played really well that game and then going into transfer portal getting Sark’s attention with that game,” Oghoufo said.

Alabama’s offense carved up Notre Dame in that matchup, led by a four touchdown performance by quarterback Mac Jones‘. Oghoufo will be facing a new challenge this time around, facing Heisman trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young. And hopefully for Oghoufoand the Longhorns, they can do a better job of slowing down the Crimson Tide’s prolific offensive attack this time around.

Steve Sarkisian reveals what made him proudest in opener with Alabama looming

Texas took care of business in their week one game against Louisiana-Monroe winning handily 52-10. The Longhorns face perennial powerhouse Alabama in week 2, and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian applauded his team for staying focused on this week’s game and not looking ahead to their marquee matchup versus the Crimson Tide.

“A couple things, one that’s one of the things I’m really most proud of our guys. I think we’ve been all watching the games here today and there’s been a couple games everyone thought were gonna go a certain way and didn’t where it was a heavily favored team or a team everybody thought was gonna just walk out on the field and roll the ball out and come out with a big win,” Sarkisian said. “And a couple teams ended up losing those games, couple of them were in a lot tighter games than they were anticipating. So for our guys to handle it the way they did tonight and do it in the fashion they did, that was really encouraging.”

The Longhorns were definitely focused on the task at hand this weekend, as both sides of the ball were firing on all cylinders for them. But regarding their next game, Sarkisian said the focus will be more about them and less about Alabama.

“But honestly I didn’t mention anything about next week’s game to our guys, I haven’t mentioned that game since that game got put on our schedule and since I’ve been here. The focus was on this game and what we needed to do this game to play our brand of football, our style of football. I think we’re on the right course to go do that, I’ve got the upmost respect for Alabama, and Nick Saban, and that organization, and that team, which y’all know that. And so we need a good week of preparation and we need to focus on the things that we need to improve upon, which there’s plenty there.,” Sarkisian said.

Alabama is coming off of an SEC title win last season and an impressive 52-point game of their own in week 1, as they defeated Utah State 52-0. Hopefully for the Longhorns, their focus on themselves this week will lead to success at home on Saturday, as they face what will likely be their tallest task of the season.