{"id":10379,"date":"2023-07-19T18:37:45","date_gmt":"2023-07-19T23:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=10379"},"modified":"2023-07-19T18:37:45","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T23:37:45","slug":"can-texas-beat-alabama-in-2023-the-season-depends-upon-that-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=10379","title":{"rendered":"Can Texas Beat Alabama in 2023?  The season depends upon that game&#8230;&#8230;.."},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\">TEXAS LONGHORNS:\u00a0 WILL THEY GET IT DONE ON THE 40 ACRES?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/tse4.mm.bing.net\/th?id=OIF.TsuQquKNwFRNk7QmjXPbcA&amp;pid=ImgDet&amp;rs=1\" alt=\"Texas Longhorns vs. Houston Cougars Week 8: Offensive Players To Watch ...\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>It is the Texas Longhorns last season in the Big 12 and they would like to go out with a football title, not only in the conference, but a national championship one.\u00a0 For a school that has been in a drought with regard to making it to the top and being the best team around, it has not been the group from Austin.\u00a0 In fact, with the last title team under Mack Brown, a South division Big 12 title in 2008 and a Natty under him in 2005, the past twenty or so years have not been all that productive for the Horns.\u00a0 For those that specialize in arithmetic, that is 18 ad 23 years if counting.\u00a0 For Texas, that is not acceptable.\u00a0 Head Coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorn nation believe that 2023 might be the year for a new trophy, or trophies, to be placed in the athletic case on campus.\u00a0 It just might be as the Horns have the players, the schedule, and maybe the moxie to pull it off.\u00a0 But it will not be an easy task.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>If UT has a shot at winning the conference and making the playoffs two things must happen. Quarterback play by Quinn Ewers, a sophomore who had 15 td passes in 2022 must continue to improve and use his wonderful group of pass catchers (Xavier Worthy,\u00a0 Jordan Whittingham and TE Ja&#8217;Travon Sanders) in getting consistent big plays.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>The second thing that has to happen for UT to make it&#8217;s mark is to beat Alabama on the road in game two.\u00a0 Texas has to develop that mental attitude that it can play with the big boys and a win in Tuscaloosa would do that.\u00a0 Texas will not win that game if the same approach of &#8220;wanting to win&#8221; but not getting it done continues.\u00a0 Coach Sark has his work cut out.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>A punishing ground game lead by a veteran offensive line sophomore Kevin Banks Jr. will be a asset.\u00a0 \u00a0Texas returns the complete offensive line from 2022.\u00a0 The running backs at UT will be good enough to make the Texas offense a potent group with Ewers delivering the needed leadership.\u00a0 It is his team and he showed the talent in the 2022 game with the Tide.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>The defense will continue to improve, especially the pass rush, best in the Big 12 last year. Can they stop Alabama? We shall see.\u00a0 \u00a0A young QB for the Tide will be tested by the Texas front 7.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>I like what Texas brings to the table.\u00a0 They will have to prove they can win in games with teams like Alabama.\u00a0 Five loses in 2022 gives many doubters ammunition to ponder the situation.\u00a0 UT has the Longhorns but are they mentally ready steers or just plain old stupid and ill equipped in the brain cows?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>Winning at the highest level this season?\u00a0 The Horns have enough road blocks that even with a loss to Alabama, they cannot afford to lose road conference games at Baylor, TCU, or Houston. The game with OU in Dallas is always a game that could go either way.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>If Texas beats Alabama, they could run the table in the regular season as they will be favored in every conference contest.\u00a0 The Big 12 title game will be a bitch, but a 11-1 UT team would be the favorite and a win could get them in the playoffs.\u00a0 That is possible and Texas would be back, for sure.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>Feature photo Credit:\u00a0 The Sporting News.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #d99218;\"><em><strong>Secondary photo Credit:\u00a0 Fan Nation<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_10379\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"10379\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TEXAS LONGHORNS:\u00a0 WILL THEY GET IT DONE ON THE 40 ACRES? &nbsp; It is the&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_10379\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"10379\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,11,10,4,7],"tags":[343,664,16,1854,1783,136],"class_list":["post-10379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-football","category-college-sports","category-featured","category-home","category-latest","tag-alabama-crimson-tide","tag-big-12-conference","tag-oklahoma-sooners","tag-quinn-ewers","tag-steve-sarkisian","tag-texas-longhorns"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":95,"today_views":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10379"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10390,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10379\/revisions\/10390"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}