Texas defeats No. 3 Alabama 34-24 as Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian earns victory over mentor Nick Saban

The Texas Longhorns defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 34-24 in an upset for the ages as Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian earned his first win over his mentor Nick Saban on a big night for a program trying to get back into the national spotlight Championship to rise dispute.

Texas (2-0) earned its biggest win under Steve Sarkisian in a game that escaped last season after a red-hot Quinn Ewers left with a shoulder injury in the first quarter. He was back and had another big weapon in Adonai Mitchell. This amounted to a Southeastern Conference welcoming moment for a program that will join Alabama & Co. next season.

The Crimson Tide (1-1) have not been without a fight and have now suffered three late games in the last two seasons. In addition, Alabama ended its 21-game winning streak at home along with a 57-game regular season streak against non-conference teams from Nick Saban’s debut season in 2007.

Mitchell delivered another great performance against ‘Bama. The Georgia transfer caught touchdown passes of 7 and 39 yards in the fourth quarter. As a freshman, Mitchell’s 40-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the national championship game against the Tide gave Georgia the lead and its first consecutive title.

He caught the winner against Ohio State also in the semifinals. Then Mitchell traveled to Texas and experienced another showdown with Alabama.

Sarkisian, a former Alabama offensive coordinator, came into the game at Texas 14-12 and had just two wins in nine tries against ranked teams. He left the company with a huge victory over his former boss.

The Texas Longhorns defeated Alabama 34-24, earning a huge win for a program trying to get back into contention for the national championship

Texas QB Quinn Ewers had a great night, completing 24 of 38 passes for three touchdowns

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was the offensive coordinator for Alabama from 2019-2020

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is now 23-8 against former assistant coaches after losing to Sarkisian and the Longhorns on Saturday night

Ewers completed 24 of 38 passes and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders had five catches for 114 yards.

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe made great plays in the passing and running games, but was also picked off twice for poor decisions. He was 14 of 27 for 255 yards with two touchdowns.

Both quarterbacks showed strong attacks in the final 16 minutes and exchanged the lead.

Alabama didn’t take its first lead until Milroe found Jermaine Burton – also a transfer from two-time defending champion Georgia – in the left corner of the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left in the third quarter. That came after a fourth-down stop when Ewers couldn’t control the snap under center.

That lead turned into a double-digit deficit again within 84 seconds.

Ewers responded immediately with a 50-yard pass and run to Sanders. He then promptly hit Mitchell for his 7-yarder.

The Longhorns caught two interceptions in the fourth quarter that helped them win

Actor Matthew McConaughey attended his alma matter’s away game in Alabama

Ewers shows the Texas “Hook ‘Em” hand sign after making a big play at Bryant-Denny Stadium

Peyton and Eli Manning’s nephew, Cooper’s son Arch, warmed up against Alabama but was not expected to play considering he is a freshman

Jerrin Thompson stepped in front of Milroe’s pass and ran 32 yards to set up Jonathon Brooks’ 5-yard run. Suddenly it was Texas 27, Alabama 16.

However, Milroe and ‘Bama weren’t done yet. Milroe recovered a dropped snap and hit tight end Amari Niblack for a 39-yard touchdown.

Milroe’s two-point pass made it 27-24 with 11:08 left before Mitchell’s long score tied the game.

Saturday’s win for Texas also marked the team’s first trip to Tuscaloosa since 1902.

Next up: The Longhorns host Wyoming on Saturday, September 16th.

Alabama will play at South Florida later the same day.