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Victory Laps: Why we predicted Texas over Alabama all offseason

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Victory Laps: Why we predicted Texas over Alabama all offseason


The now No. 4 Texas Longhorns made a statement in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Some of it did not surprise us.

Over the offseason, we documented why the Longhorns should defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide. If not for a poor showing against the Rice Owls in Week 1, our confidence would have carried over to the game over the past week.

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The matchup favored Texas for several reasons. Stylistically, the Longhorns had the schemes to give the Crimson Tide difficulty on both sides of the football. The increase in developed, proven talent for Texas paired with continuity telegraphed that this Texas team was a true contender to win 10 games and compete for a Big 12 championship.

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Let’s look at where we were right about Texas and its matchup with Alabama.

“Texas is the better team”

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) celebrates a touchdown against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

On July 30, we told you Texas was the better team. We said the following:

“(The Longhorns) can, and should, win the rematch. Texas is the better football team. It has more offensive playmakers, a better offensive line and, at the present time, a better quarterback than Alabama.”

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Correctly picked all five bold predictions

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) throws a pass during the game against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

All five of our bold predictions came true. We told you Texas would score 30 points. Texas scored 34. We told you Texas would force two turnovers. They did that too. We told you the Longhorns would connect on two 30-yard passes from Quinn Ewers and land one deep shot. Four Longhorns had a reception of 30 yards or more including two touchdowns on deep shots to Xavier Worthy and the game-sealing touchdown to Adonai Mitchell.

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Texas pass rush and secondary would have a good day

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian leads his team onto the field ahead of the game against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

We told you that the Texas defensive line and secondary were better than their Alabama counterparts. Ahead of the matchup we noted that Alabama’s offensive line looked particularly vulnerable in pass protection and the Longhorns could have a good day. Texas had five sacks.

“Texas has the better player (at quarterback)”

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) celebrates the 34-24 win over Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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On February 15, we told you Texas would have the better quarterback and should beat Alabama on the road. In addition, we mentioned Quinn Ewers was more equipped to move the ball against Alabama compared to last season. The game bore out those notions as true.

Texas saved its best for ‘Bama

Aaron E. Martinez-USA TODAY NETWORK

Some suggested that Texas did not save plays for Alabama. That assertion was absurd. We told you Texas prepared for Alabama all offseason camp. There was confidence that Texas would have a more creative product for the Texas-Alabama game. It’s fair to say the Longhorns were much more creative against the Crimson Tide after Saturday’s dominant victory.

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“Texas has the better offensive and defensive play caller”

Gary Cosby Jr. -USA TODAY Sports

We told you Texas would build an early lead and win because it has the better offensive and defensive play caller and the talent to make it happen. Boy, was that ever the case. Sarkisian schemed up and early lead. What we didn’t see coming was Texas winning the fourth quarter, 21-8. Texas didn’t just execute the plan. The Longhorns dominated.

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“Texas is different”

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

We told you this Texas team is different than past Longhorns teams of the last decade, and that it would result in a more predictable product. The culture change was evident well before the Longhorns took the field in Tuscaloosa. Texas’ culture outclassed Alabama’s in the first double-digit victory there of the Nick Saban era.

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Isolated severe storms possible today in Alabama

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Isolated severe storms possible today in Alabama


A rainy and at times stormy day is in the forecast for much of Alabama for the first day of June.

Isolated severe thunderstorms will be possible across much of the state, especially later this afternoon into the evening hours.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center is maintaining a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe weather for most of Alabama today. The exception is far eastern parts of the state, which could get rain and storms but not severe storms.

A Level 1 risk means that isolated severe storms will be possible.

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The strongest storms could have damaging wind gusts, but the hail and tornado threats are low for this go-around.

However, the National Weather Service is closely watching rainfall totals, especially in south Alabama, which has seen several severe storms overnight and a lot of heavy rain.

The weather service in Mobile early this morning reported a 69 mph wind gust in Fairhope in Baldwin County as severe storms moved through, and isolated rain totals of up to 5 inches have been reported in the Mobile area.

A flood watch will be in effect through the afternoon for Mobile and Baldwin counties.

The National Weather Service in Mobile expects thunderstorms to become more numerous this morning and last through early this afternoon. Forecasters said widespread rain totals of 2 to 4 inches will be possible, and isolated areas could get as much as 6 to 8 inches.

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The weather service in Mobile has placed an elevated risk for flooding across parts of south Alabama and northwest Florida today:

Areas near the Gulf Coast have an elevated risk for flash flooding today after a night of storms and heavy rain.NWS

Rain will be possible in Alabama on Sunday as well, but there is no severe weather in the forecast. In fact, there is no severe weather in the forecast (after today) for the rest of the week in Alabama, although the typical summertime rain and scattered storms will be possible through the week.



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Former Alabama QB Rejoins College Football: Roll Call, June 1, 2024

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Former Alabama QB Rejoins College Football: Roll Call, June 1, 2024


Tyler Buchner spent one season as a quarterback at Alabama, following his offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to Tuscaloosa for the opportunity to play for the Crimson Tide. Buchner was not named the starter, as Jalen Milroe won the job.

But after Milroe struggled in Alabama’s loss to Texas, Buchner got his opportunity with a start at USF. In the now infamous game, Buchner was 5-of-14 for 34 yards. He finished his Crimson Tide career with 61 total yards and no touchdowns before deciding to re-enter the transfer portal and return to Notre Dame to play a different sport.

“I had been lured to Alabama by opportunities that glistened like gold in the Southern sun,” Buchner said in a personal essay released on the Notre Dame official athletic website. “When I transferred, it was with a heavy heart and a mind clouded by uncertainty. There were whispers in my ear, persuasive voices, and the glittering prospect of opportunity. As a 20-year-old, the ache of leaving behind the Fighting Irish was overshadowed by the pull of the transfer portal and the promise of playing one season for Coach Saban as the next logical step towards playing in the NFL. But I had forgotten why I chose Notre Dame in the first place, and it took a season away to realize what I had and why I loved Notre Dame.”

Buchner recently won a national title with the Notre Dame lacrosse team, and on Friday, he announced that he would be rejoining the Fighting Irish football team as a walk-on wide receiver.

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91 days

June 1, 1968: Kenny Stabler and Dennis Homan were named to compete in the College Football All-Star game, with the collegiate stars slated to face the NFL Champion Green Bay Packers, winners over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II. The Packers were led by quarterback former Alabama quarterback Bart Starr, the MVP of both world championship games. — Bryant Museum

“I don’t know, we haven’t played Alabama yet.”—Vince Lombardi after being asked what it felt like to be the greatest football team in the world just after winning the ’66 Super Bowl.

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Possible active hurricane season for Alabama begins June 1 – Alabama News Center

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Possible active hurricane season for Alabama begins June 1 – Alabama News Center


Experts are predicting an active hurricane season for the Atlantic basin, which includes the Gulf of Mexico on Alabama’s borders. NOAA National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center are forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, eight to 13 are forecast to



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