AUSTIN, Texas — It kind of feels unattainable to imagine — it doesn’t matter what any individual says — that Disagree. 11 Texas is viewing Saturday’s rematch collision with Disagree. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa as simply some other tournament.

However that’s the message in Austin this day. Don’t consider your opponent, although it’s Nick Saban and the Pink Wave who narrowly gained this matchup latter era, 20-19, and simply focal point on your self. 

Tight finish Ja’Tavion Sanders known as it the Longhorns’ “John Wick” mentality. “Just be cool throughout the whole game,” he mentioned.

“The key to the drill is focusing on what we need to do, and we can’t get caught up in thinking we’re going to play all 17 teams that Coach Saban has had in the last 17 years,” added Texas teacher Steve Sarkisian, a former Saban worker. “We’re playing the 2023 Alabama football team, which is very good, and they’re very well coached, and it’s going to be a great environment for college football.”

That’s all neatly and excellent, however Texas is legitimately heading into an shape it’s by no means skilled ahead of at Bryant-Denny Stadium (7 p.m. ET) — despite the fact that it’s a excellent style of what’s to return as a hour SEC member. Alabama has some of the intimidating home-field benefits within the game and is these days driving a 21-game successful streak there, the longest lively streak in faculty soccer.

The Longhorns haven’t been stunning in true street video games towards non-conference fighters over the day 10 years, shedding to Arkansas (2021), Maryland (2018), USC (2017), Cal (2016), Notre Dame (2015) and BYU (2013).

“If we don’t come out there with the right mindset, we’re going to get whupped,” Sanders mentioned. “We have to come into this game with a clear mind. The past is in the past. We’re a whole new team, a whole new season, and they’re a new team. We just have to come out there and execute the game plan.

“… That is what we’re made for, those big-time video games.”

That starts with containing Alabama’s first-year starting quarterback Jalen Milroe, who backed up 2021 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Young last year. Milroe has been compared to former Tide and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for his athleticism.

“He’s were given a dynamic arm and will put together each and every throw within the reserve — off-platform, at the run, doesn’t subject,” said Sarkisian, who recruited Milroe while he was still at Alabama. “He’s an incredible runner, an elite runner with the ball in his palms.”

Just last week in a 56-7 win over Middle Tennessee, Milroe picked up a botched snap and turned it into a 21-yard touchdown.

“And the article that considerations me essentially the most about this is 3rd downs the place they may be able to run the ball,” Sarkisian continued, noting that the Tide have speed on the perimeter, will utilize their tight ends, and also have a physical offensive line. “So you place all that in combination and in the long run the warning of the quarterback run. They’ve were given a large number of quarterback runs the place there’s zone reads, energy reads, quarterback direct runs, quarterback scrambles on 3rd downs. That’s more than likely the most important factor that’s the hardest to arrange for that we’re committing to must spend remaining year on.

“How do we control and contain the quarterback with his legs? The rest of the offense is the offense you see. And it’s good. It’s very well-designed and they’ve got really good pieces. But they’re going to run their quarterback.”

Milroe remains to be younger — he’s began simplest two video games (latter era vs. Texas A&M) in comparison to Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who has began in 11. However the Longhorns’ protection needs to be disruptive, put together him uncomfortable, and drive him to move the ball, as a result of if he escapes the region, there will likely be bother.

“It’s gonna be a dogfight,” linebacker Jaylan Ford mentioned. “If we make mistakes, we know they will execute on our mistakes.”

Sarkisian mentioned this day that they have got rectified mistakes made within the Generation 1 win over Rice, which integrated errant passes, now not protective Ewers neatly plenty, and destitute route-running. When speaking about his offensive series, Sarkisian mentioned Monday that he “didn’t love our physicality” and that he idea that unit was once too “slow” and i’m not sure.

That gained’t fly towards an unforgiving Wave protection, which options manage hour draft possibilities like cornerback Kool-Assistance McKinstry and linebacker Dallas Turner. The Longhorns could possibly to find an edge towards Bama’s secondary, despite the fact that. The gang was once distinguishable as a energy of this era’s staff, but it surely might be with out settingup safeties Malachi Moore and Jaylen Key, either one of whom left the opener with confidential accidents.

Regardless, it doesn’t get a lot larger than a matchup like this early within the season. For the Longhorns particularly, it’s a probability to put together a commentary that they have got made important enhancements heading into Sarkisian’s 3rd season and are able to contend within the SEC.

“This is something little kids dream of,” Texas defensive again Jahdae Barron mentioned. “To be a manage program and play games towards a manage program. We’ll be able.

“… [This is an opportunity] to turn what Texas is and what Texas is set. We labored so crisp this summer time, so we simply wish to exhibit that. Everyone has issues to mention about us, be them certain or destructive, however on the finish of the while, we’re simply specializing in ourselves, and we wish to move available in the market and win.” 

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Sturdy Like a Lady,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth per annum of Name IX. Apply her on Twitter @LakenLitman.

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