In the lead-up to the highly anticipated clash between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday night, FOX’s lead college football analyst Joel Klatt gave his take on the matchup.
Appearing on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, Klatt emphasized the formidable challenge Texas faces when attempting to beat a top-tier team like Alabama on their home turf, Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The last time Alabama tasted defeat at home was on November 9, 2019, when Joe Burrow’s historic LSU Tigers team secured a thrilling 46-41 victory (one of the best games of the past 15+ years).
Highlighting the rarity of such upsets, Klatt noted the staggering statistics from the previous year, where top-five teams held a 30-1 record when playing at home, with the only exception being Ohio State’s loss to Michigan.
“I don’t think that we appreciate how difficult it is in college football to beat a top-five team in their own building,” Klatt told Cowherd. “It just doesn’t happen.”
Klatt acknowledged the potential for a game-changing performance by Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. While Ewers displayed promise before exiting last year’s close 20-19 loss to Alabama prematurely, Klatt expressed concern over the quarterback’s struggles against ranked opponents and his performance on downfield throws.
“Remember how explosive they were in that first quarter? If he stays in that game, ‘Bama’s got some issues,” Klatt said. “There’s no doubt. And since then, it just has not materialized with Texas or with Ewers.”
Despite some reservations, Klatt did not dismiss Texas outright and hinted at their potential advantage at the quarterback position in this matchup. Notably, Alabama no longer boasts Bryce Young, who was instrumental in bailing them out of tight spots last season.
“I want to say, ‘Hey, Texas is ready.’ Their roster is ready,” Klatt said. “I think they actually have the better quarterback in this matchup. Alabama, I’m not sure. They don’t have Bryce Young to bail them out. Even after saying all of that, I just don’t think Texas can win there.”
It’s one of the biggest non-conference games of the entire season. I think I speak for us all when I say I can’t wait for kickoff.
What is your prediction for the game?
Who will win – Texas or Alabama?
Will either team end up making the Playoff?