3 Takeaways from a heartbreaking loss for Texas to Alabama

Texas football played better than anyone expected on Saturday against Alabama but the Longhorns missed a huge opportunity.

It was kind of like watching a twilight zone Saturday as Texas football and Alabama. At least it had to feel that way for Alabama fans.

At one point at the start of the fourth quarter, Alabama was credited with more penalty yards than passing yards as Bryce Young struggled to get things going.

But trailing Texas football by six points, Young drove the Crimson Tide down the field for a touchdown. However, Texas answered with another field goal, its fourth.

Yet, Texas should’ve known it was going to take more than 19 points to beat Bryce Young, who drove the Tide down for a game-winning field goal to get a 20-19 victory in a game that has been the best of Week 2 so far.

That won’t make Texas football fans feel any better. This a game the Longhorns should have won and the injury to Quinn Ewers will haunt Texas because he likely would have been the difference.

Still, there were a lot of positives for the Horns on Saturday, and here are three takeaways on the loss to Alabama for the Texas football program.

Is Texas back?

Everyone is going to ask this question, so let’s just address it.

My answer is no. College football isn’t horseshoes and you don’t get to proclaim yourself back by losing a close game to Alabama. Texas A&M actually beat Alabama last season and I doubt any Texas fans would call the Aggies elite.

You need to win on the field and Texas had its chances. Xavier Worthy’s dropped touchdown catch comes to mind and the four field goals, as well as the missed chip shot.

Still, it was an impressive performance. Most expected an Alabama rout and it wasn’t that at all. At the same time, Steve Sarkisian doesn’t want to be Charlie Weis, whose best win at Notre Dame was a close loss to USC when it was a dynasty.