Texas football: 3 takeaways from massive upset of No. 3 Alabama

Sep 9, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) drops back to pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) drops back to pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
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Sep 9, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) passing against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) passing against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

2. Quinn Ewers was tremendous

Milroe may have been the biggest question in this game, but Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was the biggest star. He cemented himself as one of the biggest names in the sport on Saturday with a tremendous and commanding performance.

Last year in this matchup, Ewers went 9-of-12 for 134 yards, and tonight he picked up right where he left off.

Ewers finished the night 24-of-38 for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores came in the fourth quarter as Texas pulled away from the Tide, including a 39-yard touchdown to Adonai Mitchell that put the Longhorns ahead ten.

This was even more impressive considering, like Milroe, Ewers didn’t have a great deal of rushing support. Texas gained 105 yards on 37 carries, averaging a measly 2.8 yards per carry.

When the rubber met the road, it was Ewers who needed to make plays, and he delivered time and time again. There’s been so much early-season talk about Shedeur Sanders, Caleb Williams, and Michael Penix Jr., but no quarterback in the nation has the signature win that Ewers just pulled off.