January 7th, 2010, the Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide faced off for the BCS National Championship. Early in the game, two-time Heisman finalist and Longhorn Legend Colt McCoy injured his throwing shoulder and was taken out of the game. This led to a lot of what-ifs and what could have been as Texas lost 37-21.
This ended a ten-year stretch where the Longhorns’ worst season was 9-3 in 2000, which was followed by nine consecutive double-digit win seasons, which included two national championship appearances, three New Year 6 bowl games, two Big 12 championships, and an overall 7-3 bowl record.
The End of an Era
Former Texas QB Colt McCoy (12) – Tom Hauck/Getty Images
The next 12 years, this winning tradition seemed to disappear overnight. After having Vince Young and Colt McCoy, the Longhorns no longer had a superstar quarterback and were struggling to find consistent play everywhere. From 2010 – 2021, there were five seasons where the program finished below .500. They were 6-2 in bowl games, but they did not reach a bowl game four times, and there was only one New Year 6 bowl game, and no Big 12 Championships.
In 2018, the Longhorns went 10-4 and beat the Georgia Bulldogs 28-21 in the Sugar Bowl. This is where Sam Ehlinger, the game’s MVP, famously claimed that Texas was “back.” Since then, Texas has averaged seven wins a season, and as with any big win, the term “Texas is back” is everywhere.
Chance for Redemption
Texas RB Jaydon Blue (23) and DB Jahdae Barron (23) – Tim Warner/Getty Images
September 10th, 2022. For the first time since the National Championship, the Texas Longhorns play the Alabama Crimson Tide. Since the last time the two teams met, they have been on opposite sides of the spectrum, with Alabama dominating college football. After starting 9/12 with 134 yards in the 1st quarter, Freshman Quarterback Quinn Ewers hurt his shoulder and was knocked out of the game. Deja vu.
Even after losing their starting QB, Texas had plenty of chances to win the game. It took some magic from Bryce Young, Heisman winner and number one overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, to pull this one out for Bama. The Longhorns were so close but fell 20-19 to the Crimson Tide at home in a heartbreaker. The Longhorns would end up going 8-5 and lose to Washington in the Alamo Bowl.
Reclamation
Texas Longhorns Head Coach Steve Sarkisian – Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Almost exactly one year later, and 4,993 days since meeting the National Championship, Texas traveled to Tuscaloosa to face the Crimson Tide once again. There were no shoulder injuries to the quarterback, and Quinn Ewers and the Texas Longhorns played up to their potential for four quarters and finally beat Alabama 34-24.
This was not a dominant performance, but it was a complete performance. They played solid throughout the game and played their best in the 4th quarter when it mattered most. Ewers finished 24/38 with 349 yards and 3 TDs. The Texas defense also had a great showing, sacking Alabama Quarterback Jalen Milroe five times and picking him off twice. Including a 32-yard interception return early in the 4th quarter that put the ball on the five-yard line and a touchdown was scored on the next play, even when Alabama answered that with a quick touchdown drive, Ewers drove right back down the field to score and put the game out of reach.
Cue the “Texas is back” posts.
Are the Texas Longhorns back?
Texas QB Quinn Ewers (3) -Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Not completely. While this is probably the biggest win for the program in a little over a decade, there is still plenty of work to do to be completely back. This was the biggest game on the schedule coming into the year, and they handled business, but there are still ten regular season games and a Big 12 championship game to get through to get to the ultimate goal of the College Football Playoff. The Big 12, while not as prolific as years past, is never a walk in the park.
As of today, there are only two other ranked teams on the schedule for the newly number 4 ranked Longhorns. The Red River Showdown in Dallas vs. Oklahoma, and a home game against Kansas State. College football rankings are always a roller coaster, so things could always change. However, it is looking like Texas should definitely compete in the Big 12 Championship with the roster and talent that they have. Quinn Ewers is showing that he is the guy and is showing the confidence and composure that is needed to win college games in high-pressure situations and hostile environments.
The fans will celebrate, and they have their bragging rights until the next time they face Alabama. In order to bring back the winning tradition of the 2000s, there is still a lot of work to do. This is looking like a team that can make a lot of noise, and not just in the Big 12.
See Also: Ewers vs. Manning: The Battle at Quarterback Heats Up in Texas
