Ultimately, that was enough on a day when the Crimson Tide played for long stretches as if they knew they were a three-touchdown favorite and didn’t feel like doing the work. Don’t worry: Nick Saban had plenty to say about it after the game. Right now, all that mattered was Young being sterling while Texas’ best quarterback stood on the sidelines with his left hand slinging. Freshman Quinn Ewers appeared to be on his way to his own magical afternoon when he was knocked out by a hit late in the first quarter by Bama linebacker Dallas Turner. It’s easy to imagine a comfortable win at Texas when Evers pitched in his second career start. The Ohio State transfer completed 9 of 12 passes for 134 yards with a long 46-yard toss to wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who was in the process of performing his own. The Longhorns got up enough in the first meeting between the powerhouse programs in 12 years to achieve what many Orangebloods considered a success in the game: advancement. “If this is the best team in the country,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said, “we’re down next. That should instill a lot of confidence.” Texas has been down for so long that moral victories, while not usually accepted, are perhaps defensible on this important Saturday. Backup QB Hudson Card was game, limping most of the game after the snap. Card had enough left to lead the ‘Horns on a 49-yard field goal by Bert Auburn with 1:29 left. DKR was about to explode. The headlines were drawn: Auburn beat Alabama. After all, Auburn had scored 12 of Texas’ 19 points in the game. But it was Young who put the Tide on his back and got the desired, albeit dramatic, result. Alabama’s Will Reichard hit the game-winning 33-yard field goal with 10 seconds left for a 20-19 win. This allowed Saban to avoid his first non-conference regular season loss since his first year with the program (2007 vs. Louisiana-Monroe). That led to an astounding 15 penalties, a record for a Saban-coached team in the SEC (Bama, LSU). That eluded a brilliant game plan by Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and sidekick Gary Patterson (defensive analyst and former TCU coaching legend).
With his team trailing 16-10 just minutes into the fourth quarter, Young completed 15 of his last 19 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown in the game’s final 13 minutes. More importantly, he put the focus of the offense primarily on Reichard’s kick. All 61 yards in the game-winning drive came on six completions on eight attempts by Young. “Something took over the game,” Saban said. “We train for moments like this,” linebacker Will Anderson Jr. said. “We have no doubt,” Young said. In fact, there was a lot of hesitation. Yang just wouldn’t let the Tide go down. His 213 yards (27 of 39 passing) were the third-fewest of his career since becoming the starter last season. That was coming off a Heisman-winning campaign in which he threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 47 touchdowns, an effort that led Alabama to a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance against Georgia that went all the way to the fourth quarter. Young must now be listed as perhaps the best quarterback in Bama history. At times last season, his legs bailed out an inconsistent Alabama offensive line that yielded 41 sacks. Texas added two more on Saturday, proving defenses are determined not to allow themselves to join back-to-back Young Heismans. With time running out and his wide receivers not consistently coming into play, Young had a counter.
“When you’re put in those positions, you learn about yourself as a team,” he said.
Bama’s 15 penalties were the most since 2022, back to the Dennis Francione era. An Alabama player hadn’t made a game-winning boot with less than 5 minutes remaining since 2006. Why would he? The tide is usually comfortably ahead. This was meant to be. In a meeting that was more about branding than backyard brawls, Alabama was a 20-point favorite. When Jace McClellan broke free for an 81-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, it looked like the drive was on. Then Texas proved to be Bama’s equal. At least. The DKR crowd was kicking causing four false starts from Tide forwards. The secondary — Saban’s baby as a position coach — was pinned for two pass interference penalties in consecutive games (defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry). The Big 12 crew may have lost a few more. Young’s biggest play may have been avoiding a safety in the third quarter. With the game tied 10-10, Texas’ T’Vondre Sweat appeared to have sacked Young in the end zone. In the same game, Horns linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was called for roughing the passer and targeting. None of this was accurate. A Big 12 referee overturned the targeting and oddly threw out the harsh call, explaining that he was given the wrong information. (Try to figure it out.) Young had dodged a fuse when, in desperation. bounced the ball off Overshown’s helmet as it rolled over Sweat’s back for an incompletion before touching the ground. It was gymnastics. It was athletic. It might have saved the game considering the way Texas was approaching it, it would have gotten the ball right back to the safety in a low-scoring game. “Why is he so good? If I could tell you that, I don’t know if I would,” Saban said of Young. “This is a very good job I have. [Seriously], the guy studies, prepares well for the game. He understands what the defense is at and what they’re going to do … and he’s very, very instinctive. He plays quarterback like a point guard in basketball.” This point guard is expanding his portfolio. As brilliant as Young is on the field, Dr. Pepper “Fansville” proves the kid can play. They are reasonably funny. It didn’t really matter on Saturday. All that mattered on that sweatbox field — and for Alabama’s dynasty — was that the quarterback looked down that field late in the fourth quarter, with his team trailing, and saw victory. “That’s where we like to be,” Young said.