Alabama vs Texas score, highlights: Quinn Ewers lifts Longhorns to huge early-season win

Sometimes, games end exactly as they should.

In a game where Alabama had two touchdowns erased by penalties, it was a neutral zone infraction by the Crimson Tide that allowed Texas to enter the victory formation, locking in a 34-24 victory for the Longhorns in a game they controlled the vast majority of.

Quinn Ewers was immaculate for the Longhorns, completing 24 of 38 passes (including 11-for-17 in the second half) for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Adonai Mitchell, and Xavier Worthy were all major contributors in the passing game, accounting for 267 of those yards with Mitchell hauling in two touchdown passes, Worthy catching one, and Sanders picking up 114 yards on his own.

Ultimately, mistakes were the bane of 'Bama: 10 penalties for 90 yards, including the aforementioned two that wiped out touchdowns, along with a pair of Jalen Milroe interceptions, were simply too much for the Crimson Tide to overcome. Milroe was sacked five times, and despite a few beautiful deep passes throughout the game, he looked out of time for a good portion of the game.

Steve Sarkisian joined some rare air, becoming the third former Nick Saban assistant to defeat him head-to-head. He joins Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher and Georgia's Kirby Smart in that exclusive club, on a night in which the Longhorns faced a very un-Saban looking team.

The game will inevitably open up questions about what's next for Alabama, who came into this game ranked third while Texas was ranked 10th. While a loss to a highly-ranked team is hardly a death knell this early in the season, it increases the urgency for the rest of the year. Texas took away Alabama's identity Saturday, holding it to just 3.1 yards per carry. That's a blueprint not many teams can replicate, but it is a flag in what is being called an important season for Alabama.

We were following Alabama vs. Texas. Follow below to relive the game and get highlights from Tuscaloosa.

Alabama vs. Texas score

Alabama vs. Texas updates, highlights

All times Central.

Final: Texas 34, Alabama 24

9:37 p.m. -- Poetry. On the next fourth down, Alabama gets drawn offsides and Texas can just kill the clock now. That might be the most painful penalty of the night for Saban.

9:33 p.m. -- Things were already bad, but Texas might have clinched it. On third down, a massive hole gives Texas the first. There are now under four minutes with and Alabama can't stop the clock.

9:29 p.m. -- Now things are getting bleak. Texas converts with Brooks dragging 'Bama defenders on third down, and Saban burns a timeout. Clock is a huge enemy for the Crimson Tide.

9:26 p.m. -- Texas throws another big punch. Milroe wanted to run up in third-and-10 but there was nowhere to go. Texas gets the sack, and Alabama will punt down two scores with 7:15 left.

Touchdown: Texas 34, Alabama 24

9:19 p.m. -- Ewers does it again! He drops a 39-yard touchdown right into the bread basket of Mitchell. It looked for a moment like it might sail one him, but Mitchell buckled and caught it. Massive play, and the Longhorns aren't letting Alabama get any momentum.

9:17 p.m. -- This Texas offense deserves a lot of credit. It's shown a lot of poise, and the Longhorns are back in Alabama territory and driving. These situations are hard to navigate, but Ewers' stats are only getting more impressive. Nine minutes left.

Touchdown: Texas 27, Alabama 24

9:10 p.m. -- Alabama converts to Bind with a leaping grab, and it's a three-point game! This game is late to arrive, but it is making an entrance.

9:09 p.m. -- How's that for urgency? Milroe drops a snap again, and finds Amari Niblack over the middle for a 39-yard touchdown! Alabama lines up to go for two, but Texas takes a timeout, delaying the play. Huge play, and Alabama is very much alive.

9:08 p.m. -- Big play here for Alabama. After Milroe was sacked for the fourth time, he found Benson over the middle for a first on third-and-17. Milroe then hits Prentice to get back into Texas territory. A lot of urgency here with 12 minutes left.

Touchdown: Texas 27, Alabama 16

9 p.m. -- The wheels are falling off for Alabama. Milroe now gets picked off, followed by a touchdown almost immediately after. It's crazy that about 10 minutes ago, Alabama was celebrating ensnaring the lead. Now every possession counts in a two-score game.

Touchdown: Texas 20, Alabama 16

8:58 p.m. -- What an answer from Texas, incredible. A 50-yard pass to Sanders followed by a seven-yard pass to Mitchell puts Texas back on top. Just a crazy turnaround.

End of Third Quarter: Alabama 16, Texas 13

Touchdown: Alabama 16, Texas 13

8:45 p.m. -- After all of this, Milroe delivers an absolutely gorgeous deep ball to Jermaine Burton for a touchdown. So much grinding so much pounding, and Alabama suddenly finds itself with a lead here toward the end of the third.

8:41 p.m. -- Texas goes for it on fourth-and-2, but Alabama stacked Brooks up at the line and gets the ball. That was a lot for very little, but it's Alabama ball about 10 yards from where it would have had it a minute ago.

8:39 p.m. -- Texas has decided to make this game hilarious. Ewers catches a pass that was batted back to him and runs for eight.

8:36 p.m. -- OK, we'll break this down the best we can. Texas fumbled on fourth-and-1 as the snap was mishandled by Ewers. Jonathon Brooks picked up the ball and scrambled out for a first down. While he got it, it was ruled Ewers fumbled it, so no other player could advance it. Upon review, it was ruled to be a muff, so Ewers never had possession. Texas retains possession after a lot of drama, and the Longhorns catch a huge break.

8:32 p.m. -- That's another frustrating three-and-out for Alabama, as a false start puts Milroe and the Tide into third-and-15 and Milroe gets sacked. Bad is getting worse.

8:27 p.m. -- Ewers put an unbelievable ball on Worthy in the end zone that fell harmlessly to the grass, and Texas then misses a field goal. A promising drive for the Longhorns doesn't turn up any points, and the score remains 13-9.

8:25 p.m. -- Texas is slinging to start this drive. First a 32-yard pass to Mitchell followed by another 34 yards to Mitchell, the Longhorns are getting some chunk plays and they're knocking on the door of the Bama red zone again. Third-and-6 from the Alabama 24-yard line coming up.

8:22 p.m. -- Horrid break there for Alabama. Milroe had McClellan alone out of the backfield on a wheel route. Might have been a TD, definitely would have been a big play, and Alabama is forced to punt. Worthy takes a fair catch at his own six.

8:20 p.m. -- As Alabama gets the ball back, Texas quickly gets hit with a pass interference call inflicted upon Bond. Milroe seems to be happy to throw deep so far in this half.

Field Goal: Texas 13, Alabama 9

8:10 p.m. -- Alabama drills a 51-yard field goal to draw closer again. A promising drive sputters, but the Tide don't come up empty.

8:05 p.m. -- Huge play for Alabama coming out of the half, as Jalen Milroe hits Isaiah Bond for 34 yards down to the Texas 35. That's a giant play for Alabama. Milroe then hits Burton over the middle for a TD that will be erased by a hold, and it'll be second down for Alabama again. A lot going on early in the half, and that's 'Bama's second TD called back from penalty.

Halftime: Texas 13, Alabama 6

7:45 p.m. -- Not a perfect half for Texas, but it's the kind of half you take against Alabama. Quinn Ewers completed 13 of 21 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, with Xavier Worthy unsurprisingly paving the way with five catches for 75 yards and the half's only touchdown.

Jalen Milroe has seen ups and downs, with his struggles largely coming when the field shrinks. He was 8-for-15 for 80 yards and an interception, with nine rushes for 52 yards as well. He'll have to get more comfortable in the pocket against the potent Texas pass rush in the second half if this Alabama offense is going to find its rhythm.

Field Goal: Texas 13, Alabama 6

7:42 p.m. -- Milroe runs out and goes out of bounds after 15 yards. Alabama does convert a field goal as the clock runs out, but Alabama fails to score a touchdown in the first half.

7:40 p.m. -- What looked like a huge change of fortune for Alabama turns into a loss of five after an ineligible man downfield erases a touchdown that went off the hands of a Longhorn. Now a false start will make it third-and-17, and this is the kind of thing that drives Saban crazy.

7:36 p.m. -- Alabama needed this badly. After being forced into third down, Milroe found Prentice for 25 yards before hitting Prentice again for 15 more. Alabama finds itself down in the Texas red zone.

7:33 p.m. -- That's a really bad outcome for Texas, as it goes three-and-out in 14 seconds of game time. Texas will punt to Kool-Aid McKinstry, who returns it from his own 34-yard line and gets nowhere. A flag is down and it will be holding on Texas, adding 10 yards to Alabama's starting position.

7:31 p.m. -- Once again, Texas will start inside its own 10.

7:30 p.m. -- Milroe climbed the pocket and wanted to throw on third down. But he gets stopped short on a late scramble and Alabama has to punt again with two minutes in the half.

7:28 p.m. -- The Alabama offense has started nearly every drive strong, but there have been problems between the 40s. Milroe got heat on second-and-11 and had to throw it away, setting up a negative third down play.

Field Goal: Texas 13, Alabama 3

7:20 p.m. -- Big stand here from the Alabama defense, as Texas will have to settle for three after a 14-play drive. Auburn hits from 29 out, and Texas takes a 10-point lead.

7:17 p.m. -- Texas is running a death by 1,000 cuts offense, and it's working. A swing to Worthy and another swing has them in the Alabama red zone.

7:14 p.m. -- Ewers is impressive in the pocket. With the pocket collapsing around him, he converts a third-and-4 over the middle to keep a drive alive. After another first, Texas is going up-tempo in Alabama territory.

7:07 p.m. -- Texas forces another punt on a sack of Milroe, and they'll get the ball at their own 6-yard line.

Touchdown: Texas 10, Alabama 3

7 p.m. -- There's the big play! Ewers absolutely slings one 44 yards to Worthy for a touchdown, and Texas takes the lead. Great play call, great throw.

6:58 p.m. -- Texas went deep into the bag there, as Ewers swings it to Worthy in the backfield who slings it deep for Mitchell. Despite the incompletion, Texas gets the interference call.

Field Goal: Alabama 3, Texas 3

6:54 p.m. -- Alabama does, in fact, kick a field goal and both teams trade field goals early.

End of First Quarter: Texas 3, Alabama 0

6:52 p.m. -- The quarter ends, with Alabama presumably about to attempt a field goal after an incompletion on third-and-10.

6:48 p.m. -- Alabama converted fourth down on, frankly, a bad mesh play that had two receivers in the same spot. Drive stays alive, and Bama is back in business.

6:47 p.m. -- Alabama is back out over midfield in just a few plays, really leaning on the ground game. Milroe and McClellan had some strong runs. Texas stood tall on third-and-4, and Alabama lines up to go for it.

Field Goal: Texas 3, Alabama 0

6:40 p.m. -- Ewers had Xavier Worthy in the end zone but it went off Worthy's hands! Texas buries a field goal, and takes a 3-0 lead.

6:35 p.m. -- Clutch play on fourth-and-2 from Texas. Ewers runs a naked boot and hits Sanders to keep the drive alive. First-and-goal from the five.

6:30 p.m. -- Milroe makes a crucial mistake! He wanted Burton over the middle and tried to split two Longhorns, but Jahdae Barron jumps it and makes a huge pick. Those are the plays Texas has to make, and they're near the Crimson Tide red zone.

6:28 p.m. -- Alabama runs an interesting variant of the read option, as Milroe rolls out and flips it over the edge setter. He then scrambles for another 12 and it's now first-and-10 from Alabama's own 41-yard line.

6:26 p.m. -- Interesting note on the broadcast: Alabama had just 10 players on the field for that punt. Two runs get them out of the shadow of their own goalpost.

6:23 p.m. -- What a play from Texas special teams. It gets batted out of the end zone — twice — and Alabama is going to start from its own 3-yard line.

6:21 p.m. -- Possibly too cute by half. Texas runs off-tackle and picks up two to set up fourth-and-6 from the Alabama 33-yard line. Texas takes a delay of game and will punt. Definitely a confusing sequence.

6:20 p.m. -- The call is overturned, so instead of third-and-21 Texas will have it third-and-8. Huge difference there.

6:19 p.m. -- Huge break there for Texas, as Sanders got popped and the ball came loose. Texas managed to recover it, but not before a massive loss. That call is presently under review.

6:19 p.m. -- Ewers gets the Longhorns offense rolling early with a big scramble out of the gate. Texas is already over midfield under three minutes into the game.

6:15 p.m. -- Alabama deferred after winning the toss and will kick it to Texas to start. The Longhorns will start at their own 25-yard line.

6:03 p.m. -- The broadcast showed Steve Sarkisian, who coached under Nick Saban at Alabama in 2019 and 2020, chatting it up. Sarkisian is looking to become just the third former Saban assistant to beat him, joining Jimbo Fisher and Kirby Smart.

5:50 p.m. -- Competing hype videos anyone? Texas was a bit more ambitious.

5:20 p.m. -- Quinn Ewers warming up at Bryant-Denny. Ewers, of course, suffered an injury last year against Alabama that took him out of the game. He'll be key as Texas tries to stem the Tide this year.

5:10 p.m. -- A familiar face is in the house for the Tide.

4:45 p.m. -- Nick Saban takes the field in Tuscaloosa to smatterings of applause. Alabama defeated Texas 20-19 in Austin last year. This year, the stakes are high for the Tide.

What channel is Alabama vs. Texas on today?

• TV channel: ESPN

• Streaming: ESPN app, Fubo (free trial)

Alabama vs. Texas will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, but some fans hoping to watch the Crimson Tide take on the Longhorns won't be able to. Here's why.

Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and Fubo, which carries ESPN and offers a free trial.

REQUIRED READING: Two Alabama football players will be game-time decisions for Texas, per Nick Saban

What time does Alabama vs. Texas start?

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 9

• Time: 6 p.m. CT

The Longhorns and Crimson Tide will show down in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Saturday.

Alabama vs. Texas odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Sept. 8

• Spread: Alabama (-7)

• Over/under: 53.5

• Moneyline: Alabama -300 | Texas +240

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Texas 2023 schedule

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Alabama vs. Texas final score, highlights: Quinn Ewers lifts Longhorns