Bohls: Keys to Texas victory include containment of Alabama's Jalen Milroe, new wrinkles

While I got ya, here are nine things and one crazy prediction:

Why Texas will win in Tuscaloosa

1. Setting ‘em up: Texas played it just right in its struggles against Rice, and that’s why it will beat Alabama 27-24 on Saturday. Here are six main reasons. (1) The Longhorns didn’t look lifeless against Rice, but they didn’t look overwhelmingly strong or crisp throughout. I like a highly motivated team that didn’t play its best. (2) That and Alabama’s crushing of Middle Tennessee State should give Crimson Tide players a tad bit of complacency, which could only help. Not Nick Saban, but the players. (3) Last year’s even match with Alabama ending in a 20-19 loss in Austin helps Texas’ confidence but allows the Tide to accurately think they were off their game, didn’t play well at all because they had 15 penalties for 100 yards and were subpar. (i.e., “We played terrible and still beat you, Texas.”) (4) The Longhorns won’t be intimidated. Doesn’t mean they’ll play well, but I do not expect them to be scared. (5) Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has only two college starts under his belt to Quinn Ewers’ 11. “We have to try to disrupt him,” nickel back Jahdae Barron said Monday. “If we can disrupt him and make him pass (most downs), that’s what we want.” Containment of Milroe might be the biggest key to the entire game. (6) And finally, Steve Sarkisian had to be holding back a ton from the opener with special wrinkles against his old boss. A close friend whose identity I won’t share asked me, “Did he hold back blocking, too?” I suppose he did.

More: Golden: Sarkisian well aware of Saban's success against former assistants

The highs and lows of Texas

2. A very frank Finebaum: ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, a frequent guest of our “On Second Thought” podcast, entertained us in this week’s show, which airs Thursday. Among other things, he addressed Nick Saban’s future and said the greatest coach in college football history “really whiffed on NIL early on. He kept fighting it.” Asked if he thinks Saban will coach another five years, Finebaum said, “I don’t believe so. The new word is if he wins the national championship this year, he’s done. Yeah, it’s easier to get into the playoffs, but the odds of getting through there in a 12-team playoff is going to be murderous.” … When I asked Jaylan Ford on Monday if he planned to spy on the dynamic, dual-threat quarterback, the Texas linebacker said, “It might call for that, and it might not.” I’m betting yes. … I predicted true freshman CJ Baxter would edge out junior Jonathon Brooks as the featured tailback, but I sure didn’t think it’d be this fast. He just looks more explosive than Brooks, who looked just fine. So did Jaydon Blue. Baxter has a little more burst and some wiggle to go with it and is healthy after a Rice scare. … I wrote a week ago the best three Longhorns positions were wide receiver, secondary and defensive line. After one game, I’d list the top three to be defensive line, special teams and wide receiver. … Xavier Worthy is back at the top of his game. … Did you notice the opener took just 3 hours, 11 minutes? If I remember correctly, there was only one play reviewed, the non-catch by Worthy who seemed to secure the ball between his legs. Love that. Refs should quit reviewing so many plays. It’s unnecessary. … Totally opposed Sarkisian’s risky gamble to go for it from his own 33 on fourth-and-2. I don’t care who the opponent is. Sarkisian said he wants to be aggressive. What coach doesn’t? If it was fourth-and-2 at his own 10, would that decision also be aggressive? I prefer aggressive but prudent. That decision wasn’t. … Nice to see Alfred Collins make a play, swatting the ball back at Rice quarterback JT Daniels. Let’s see more of that.

Conferences take opening-week lumps

3. Poor Big 12: TCU, Texas Tech and Baylor were all favored by double digits, and all three lost to what were considered inferior opponents. So I’m guessing not exactly everything runs through Lubbock. Maybe tractors. But if I’m Brett Yormark, I talk about the fact Colorado will be a Big 12 team this time next year as will Utah, which beat up the SEC’s Florida team. … I wish the Mountain West Conference would absorb Pac-12 leftovers Oregon State and Washington State and the 14 teams rename their league — wait for it — the Pac-12. Why not? Who else would own the rights to that brand? … The Pac-12 quarterbacks tore it up this weekend, and the league that will soon be no more went a perfect 12-0. Its starting quarterbacks have thrown 40 touchdown passes with only three interceptions.

Bohls: Texas State's G.J. Kinne is undaunted of the challenge ahead. Can you doubt him?

Impressive season-opening debuts

4. Well, that didn’t take long: G.J. Kinne may just be all that. In 15 games, he took Incarnate Word to the FCS semifinals, gave Texas State its first win over a Power Five opponent since joining the FBS, has won 13 games and, had it not been for Colorado, might be the talk of college football. He’s the real deal at age 34. … After going 0-26 against Power Five schools, Kinne brings Texas State its first such win in his first try. What’s even better is that the Bobcats’ win over Baylor looked nothing like a fluke. They were the better team and pushed the Bears around. Kinne graced the national talk shows of ESPN, Sirius and Jim Rome. … Quarterback TJ Finley became the first Bobcats quarterback to have three passing and one rushing touchdown in a game in five years since Tyler Vitt. It was the school’s first road win in 644 days. … One week after upsetting Baylor, Texas State now has to face UTSA and Kinne’s former coach and good friend, Jeff Traylor. “I hate it,” Traylor said. “Texas State is going to play with their hair on fire.” The two coaches remain close and talk at least once or twice every week. “My son Jordan and he are similar ages," Traylor said. "G.J. was in Jordan’s wedding in April. Now I’m coaching against him. I don’t like that. I really don’t.”

My early, early Heisman list

5. Early thoughts on the Heisman: Yes, it’s entirely too early to have any serious discussion about the Heisman race in the first week in September, but it’s fun. My top five would be (1) Colorado iron man Travis Hunter after his 144 plays on offense (80) and defense (64) with 119 yards in receptions and a key interception in the red zone; (2) Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders; (3) Whomever Deion Sanders says. But actually, USC’s Caleb Williams. (4) Jalen Milroe; (5) Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis. … Of all the Longhorns on the roster, my bet for the best two-way player would be slot receiver Jordan Whittington. He’s tough as hell.

More: After showing 'a little glimpse' of its running game, Texas gets ready for Alabama

'I'll be lucky not to finish last'

6. Bet they’re not the last: Iowa State and Iowa were among the first schools to be tangled up with gambling issues that have impacted their football teams. Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said, “There might be conferences that are set up for something like this and don’t know it. It was not surprising that we were among the first because we were one of the first states to legalize gambling.” This just represents the tip of the iceberg. … Speaking of gambling, the U.S. surgeon general has declared loneliness and social isolation a national epidemic and said “friend-based fantasy leagues can provide a regular source of healthy social interaction,” can lower stress levels and be good mood-stabilizers.” Clearly, he hasn’t seen my fantasy team I own with sons John Tyler and Zach. The surgeon general said the excitement of fantasy league play triggers a release of dopamine, which is associated with pleasure. But he doesn’t know my two quarterbacks are Derek Carr and Brock Purdy. I’ll be lucky not to finish last. I’ll check the mental health of me and my sons in December.

It's a good time for Texas tennis

7. Deep run: Peyton Stearns has exploded onto the women’s tennis scene. The former Longhorn from the 2022 national championship reached the Round of 16 at the U.S. Open before falling. She’s got a huge upside. She pocketed a cool $284,000. … The Texas men’s golf team is ranked No. 11 in the preseason, joining Oklahoma (10th), Oklahoma State (16th) and Texas Tech (tied for 17th). The Longhorns open the season at the Sahalee Players Championship in Seattle on Saturday. Graduate Brian Stark and sophomore Christiaan Maas return as All-Big 12 players, and Maas ranks 16th in the most recent World Amateur Golf Rankings. Sophomores Tommy Morrison, Jacob Sosa and Keaton Vo add a ton of depth to the team.

Remembering one title-turning fumble

8. Scattershooting: While wondering whatever happened to Eryk Anders, the Alabama player from Smithson Valley who caused Garrett Gilbert's fumble to snuff out Texas' last hope of winning the 2009 national title game. ... Learned that Reggie Rivers has a talk show in Denver where he played for the Broncos.

Meanwhile, from the best seat in the world ...

9. On the couch: If you don’t watch “CBS Sunday Morning,” you’re missing out on the Best Show On Television. This week alone, fill-in Ted Koppel brought us stories about respect for plumbers, Idaho’s desire to annex half of Oregon, a compassionate John Legend fighting mass incarceration; billionaire’s retreat at Jackson Hole but too expensive for the middle class; the need for removing Online Disinhibition Effect; the joy and genius of American treasure Jimmy Buffett and Norman Lear; and 2,000 Braver Angels workshops trying to find common bonds between Reds and Blues. Gave it 10 ducks.

Bring on the Utes

Crazy prediction: Over the next 10 years, Utah will win more Big 12 football championships than anyone.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Six reasons why Texas can beat Alabama include stopping Milroe