Alabama didn’t have to deal with Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers that much during 2022’s game in Austin. Ewers was knocked out of the game late in the first quarter as the Tide came away with a tight victory.
Saturday’s game in Tuscaloosa was a different story. Alabama got a heavy dose of Ewers. This time, the Tide couldn’t pull a victory out.
Texas defeated Alabama 34-24 on Saturday. Ewers had a big role in that, going 24-for-38 for 349 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg noted after the game that “Ewers is the first non-SEC quarterback to have 250+ pass yards and two touchdowns at Alabama since coach Nick Saban took over in 2007.”
And Ewers made big plays when they were needed. After a slow offensive start to the game, Ewers and Xavier Worthy connected on a 44-yard touchdown for the game’s first touchdown.
Then, after Texas led for most of the night, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Jermaine Burton connected on a 49-yard touchdown pass to give the Tide a lead going into the fourth quarter. It wouldn’t last long.
Texas answered with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Ewers connecting with Adonai Mitchell on two of them. Ewers hit Mitchell with a seven-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead, then found him later on a 39-yard pass to effectively put the game away.
The college football world heaped well-earned praise on Ewers after his great game.