College football: UT squares off against Alabama - Axios AustinLog InLog InAxios Austin is an Axios company.

The University of Texas vying to beat Alabama' s Crimson Tide

Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers will lead the squad into its matchup with Alabama. Photo: Tim Warner/Getty Images Alabama's Crimson Tide, the nation's No. 1 college football team, will face off against Texas on Saturday. The big picture: The game is a huge test for the rebuilding Longhorns. Is this edition of University of Texas football a potential title contender — or just another chump? The oddsmakers say: Chump. Alabama, led by quarterback Bryce Young, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is favored to win by about three touchdowns. UT finished last season 5-7. Yes, but: The Longhorns have … . Also, home-field advantage, slashing running back Bijan Robinson — who is now selling — and QB Quinn Ewers. Yes, against lowly Louisiana-Monroe last weekend, Ewers, , threw an interception before his first completion.Also, Ewers' during the game. The intrigue: The game kicks off at 11am — instead of prime time — on Fox, as the network promotes .The high tomorrow will be 95 degrees — and feel like roughly 115 degrees on the field, in our unscientific estimation."I am glad I did not buy tickets for the Alabama game," Tarik LaCour, who bills himself as president of the Ewers fan club, this year. "I am not interested in being physically and emotionally melted; emotionally melted will suffice." What we're hoping for: A moral victory. If UT loses by, say, 10 points, Longhorns fans everywhere can be quite proud. The bottom line: If UT manages a victory, the goalposts will definitely come down. Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.

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