It was closer than expected, but thanks to the magic of Alabama Crimson Tide QB Bryce Young, the top-ranked Tide survived a test from the Texas Longhorns.
Texas' defense was salty all game, and the Longhorns held a late fourth-quarter lead despite playing without starting QB Quinn Ewers. But a missed field goal early in the game proved to be the difference in the 20-19 game.
Young made huge plays in the last frame, completing an amazing TD pass, then leading a game-winning field goal drive after Texas took the lead the series before.
Read more: Week 2's biggest questions
Here are the best moments and plays from the game:
Final takeaways
Alabama did everything it could to lose to Texas. The Crimson Tide committed 15 penalties, a record under Nick Saban. The offensive line couldn't block anyone for basically all four quarters. And the receivers couldn't get open.
Yet still the Crimson Tide avoided disaster, thanks in large part to a gutsy performance by Young.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner was under constant pressure by the Texas defense. He was chased and knocked down. He nearly threw at least one interception and nearly took a sack that would have resulted in a safety. But in crunch time -- down 1 with less than 10 minutes remaining -- he scrambled and found running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the back of the end zone to take the lead.
Then, after Texas retook the lead, he marched the offense back down the field for the go-ahead field goal.
Although Young might not have put up the kind of Heisman numbers fans are used to, he showed the poise that made winning the award possible last season. -- Alex Scarborough
For about 59 minutes on the game clock Sunday, Texas looked ready to stun the college football world, ready to beat Alabama in front of a record home crowd (105,312) in a game where the Longhorns were the biggest home underdogs (20 points) in their history dating to the 1978 FBS/FCS split. They were right there, even with backup quarterback Hudson Card scrambling around on a gimpy ankle and Bijan Robinson largely held in check by the Alabama defense.
The crowd seemed to be a factor for an uncharacteristically sloppy Crimson Tide team. But then Alabama did Alabama things, putting together a methodical 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The Longhorns rallied, but then Alabama broke their hearts, with Young slipping a would-be sack and scrambling to the Texas 12 to set up a 33-yard game winner by Alabama kicker Will Reichard with just five seconds remaining.
After a 5-7 season in Steve Sarkisian's first year, Texas fans might have been prepared for the worst going into this one. But in the end, it doesn't feel as much like a moral victory as the Longhorns letting a landmark victory slip through their grasp. The question is, will this loss incur the same emotional devastation Texas suffered after losing a late lead to Oklahoma last year when the 4-1 Longhorns spiraled? -- Dave Wilson
Dueling late field goals
WOW 😱@AlabamaFTBL takes back the lead with 10 seconds remaining 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XqWyrSJfYJ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 10, 2022
AUBURN PUTS @TexasFootball OUT IN FRONT! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/GRtgAgt0XP
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 10, 2022
Bryce Young does Bryce Young things
After Texas kicked two field goals in the second half to lead 16-10, Bama finally got a drive going. The reigning Heisman winner made several big throws before hitting Jahmyr Gibbs for the score. Gibbs has a career-high eight catches in the game.
Making BIG PLAYS!!! 👏👏@_bryce_young @Jahmyr_Gibbs1
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 10, 2022
📺: @CFBonFOX
pic.twitter.com/rStkrSN6Mh
First-half takeaways
Texas gave Alabama everything it could handle in the first half, with Quinn Ewers keeping the Tide off balance with quick-strike, quick-release throws, setting up a few deep shots, most notably to Xavier Worthy. But a big hit by Alabama's Dallas Turner sent Ewers to the locker room at the end of the first quarter, eerily reminiscent of the last time these teams met in 2010 when Colt McCoy was knocked out of the game early. Ewers was 9-of-12 for 134 yards, with Worthy catching two passes for 68 yards, including a 46-yarder on the play before Ewers was injured. Alabama held Bijan Robinson mostly in check in the running game, but the Longhorns leaned on him on the last drive of the half with Hudson Card at the helm, and he came through with 26 yards rushing and a 42-yard catch. Defensively, the Longhorns were gashed on an 81-yard touchdown run by Jase McClellan in the first quarter, but held Alabama to 19 yards on 15 plays in the second quarter. Texas kicker Bert Auburn missed a 20-yard field goal as the half ended -- a disappointing end to a gritty drive that left the game tied at 10. -- Dave Wilson
Saturday marked Alabama's first nonconference road game since a 2011 trip to Penn State. And it showed as the Crimson Tide committed an uncharacteristic 11 first-half penalties when faced with a raucous Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium crowd. The offensive line appeared to be especially rattled by the noise, getting flagged for three false starts and struggling to keep the pocket clean for quarterback Bryce Young.
Making matters worse for Young was the lack of separation created by his starting receivers as Kobe Prentice, Jermaine Burton and Traeshon Holden accounted for one reception apiece. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs was a consistent threat out of the backfield and Jase McClellan had an 81-yard touchdown run.
Lingering over the second half will be the status of Ewers, who was pressing the Alabama defense before an injury knocked him out of the game. The Tide front seven kept star running back Bijan Robinson contained for the most part in the running game, limiting him to 45 yards on 12 carries, but the secondary had its hands full with receivers Jordan Whittington and Xavier Worthy.
One name to keep an eye on: outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who led the country in sacks and tackles for loss last season but had a rocky first half with three offsides penalties. -- Alex Scarborough
Alabama gets the first TD, Texas answers
TO THE 🏠 @thekidjase
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 10, 2022
📺: @CFBonFOXpic.twitter.com/6HdRxKHnEF
The Longhorns answered on the next drive with an amazing deep ball from Ewers to Xavier Worthy. Texas would score a few plays later with a short TD run by Bijan Robinson. However, the big news of the drive was Ewers going down with an injury. He was hit on a pass attempt and driven into the ground. He went to the locker room and Hudson Card took over.
An absolute DOT from Quinn Ewers 🎯
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 10, 2022
(via @CFBONFOX) pic.twitter.com/R3Vw64Ci4k
A STROLL IN THE ENDZONE @Bijan5Robinson 😎@TexasFootball ties it up once more! pic.twitter.com/tVzWPJC6hu
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 10, 2022
Longhorns legends in the house
TEXAS LEGENDS IN THE BUILDING@KDTrey5 x @VinceYoung10 🤘
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 10, 2022
pic.twitter.com/TKZ01NgMBQ
Game recognizes game @QuinnEwers 🤝 @VinceYoung10 pic.twitter.com/80rfZaqROU
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 10, 2022
Arrivals
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 10, 2022
Bevo Blvd. was electric 🔥 pic.twitter.com/297wuohAaI
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 10, 2022
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 10, 2022
SOON...⏳ pic.twitter.com/WKJHP8Zcjg
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 10, 2022