I'm surprised at the amount of piling on of Bama I'm seeing from the "news" outlets and InterWebz chatter.
Rumors of Alabama's demise may still be greatly exaggerated, as far as "the west is wide open."
First, this could be a really good Texas team. Time will tell, but the talent is unquestionably there. If Sark coaches well and the players focus, work, and stay motivated, this is a high-ceiling Longhorn team. Losing to them doesn't mean you're "over."
Second, it has absolutely no bearing on the SEC West. Alabama losing to Texas doesn't suddenly make them less likely to win the west. Who, exactly, is a better team? Not A&M. Not LSU. Arkansas? Ole Miss? I mean....who?
What I saw is an Alabama team with a mortal QB for the first time in about 10 years, and this is what a team looks like when a kid isn't All-Everything and has some growing to do. Really...think about their string of QBs over the last ten years. AJ McCarron, small break and then Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Bryce Young. That's a ridiculous run of three guys tearing it up in the NFL, one who is new but will probably be very good in the NFL as well, and then McCarron, who didn't stick in the NFL, but let's face it, that doesn't detract from his insane college career.
So Bama has some growing to do. Okie dokie. Milroe can certainly improve throughout the season. In fact, that'd be more the rule than the exception. He seemed to be the main stumbling block impeding their ability to play Texas better. Bama's lines are still better than their SECW counterparts and they aren't going to see beef and talent like Texas has again until they get to ATL vs. UGA again.
I've seen some dogpiling, and I don't get it. I get LSU fans playing up Alabama's loss because they're trying to make themselves feel better about still having a chance to win the west after realizing their team isn't anything close to what they thought. The Finebaums of the world, etc.? I think it just gets clicks to have hot takes like "Bama is done."
