Steve Sarkisian previews Texas-Alabama Week 2 matchup

With less than two months until the start of the 2022 season, the hype is building for some of the season’s marquee non-conference matchups. The Alabama Crimson Tide travel in Week 2 to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium to take on their former offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and his Texas Longhorns.

Joining Greg McElroy on the Always College Football Show this week, Sarkisian discussed the reigning SEC champs and his respect for his former boss.

“One, a great deal of respect, obviously, for their program and Coach Saban,” Sarkisian said. “What he’s been able to do now for almost two decades, the style of play, the ability to adapt to the style of play in college football. Where it was defense, defense, defense, ‘Greg, just don’t screw it up’ and we’ll win a national championship to really highlighting the offensive players and letting them really cut it loose and go play to now, the shift, they’re a really complete football team.

“They’ve got a great defense coming back, anytime you have the Heisman trophy-winning quarterback coming back in Bryce Young and all he can do, they’re a fantastic team.”

Texas struggled in Year One of the Sarkisian era, losing six conference matchups. This offseason, the Longhorns are working out a quarterback competition and developing talented youth to contribute this season.

Sarkisian voices concern over youth versus veteran Bama squad

As the Texas skipper points out, the Longhorns have 57 underclassmen among their 85 scholarship players this fall. Heading into one of the biggest games of the season, Sarkisian wants his team to focus on playing their game – not trying to do too much.

“They’re a veteran football team and we are not,” Sarkisian put bluntly. “We’re a young team, I think we’re talented. The reality is for us as we go into this game is about, can we prepare, can we be focused, and can we put our best foot forward against a really quality opponent. And when you do that, you always give yourself an opportunity to play at a high level and put yourself in position in the fourth quarter to go win a game.

“One thing, in my time while I was at Alabama, when teams got in trouble against us is when they got out of character, whether it was the play caller, whether it was players doing things that were not in their norm and so one of the keys when you get into a game like this is to be really focused, understand the game plan, go execute the plan, knowing they’re going to make their plays too but put yourself in position in the fourth quarter to put a couple drives together, get a couple stops on defense, with an opportunity to win.”

Texas welcomes the Crimson Tide to Austin on Sept. 10 for a noon ET kickoff.