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JD PicKell: Texas vs. Alabama will be a 'narrative' game

Untitled design (2)by: Sam Gillenwater05/12/23samdg_33

Alabama’s road trip to Texas last season was one of the best games during the regular season last year in college football. The one-point Crimson Tide victory in Austin has many just as fascinated in this season’s matchup in Tuscaloosa. However, On3’s JD PicKell wants everyone to have the right perspective on the matter.

PicKell spoke about the playoff nature of the Longhorn’s contest with the ‘Bama in Bryant-Denny on a recent episode of ‘The Hard Count’. While it has those sorts of title implications, though, he said no one needs to go overboard in either direction, no matter the outcome, considering how early this game comes in the season.

“What I’m trying to say is the narrative? (It’s) going to boom so far either way, regardless of the result for either team,” said PicKell. “I just want to get out ahead of that and tell you it’s gonna be week two. So we’re not making statements on either of these teams based on how this game shakes out.”

“I don’t know that we have a definition on either team, whether Texas wins or Alabama wins. It’d be a big deal, now, for both teams. It’d be a big deal to win this game,” PicKell continued. “But it’s a playoff game. (At least) in the sense that the rest of the slate is so tough for both of these teams. It’s a playoff game in the sense that you lose your mulligan.”

“But the narrative around this game? I just want us to be careful in how we approach it,” said PicKell. “But (it’s) a playoff game nonetheless.”

Intrigue around both of these programs is very high entering 2023. Alabama is Alabama but, at this point, many are wondering if there are chinks in the Tide’s armor for next season’s roster. As for Texas, the hype is real heading into what feels like a very important third season under Steve Sarkisian.

Still, PicKell recommends that you don’t get pulled too far in either direction based on how this contest shakes out. Having a loss on your record by the second game is obviously not ideal, especially considering what both the Tide and Longhorns will face the rest of the way. With that said, neither ship will officially be sunk depending on whether Alabama or Texas comes out of the game victorious.