Mac Jones pays off bet following Alabama loss to Texas

Mac Jones is probably wishing he didn’t bet against Texas right about now.

After the Longhorns stunned Alabama 34-24 inside Bryant-Denny Stadium last Saturday, the former Crimson Tide quarterback was forced to pay up and take a photo next to former Texas standout Brenden Schooler in the New England Patriots’ locker room.

The photo, which depicts Jones forcing a smile beside a beaming Schooler, was posted to social media. Jones wouldn’t throw ‘Horns Up’ like Schooler, though.

Last weekend was a tough one for Jones, as not only did his alma mater suffer a gut-punching loss against the Longhorns — Jones led the Patriots to a 25-20 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles jumped out to a 16-0 lead to start the game and despite a comeback bid, came up just short to begin the 2023 season. Jones is choosing to leave this game in the past as he looks to shift tides toward the Miami Dolphins for Week 2.

“The biggest thing for me is the 24-hour rule, win or lose, just enjoy the win if you win and then learn from the loss if you lose,” Jones said on Wednesday. “Just trying to get better at those things, apply those things this week in practice, and move on to a really good team.”

Jones’ individual performance saw him throw 54 total passes, throwing for 316 yards, three touchdowns and an interception against the reigning NFC Champions.

It’s a great start to the third NFL season of Jones’ career. He took a step back during 2022 as he was unable to eclipse the 3,000-yard passing mark. Jones threw for 3,801 yards as a rookie, but the near 1,000 passing yards he ended up missing was left on the table after he was forced to sit out while nursing injuries. Look for a healthy Jones to surpass to 4,000-yard mark in 2023.

Jones was one of five NFL quarterbacks, regardless of conference, to throw for at least 300 yards during Week 1, coming in fourth and well behind his quarterback, and former teammate at Alabama, matchup for this Sunday — Tua Tagovailoa.

While you won’t be seeing Tagovailoa in a Texas t-shirt anytime soon, he enters Week 2 as the NFL’s leading passer with a whopping 466-yard performance against the Los Angeles Chargers.

With a combined 782 passing yards between the two national championship-winning Alabama alums, the Patriots and Dolphins will play in prime time for the second edition of Sunday Night Football of the 2023-24 NFL season. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET live on NBC.