Is it time to say Texas is back? | Joel Klatt Show 

As a lifelong Longhorn fan I dont ever want to hear the phrase "texas is back" ever again. Even if we have an incredible season

Great analysis. I’m glad I found this show because it makes me want to hear more about college football.

Lets not forget Colorado had better ratings because ESPN wasn't available due to a contract blackout for millions of people

Texas fan/alum. Program’s problem since 2010 has been institutional instability while Big 12 rivals (Oklahoma schools, TCU, Baylor at times) have been more stable by comparison. That led to poor coaching hires, coaching churn, attrition, poor culture and development. Texas now has alignment at Board of Regents (chair Eltife), University President (Hartzell) and athletic director (Del Conte). They hired and backed Sarkisian who brought key assistants with him from Alabama. Third year with mostly the same staff. Have stacked top 5 classes and augmented through portal. Improved culture and very little attrition. Picked to win Big 12 by conference media this past summer for the first time since 2009. They weren’t fooled by premature “Texas is back.” Big 12 not as talented as elite SEC and B1G teams. But better coached and competitively balanced top to bottom. Getting through it unbeaten harder. Win in Tuscaloosa probably means Texas can still win the conference and make the playoffs with a conference loss which history says is likely, even with talent/depth edge.

Now that I'm homeless, I have to watch your show on the city library computer. Today, it was very inspiring.

Wait and see. Texas went head to head with LSU the year LSU was one of the best college football teams of all time. Texas smacked Georgia hard in the Sugar Bowl. Alabama barely escaped Texas last year, even with Texas losing its QB. For some reason, Texas matches up well against SEC teams. It certainly feels fit his year, but we’ll see.

Alabama will continue to be a great program as long as Saban is there. However winning a championship every other year might be unrealistic going forward. The question now turns to will Saban win another title before he is done?

I dont really know why its such s shock that Texas beat Alabama. Alabama is a younger team with a untested QB. Texas returned a lot of talented starters has a veteran team and solid QB along with a great coaching staff most of which have ties to Saban. Alabama was soundly beaten but make no mistake Saban and his staff will have those guys clickin.

As a Bama fan, i'm not so much disappointed in the loss. I’m disappointed that this feels exactly like the past two years. No DBs, poor QB protection, and sloppy play with penalties. I thought we fixed this? Will we turn things around or will we flail? I'm not so sure anymore. Hats off to Texas! They'll be fun to watch in the SEC.

Is Texas back? Yes, they are back in Austin preparing for Wyoming. Seriously though, I'm not taking the bait. Texas is "back" when nobody is asking if they're back.

It’s so good for college football to have Texas elite again 🤘🏾🤘🏻💪🏾💪🏻

In addition to dropping "Is Texas Back?" from our collective vocabularies, let's also drop "Texas Upsets Alabama". This wasn't an upset, it was Bama being taken out behind the woodshed by Texas, from start to finish, in every phase of the game. Texas was clearly the better team. The rest of the season offers a great opportunity for both teams to prove that.

Exactly! Texas played a complete game.

As a Texas fan 🤘🏾 and a long time observer of Bama...They are just a QB away from being the team we all know and remember. If they get that position tightened up, they'll be fine.

Texas can’t have a let down vs Wyoming.

More Casuals fans and just watchers watched Colorado , Real College Football People and Fanz watched Texas Bama

Blackouts contributed to drop in viewership for TX vs AL.

Even when Sam Ehlinger said his famous line after beating Georgia during a fairly decent year I hated hearing that. If he had won a Big 12 championship that year it would’ve been way different but that was not the time to say that.

I am a life long Longhorn fan. Last year they were elite against OU and KU. They were elite against Georgia one time. They so far are just one game elite this year. Attrition has not come to fruition yet. Can we say they are an elite team in late November? I hope but for now they are one game elite. Gives me hope though.

Would be interesting to see if the trajectories of Alabama and Texas are now the inverse of 2009.

Joel: LONG time Texas fan (and graduate) here. I greatly appreciate and expect UT to (ALMOST) always take pride in the way we play football and run our program. The play with Drew Kelson in the Big 12 title game in 2005 with the problematic hit on you has always bothered me. I have always wanted to know how you really felt about it, whether it ever got truly resolved with Drew and how you feel about it now. If it were me, I think I would have had real problems with it for a long time. I really wish it hadn't happened - no matter what it would have meant for the outcome. I am very happy to see that you have become such a successful and enlightening person and I appreciate your presentation and character.

Flipping the hat backwards when talking about what he said to Cowherd…hilarious

If Texas wins all the games up to and including Oklahoma without tripping up, it would be safe to say Texas is back. They definitely have the players and talent. 🤘🤘🐂🐂 🏈🏈

Joel Klatt podcast 😨🔥🔥

As a long time Texas fan let me tell you that you should expect them to play down to Wyoming and make you question the whole “Texas is back” thing

Is Texas back? We won't know until November. Texas has had the talent for a long time to compete with anyone but they also tend to play to the level of their opponents which results in them dropping at least one game to a clearly inferior opponent. Bama was a good test but not the test it would have been four or five years ago. They have been sliding for the last two years. To be truthful the entire SEC looks down.

Texas is one of the few FBS teams that seems to always start out strong and then fade. They shocked Alabama last year then went on to lose 4 regular season games plus their bowl game. Texas will "be back" when they win their conference and make the playoffs.

No one is “stunned” by anything other than the score being as close as it was.

I am an objective Alabama fan. This season feels alot like the 1982 Alabama team. That 82 team entered the season ranked #4, the 2023 team entered at # 4 this year. The 82 team ended up losing 4 games and going to the Liberty Bowl. That 82 team was 3 years removed from a National Championship and an undefeated dominating season. This Alabama team is 3 years removed from the same type of season in 2020. There is no discipline, penalties, awful qb play, the defense could not get out on the edge. The similarities of 2023 and 1982 are glaring. 1982 was the unfortunate slip of a legendary coach. I hope I'm wrong but I can see history repeating here.

Good point about Saban being able to use the transfer portal for a quick fix at QB. One of the things that hurt Texas' competitiveness for a long while was the QB position due to injury/transfers out (when transfers had to sit out a season).

Georgia still has to play Tennessee and Ole Miss, which definitely wont be easy as before and also then play LSU or Alabama in the SEC championship potentially, so this season is going to be fireworks

Alabama is still elite, but don’t think offensively they’re playing what’s best for Milroe. He’s a dual threat, that mainly is for running. Can’t have him standing in the pocket. Texas is elite and I think if we had way less penalties and a QB for the offense Rees is trying to run, I think it would’ve been closer, maybe would’ve won or maybe not lose by double digits.

STOP LYING JOEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ESPN announced that the Texas-Alabama game drew 8.8 million viewers. That was the best viewership for a regular-season game on ESPN since 2015.

Your video description should say “the ‘then’ #3 ranked AL and the ‘then’ #11 ranked TX “ instead of the ‘now’ rankings that came out as a result of the game being discussed. I realize most viewers/readers today will immediately notice it. However, for the viewers that may look back on this in a few years , the significance of the very solid victory over an over-ranked AL team will not be perceived as it should be. But then again , it may turn out to be less significant than we think presently.. 🤔 Just a friendly piece of advice. Great job TX!

Colorado beating Nebraska was NOT a bigger moment than UT beating Alabama.

Is Texas really good, or is Alabama actually bad? I guess we will find out when Texas has to play OU in a couple of weeks. How is Alabama even still in the top 10, when they already lost the second game at home?

kinda messes up my playoff prediction. the doubt i have is wether or not texas will lose to teams they shouldn't later on.

The SEC is down due to a lack of top tier QBs with experience. This is a year that Texas, USC or Michigan can win the natty.

Look at the first half. Alabama's body language. The Texas defense was in their head.

Uhmmm, Texas has to play Texas Tech, yeah lost in OT to Oregon, Oklahoma rivalry game, and TCU, which got trucked in the Ship game, but beat Michigan to get there. Not so easy.

I am wondering what Joel Klatt means when he say Texas has been trying to skip steps? Not disagreeing, but curious to hear more...

Beating Bama is great but winning the BigXII is the goal. Beating Bama means little if they don't win the conference. No excuses.

😅 no just beat a Alabama team with no QB but Texas has a good head coach which will probably end up back at Alabama for the next head coach

You do know the viewship numbers are skewed because Spectrum Cable does not carry ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN*??? Many people can not view any college games on Disney-owned channels.

As of now I’m going 1. UGA 2. Texas 3. FSU 4. Michigan 5. Penn State

I still can't believe this happened.

As a Texas fan, no Texas is not back, one game does not mean anything........its a great start, but too early to go bragging!

It's hilarious that the second Joel says he is going to stop hyping up Texas, they decide to be good again. Perfect timing!

Your tripping off more people watching Colorado vs Nebraska. Just because main stream numbers were higher . We had over 100k people watching on 1 RU-vid channel

Was Texas ever consistently at the top to be considered back to begin with? For a "power house program" they only have 4 national championships.

CU beating Nebraska is not a bigger story than Texas beating Bama lol. Viewership aside, (and the Texas game was broadcasted on two channels, ESPN and ESPN2 with Pat McAfee) you know the bigger story by what everyone is talking about in the days after. Everyone except for former Buff Joel Klatt know the bigger story.

Texas game should’ve been on abc

Put us over Ga ,they schedule should be banned with those high school teams. I'm from ga but been a longhorn fans incentive 03

Texas needs to get past Oklahoma in that red river game before we can give them that CFP berth. No matter what happens leading up that game for both teams that game is almost always tough and nail biting. You best believe Oklahoma circled that game beginning of the year and it’s now a even bigger target

This game doesn't mean that Texas is elite. Alabama has critical problems with their team this year and they had problems last year as well, problems that put them a handful of points away from a 7-5 season. Now their QB is not a good passer and really only has the super deep pass or option run in his arsenal. I can give you a list of teams this season that could beat Alabama by more than one score like Texas did; Georgia, Michigan, FSU, PSU, Washington, OSU, Oklahoma, and even USC off the top of my head. Alabama's extreme boom/bust passing game will cause more losses, even if it isn't until they match up with the truly elite teams at the end of the year. Nick Saban is a great coach, but he's old and every great coach eventually loses his touch and has to hang it up. Whether this year is the year Alabama collapses or not, it's coming and it's coming quick.

Texas win a ring. We can talk about it later.

question for Joel (which he def won't answer) : in a recent podcast, Brendan schaub said that while he was at CU they had a throwing competition and Schaub came in 2nd to Joel. Is this true,,? Bc I seriously doubt it ...

Josh Pate has been saying way before the summer

I’m burying Bama…They had an Elite QB last year and better D and still lost two games…Go Dawgs

When Joel said UGA and Texas has an easy path (which I don't disagree with), I feel like FSU is even more of a slam dunk no? UGA has to play at Tennessee which I'm sure they will be favored but Tennessee when they get hot can beat anyone on a given day and Texas has to play Oklahoma who is a good plus rivalry game. FSU beat their toughest team LSU convincingly. The rest of the teams they play they should win by double digits....

I can't believe Joel "I hate USC" Klatt didn't rank Colorado above Southern Cal..

Texas better be grateful that Taysom Hill graduated from BYU.

It’s pretty crazy seeing how the entire national media has trauma bonded with Alabama over premature Nick Saban takes lol

USC is good at 7. They would fold to OU or Texas or Bama or UG

Texas beating Bama is a changing of the guard. Bama’s dynasty started against Texas and now it ends with Texas. Period. Done.

Texas is back. I said it

This probably wouldn’t be as big a deal if the standard at Bama wasn’t a Natty every other year. But there is more parity and room for other programs. Technically it always has been. Idk if Texas is back bc they beat Bama. They have to prove they can win out their whole schedule. Otherwise they are Tennessee, Ole Miss, Auburn, LSU and everyone else who beat them. Bama has been good bc they win on the biggest stage. Other teams beat but don’t finish. I have to go off results. Texas is not elite and neither is Bama. I don’t think any team is tbh.

What folks fail to remember is… Texas holds an 8-2-1 record against bama… The two wins that Alabama has was one from last year, when Quinn Ewers was knocked out of the game last year in the first quarter..the second game that Bama won when Colt McCoy was knocked out on play five of the first quarter…THOSE ARE Bama’s TWO WINS! Remember,these are their ONLY two wins, both with injured starting qb’s…

Wow. Surprised JK didn't vote Notre Dame in the top 10. Disappointing. Maybe ND is also in his Texas doghouse?? Will take care of Ohio State and put college football on notice

My Top 10 based on what I have seen this year plus what teams did last season are 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Florida State 4. Penn State then Texas, USC, Ohio State, and Washington

If you have to say you are back you may not be back. Texas has a great team but let’s not do Texas is back

I disagree Texas over FSU. Yes a win in Alabama is big. But Alabama went into the year with questions at QB, LSU didn’t. Jury is still reasonably there about how good LSU is. And FSU beat them by 3 touchdowns. LSU could beat Alabama like they did last year then what?

Florida st would dominate texas if they played today lsu looks better than bama

That did not look like a Saban coached team!

It’s time to say Quinn Ewers 💪

Hook em 🤘🏾

nope. not until we see at least three back to back 10+ winning seasons (and top 5 poll results end of year). Let’s hope that Influenza, mononucleosis, or methicillin resistant staph from athletic apparel do not spread through the team. lets wish health on each so that the starters aren’t ravaged by injury. lets have humility, be grateful for the wins, and not become entitled grumbling asinine Texas fans as we typically see at years end. In other words, lets be sure that we as fans, alumni, administrators, and boosters are undefeated 11-0 or 12-0 year after year.

Same ole L take on Alabama …they could go 1-11 & these talking heads would still say “ they have top recruiting, they still on top “…blah blah. Last year with Bryce Young, Will Anderson and all those draft picks, Alabama literally struggled with half of their schedule. Get outta here with this bs Alabama take . The ship is sinking & getting deeper .

texas is gonna drop a game

I think Alabama is just not nearly as good as people think this year (New OC and DC, no qb, bad o-line play) vs Texas just being that good honestly. Texas is gonna Texas and drop a few games just like they always do.

Those last 5 minutes really disappoints me. Just outright lying in our faces and telling us the emperor is still dressed in the finest silks and Jewels and smells like roses.

Texas will most likely finish 12-1, they’ll lose to someone almost a guarantee, but I think they’re too good to lose multiple

Bama needs to stop playing a running back at quarterback.

TEXAS 🧡🤍🤘🏿

I'd say yes but Bama has QB troubles

Texas is good, but Alabama can easily be beat when they don't have a quarterback back. I'm sorry Bama fans, if Milroe doesn't get better in a hurry or they don't have a better quarterback, they are looking at about 3 or 4 losses this year. It is inexcusable for a guy with that much talent being at AL for 3 years now and still not able to read defenses smh.👀👀👀🤷🏾‍♂️😑

Oklahoma

No. Not time. Bama bad. Texas did good job but a great team would’ve won 44-16

No, Texas is not back. They have to make it to the Big 12 championship game and then the final 4😂😂😂

Georgia could easily go 15-0 again

Thought Joel would be talk nothing but CO

Was it really that big of a surprise?

The University of Spoiled Children is always overrated. The second they play an average top 25 team they get destroyed.

Texas a&m and Clemson better on roster than texas was that a joke? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I thought Texas had Alabama @ Austin last year had Ewers or Card stayed healthy in that game. Although this time the game was @ Tuscaloosa, Bama didn't have Will Anderson, Brian Branch, and Bryce Young to save the day and it clearly showed.

I was at this game

Calm down sleepy joe, Texas really won last year if the refs didn’t help , Texas still went on to lose more games

I feel like Joel was holding in talking about Texas for far too long lol 😂

Florida state & Texas should be over Michigan

Its time to say Alabama has a QB problem.