How calm Quinn Ewers led a Texas takedown of Alabama - ESPN

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Texas upset Alabama 34-24 and Longhorns linebacker Jaylan Ford couldn't let the celebration pass without finding quarterback Quinn Ewers on the field in Bryant-Denny Stadium. It took a minute to find the author of the Longhorns' biggest win in more than a decade, but when Ford found him in front of the Texas band, he pulled him in close for a big bear hug and a quick word.

«Helluva game,» he told Ewers. «You got more to go win.»

Ford let Ewers go enjoy the moment that had been such a long time coming. It felt great seeing Ewers' success, Ford said, «Because all that s--- people have been talking about him.»

Ah, yes, that. Ewers certainly has amassed more than his fair share of critics. And oddly enough, many of them were Texas fans at first when he backed off his commitment in 2020 and signed with Ohio State. The theory went that as the first college player to sign a million dollar name, image and likeness deal, he was doing nothing more than chasing the money. But then he left Columbus after one season and Buckeye fans got their turn at heckling him. Back to Texas he went, and under the microscope that every Longhorns' quarterback gets treated to.

Maybe his mullet made him an easy target, too. Who knows? He cut it off this summer.

Either way, it made what happened here on Saturday night all the more special. Because when it felt like momentum was slipping away — after Alabama scored a touchdown and secured a two-point conversion to cut the lead to three in the fourth quarter — it was Ewers who calmly entered the huddle.

A year ago, he left the Alabama game with an injury and watched helplessly from afar as the lead slipped away.

This time, he was in control.

This time, he turned to his teammates and