Colin Cowherd is not buying into the talk that Texas is college football's new Alabama.
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"I saw an article this morning," Cowherd said on Wednesday's edition of The Herd on FS1. "This is being intimated: 'Is Texas college football's new Alabama?' Oh boy."
"Georgia was the new Alabama for about four years until the NIL took off," Cowherd continued. "Where SEC, tough, physical, defensive head coach, multiple natties; Georgia was the new Alabama. Texas, my entire life, has been USC in cowboy hats. Good looking, lot of style, lot of vibe, lot of energy, coach always makes a lot of money, cool stadium, cool city. Eh, where are all the natties?"
Cowherd said the comparison is easy to see from the outside, but misleading. He pointed back to the 2005 Rose Bowl between Texas and USC as one of the greatest games ever played — and one of the most glamorous.
"Texas and USC played, in my opinion, the most memorable college football game. 2005, Rose Bowl. I was at it. It was unbelievable. It was the best-looking crowd in the history of college football. Even in a very busy city, full of glamour like L.A., it was the coolest thing in L.A. for months. And I love Texas football, and I didn't go there. I don't understand why I love Texas football, but it's something you can love without living there. It's cool."
Then came the analogy.
"They pass the eye test," Cowherd said. "They have most of my life. But they're not Alabama. They're not gritty. Like, Texas is the prom king. He's the coolest guy in school. He may be the best-looking guy in school. He's the prom king. Alabama was like the best wrestler in your high school. Like, you know, didn't always look good in clothes, but nobody wanted to mess with him. Didn't have the coolest car. Was never really the coolest. The quarterback was."
"Texas has always been USC in cowboys hats."@colincowherd thinks calling Texas the "New Alabama" is nonsense pic.twitter.com/YNfPLSAyta
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) August 13, 2025
To Cowherd, the Crimson Tide — and for a stretch, Georgia — built success on "fundamental over flash," while Texas has always been heavy on style.
"(Steve Sarkisian) can coach, Sark has big money, Sark can recruit," Cowherd said. "But you do trust Texas in a big spot if they're playing a hyper-physical SEC team, or an Ohio State, or a Notre Dame top physical team? Do you trust them? Eh, I don't. You will not get USC's A-game if it's overcast and there's a light drizzle in the second quarter. And I kind of feel like Texas has always been USC in cowboy hats."
We won't have to wait long to test his theory. Texas opens the season at No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus.
