Longhorns Daily News: Alabama’s Nick Saban says Texas would ‘probably be in the top half’ of the SEC right now

It was a close one for the Texas Longhorns this past weekend. And even despite the loss, there was something that felt good, good, very good about walking away from the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide with just a single point standing in between the two programs.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban recognized what Texas put on the field.

“This is like playing an SEC game on the road,” Saban said of the Longhorns, per Dallas Morning News. “They’re going to be in the SEC. If they were in the SEC now, they’d probably in the top half of the league.”

WHAT THE WISE MEN ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS

Knoxville News: Toppmeyer: When is Texas joining the SEC? Greg Sankey addresses lingering question

Austin American-Statesman: Texas has found its kicker: Bert Auburn impressing teammates

Austin American-Statesman: Thanks to Bijan, Texas puts on Beat headphones and gets back to work

Austin American-Statesman: Bohls: Longhorns enter my Top 25 poll, add to the national chaos

Austin American-Statesman: Texas Longhorns report card: How they graded out in loss to Alabama

Austin American-Statesman: Bohls: Texas may have arrived but still has a ways to go

Austin American-Statesman: Golden: How the Longhorns pushed future SEC foe to the brink

Austin American-Statesman: Heartbreak but also hope as Alabama escapes with 20-19 win over Texas

Austin American-Statesman: Texas’ quarterback depth was tested early, throughout loss to Alabama

Dallas Morning News: After keeping up with Alabama, how many minds did Steve Sarkisian, Texas change?

Dallas Morning News: ‘Horns up and hearts high’: Matthew McConaughey, others react to Texas-Alabama

Dallas Morning News: 5 takeaways from Texas-Alabama: Longhorns put up a fight, can’t overcome Quinn Ewers’ exit

247Sports: Morning Brew: Quarterback injuries mean more adversity for Texas to sort through with UTSA up next

247Sports: Notes from Steve Sarkisian’s Monday press conference

Inside Texas: Team Scoop: Notes after a disappointing loss, time to focus on UTSA

Inside Texas: With two quarterbacks dinged up, what’s Steve Sarkisian’s next move?

ICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION

How to Watch: Steve Sarkisian’s weekly press conference

Texas moves into AP Top 25, moves up in coaches poll

No. 21 Texas opens as a 13.5-point favorite over UTSA

Sunday Armchair QB — Texas vs. Alabama edition

Report: Texas QB Quinn Ewers to miss 4-6 weeks with SC sprain

Inside the Numbers: Texas made its own breaks against No. 1 Alabama

Texas CB D’Shawn Jamison suffered ankle injury against Alabama

Texas vs. No. 1 Alabama: Five observations and Sunday chat

Reggie Bush on uncalled safety for intentional grounding: ‘Maybe the worst call I’ve ever seen’

Initial thoughts after Texas’ last-second 20-19 loss to No. 1 Alabama

Live Reaction: Alabama walks off Texas

Texas vs. No. 1 Alabama live updates: Crimson Tide win 20-19 on late FG

Texas vs. No. 1 Alabama gamethread

RECRUITING ROUNDUP

247Sports: The Stampede: Wrapping up the big recruiting weekend in Austin

247Sports: Mikal Harrison-Pilot says ‘it’s just so crazy’ what Sark has done at Texas

247Sports: Dallas GASO Fall Classic: Five-star forward Ron Holland updates his recruitment

BIG 12 BREAKDOWN

Dallas Morning News: AP college football poll (Sept. 11): Texas A&M drops to No. 24, Texas lands at No. 21

Our Daily Bears: Baylor vs. Iowa State game scheduled for 11 AM kickoff in Ames

Our Daily Bears: Thoughts on Baylor’s 26-20 loss to BYU and the trip to Provo

Our Daily Bears: Baylor drops to 17 in AP Poll after BYU loss

Viva the Matadors: Tahj Brooks carries load in 2OT thriller

Viva the Matadors: An apology to Coach Kittley

Frogs O’ War: TCU 59, Tarleton State 17: Duggan’s day

Frogs O’ War: Men’s basketball scores 4-star commitment

Crimson and Cream Machine: Oklahoma Sooners Football: OU trounces Kent State, 33-3

Cowboys Ride For Free: Cowboy Football: Oklahoma State 58, Central Michigan 44

The Smoking Musket: West Virginia lets Kansas hang 55 points, Jayhawks embarrass Neal Brown at home

The Smoking Musket: What I think West Virginia should do now

The Smoking Musket: The good, the bad, and the ugly of WVU vs Kansas

Wide Right & Natty Lite: Iowa State beats Iowa, 10-7

Bring On The Cats: Thunderstruck: K-State D excels in Mizzou blowout

Rock Chalk Talk: Kansas mauls WVU 55-42

WHAT WE’RE READING

SB Nation: 5 winners and 4 losers from Week 1 in the NFL

SB Nation: Should the Cowboys trade for Jimmy Garoppolo now Dak Prescott is injured?

SB Nation: Absolute genius destroys 8 cars with grill during Pats-Dolphins game

NEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND

• Texas’ home loss to Alabama set a new DKR attendance record.

• Speaking of records ...