Colin Cowherd: ‘Texas has always been USC in cowboy hats’

The Texas Longhorns, led by head coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterback Arch Manning, enter the 2025 college football season ranked No. 1 in the country in the AP and Coaches polls. They’re also coming off the top-ranked recruiting cycle in college football and are in the mix for the top 2026 recruiting class. The rankings and hype have led to lofty expectations and comparisons for the program going forward.

On Tuesday, Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic wrote a feature piece asking, “Is Texas college football’s new Alabama?”

That led to Colin Cowherd reacting to the general question — without naming the author or outlet — on Wednesday’s edition of The Herd on FS1.

“I saw an article this morning,” Cowherd began. “This is being intimated: ‘Is Texas college football’s new Alabama?’ Oh boy.”

“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

“Georgia was the new Alabama for about four years until the NIL took off,” Cowherd said. “Where SEC, tough, physical, defensive head coach, multiple natties; Georgia was the new Alabama.”

“Texas, my entire life, has been USC in cowboy hats,” Cowherd continued. “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?

“So, 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.”

Cowherd went on to refer to Texas as “the prom king” and Alabama as “the best wrestler in your high school.”

“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.”

And Cowherd used “fundamental over flash” to describe the difference between Alabama in comparison to Texas and USC.

“So, nobody’s afraid of the prom king, and that’s the problem. Alabama intimidated you. Georgia intimidated you. USC, Texas, they create envy, they got money. But ‘Bama was on O-line, run game, toughness, linebackers. Fundamental over flash. Texas is always like USC. Their good teams always have a lot of flash. I mean, you go back to the USC dynasty, and most people would say two words: Reggie Bush.”

“Sark 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’ll get a great look at how Texas stacks up in Week 1 when the Longhorns take on No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus.