No. 11 Texas takes on No. 3 Alabama in primetime Saturday matchup

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has said all week long that Saturday's game against the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa is "a benchmark game."

With all the preseason accolades the No. 11 Longhorns have received, there's no better way to find out if they are worthy of the lofty expectations than to play perhaps the most dominant programs in modern college football.

The game kicks off at 6 p.m. on ESPN, and it has a made-for-TV feel about it being branded the Allstate Crossbar Classic and the primetime time slot. It would be better if it was available over the air and not on cable (sorry Spectrum customers), but that's a story for a different day.

During a live interview on ESPN's College Gameday, Sarkisian spoke to Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee and Desmond Howard with a cacophony of Crimson Tide fans booing. He said last year's game was a good barometer of where the team needed to be, and this year's game will do the same.

"I applaud the universities who play these primetime games during the season," he said. "This is going to serve as a really good benchmark to where we are as a program."

Alabama comes into the game as a 7-point favorite at most sportsbooks but might be a little shorthanded on the defensive side if defensive back Jaylen Key and nickel Malachi Moore can't go. As far as Texas looks injury-wise, Sarkisian said earlier in the week that freshman running back CJ Baxter "looked great" in practice. Baxter suffered a rib/midsection injury after falling on top of the ball against Rice. Offensive lineman DJ Campbell should be available after a leg injury last week. Linebacker Mo Blackwell is still out but could return next week against Wyoming.

Live updates

10:55 1Q: Ryan Sanborn hits a perfect punt that's downed inside the 5-yard line. Alabama's first drive will start deep in their own territory.

11:09 1Q: Texas lines up like they're going for it on 4th-and-6, but the Longhorns let the play clock run out and take the delay of game penalty and will punt.

14:53 1Q: First play of the game is a boundary screen to ... running back CJ Baxter. It goes for a first down.

15:00 1Q: Alabama wins the toss and defers to the second half, so the Longhorns will receive the opening kick in a raucous Bryant-Denny Stadium

6:10 p.m.: Tonight's captain for the Longhorns — T'Vondre Sweat, Xavier Worthy, Keilan Robinson, Jahdae Barron

5:55 p.m.: Sark soaking in the moment before the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium

5:45 p.m.: Just two guys talking about football, presumably