Is TEXAS college football’s new ALABAMA? Where does USC fit?

Colin Cowherd (The Herd) — “TEXAS my entire life has always been USC in cowboy hats. I don’t trust ’em. Good lookin’, a lot of style, a lot of vibe, a lot of energy. Coach always makes a lot of money. Cool stadium. Cool city. But where are all the natty’s?

“TEXAS football is cool. It passes the eye test. But they’re not ALA. They’re not gritty. TEXAS is the prom king. He’s the coolest guy in school. He may be the best looking guy in school. ALA was like the best wrestler in your high school. He 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.

“But nobody’s afraid of the prom king, and that’s the problem. ALA intimidated you. GA intimidated you. USC and TEXAS — they create envy. They’ve got money. But ALA was about O-line, run game, toughness and linebackers. ALA was fundamental over flash. TEXAS is always like USC. Their good teams always have a lot of flash.

“You go back to the USC dynasty, and most people would say two words. Reggie Bush. Right? Like that’s what you would say. Would you trust TEXAS in a big spot if they are playing a hyper-physical SEC team, or a tough, physical ND or OHIO ST team? Do you trust ’em? I don’t.

“I may be a USC honk. But I don’t trust ’em. If it’s drizzling, you won’t get their A game. You will not get USC’s A game if it’s overcast and there’s a light drizzle in the second quarter. I kinda feel like TEXAS has always always been USC in cowboy hats.

“In college football to me, three football programs have always been sort of like Rodeo Drive: MIA Hurricanes, TEXAS Longhorns and USC. College football is always better when they are all good. And they rarely have been simultaneously. But to me they don’t feel the same as like the Big Ten.

“That’s why I’m so fascinated with USC going to the Big Ten. ORE and UW going to the Big Ten, they play in crappy weather all the time. They both have to work hard to go get players out of state. USC football and TEXAS football — they’re pretty.

“And Pete Carroll briefly made USC really tough, and really physical. And Sark didn’t. Lane Kiffin didn’t. Lincoln Riley hasn’t. Clay Helton didn’t. Doesn’t mean they can’t coach. Doesn’t mean they’re not good coaches. But there is something about USC and TEXAS in these big spots against tough physical teams … I trusted the Pete Carroll teams. I haven’t since. I’m tellin’ ya, if it’s raining, USC doesn’t feel like the same team. And I feel a little of that with TEXAS too. It’s a lot of fun, a lot of sizzle, and a lot of flash, but ‘Bama doesn’t worry about that. GA doesn’t worry about that. That’s just my take.

“TEXAS and USC played, in my opinion, the most memorable college football game ever. The 2006 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.” — Cowherd

I sure wish Reggie Bush had been on the field for this crucial 4th-and-2 stop which turned the ball back over to MVP Vince Young one more time — TEXAS 41, USC 38. USC’s amazing 34 game win streak was over.

USC and Sam Darnold (397 yds/3 TDs) returned the favor in 2017, winning a double OT thriller in the Coliseum 27-24 on freshman walk-on Chase McGrath’s walk off 43 yd FG.

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