College football top plays: Alabama-Texas, Ohio State in action

Week 2 of the college football season serves up a massive treat for fans, as No. one Alabama battles Texas in Austin in a rare matchup between two of the most storied programs in the country.

Meanwhile, No. 3 Ohio State is making light work of Arkansas State.

There’s also plenty of action happening later in the day, when No. 19 Wisconsin plays host to Washington State, No. 24 Tennessee battles No. 17 Pittsburgh, and No. 25 Houston takes on the FBS’ top passing offense in Texas Tech.

Meanwhile, there’s a classic matchup between Iowa State and Iowa on today’s lineup, followed by an SEC showdown between No. 20 Kentucky and No. 12 Florida. Closing things out, No. 10 USC takes on a Stanford pass defense that leads the Pac-12, while No. 9 Baylor is up against No. 21 BYU.

Here are the top plays from Saturday’s Week 2 slate.

no. 1 Alabama at Texas

Go time!

Things started off with a bang in Austin, as the Tide made its way downfield with relative ease.

But the Longhorns’ defense came up with a massive stop on third down, shutting down QB Bryce Young and forcing the Tide to settle for a field goal on its opening drive.

Going, going, gone!

Texas knotted things up with a field goal of its own shortly after, but things didn’t stay that way for long. Alabama running back Jase McClellan broke off for a monster 81-yard score to give the Tide a 10-3 edge.

bombs away

Newly minted Texas QB Quinn Ewersa redshirt freshman transfer from Ohio State, showed off his arm strength late in the opening frame, finding wideout Xavier Worthy for a 46-yard gain that put the Longhorns deep in the red zone.

Ewers injured

Ewers took a huge hit on the next play that drew a roughing the passer penalty and left Texas fans holding their breath. After several minutes being attended to on the field, Ewers walked to the sideline and to the locker room under his own power with a towel covering his face.

making it count

head coach Steve Sarkisian named Ewers the Longhorns’ starter last month over redshirt sophomore Hudson Card, who checked into the game for Ewers on first-and-goal. Card handed the ball off to star RB Bijan Robinson, who did the rest to tie things up at 10.

Related: The Business of Bijan: Robinson’s growing stardom is a family affair

Mess with the bull, get the horns

The Longhorns’ defense came up with a huge sack on Young, knocking the reigning Heisman Trophy winner back 11 yards. Texas went on to force three consecutive punts by Alabama in the second quarter.

under pressure

Card moved the Longhorns’ offense downfield in an effort to take the lead, but not even two pass interference penalties could get it done.

Things remained tied at the break after a missed a 20-yard field goal that left Texas fans stunned.

All gas, no brakes

The Longhorns picked up right where they left off to start the second half, putting pressure on Young and forcing Alabama to punt right out of the gate.

On the following drive, Texas backed up Alabama up to their own 1-yard line, and chaos ensued.

What could have been

What started off as a safety and two points for Texas initially, turned into a first-and-goal for Alabama, after a questionable roughing the passer and targeting penalty flew in at the end of the play.

After review, it was deemed an incomplete pass — even though Young was tackled in and his pass rolled out of the end zone — and fourth down for Alabama after the ref removed both the roughing the passer and the targeting flags, saying that he announced the incorrect penalty on the field.

back and forth

The Longhorns took the lead midway through the third, 13-10. Just like that, Texas led Alabama for the first time since the first quarter of the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.

Then, at the top of the fourth, Texas extended its lead to 16-10 with another short field goal. On the other side, the only thing Alabama was racking up was penalties — the most in one game in the Nick Saban era.

Alabama was eventually able to find its footing and regain the lead, 17-16, midway through the frame.

Games of inches

Things came down to the wire in Austin, as the Longhorns defense came up with a massive stop on fourth down to regain possession of the ball with a few minutes to spare.

Arkansas State at No. 3 Ohio State

Round 2 at The Shoe

Fresh off their big Week 1 win over Notre Dame, the Buckeyes were ready to go. Ohio State pulled ahead early in the first quarter with a Marvin Harrison Jr. 42-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive.

fancy footwork

TreVeyon Henderson got in on the action, dancing his way into the end zone to close out the first quarter and extend the Buckeyes’ lead, 14-3.

Then, Stroud connected with Harrison Jr. for his second score of the day — another 42-yard TD — to put the Buckeyes up 24-9 ahead of halftime.

On the move!

The Buckeyes continued to pour it on as the second half got underway. First, Henderson broke off for a 23-yarder, followed by Stroud connecting with WR Emeka Egbuka for a 51-yard TD to put Ohio State up 38-9.

BEST OF THE REST:

game-changer

What started off as a likely Duke touchdown turned into a jaw-dropping interception from Northwestern defensive back Garnett Hollis, who came away with one of the wildest picks of the season thus far.

Stay tuned for updates.

COMING UP:

Washington State at No. 19 Wisconsin (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX)

no. 24 Tennessee at No. 17 Pittsburgh (3:30 p.m. ET)

no. 25 Houston at Texas Tech (4pm ET, FS1)

State of Iowa at Iowa (4pm ET)

no. 20 Kentucky at No. 12 Florida (7 pm ET)

no. 10 USC at Stanford (7:30 p.m. ET)

no. 9 Baylor horse No. 21 BYU (10:15 p.m. ET, FS1)

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