Alabama finally puts it away with a late sack

PASSING LEADERS

Texas

Gilbert...8-12, 82 yards, TD

Alabama

McElroy...2-5, 15 yards

RUSHING LEADERS

Texas

Gilbert...3, 7 yards

Alabama

Richardson...8, 41 yards

RECEIVING LEADERS

Texas

Shipley...5, 61 yards, TD

Alabama

Richardson...1, 8 yards

Momentum: Freshman Gilbert looked as if he might conjure some of Vince Young’s Rose Bowl magic when he tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Shipley and a two-point conversion pass to Dan Buckner with 6:15 left, and Texas held on defense. But Alabama linebacker Eryk Anders swung the momentum back by forcing a fumble with a sack, leading to a touchdown to give the Crimson Tide a 10-point lead

Unanswered questions: What might have happened if Colt McCoy had been able to return? How many playmakers can one defense possess?

Did you notice? Alabama’s Ingram (5.3 yards a carry) and Richardson (5.7) both eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark against the nation’s top-ranked rushing defense.

-- Gary Klein