The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Looking back: 10 great moments from the 2005 National Championship season
09.23.2015 | Football
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Texas’ incredible run to the 2005 BCS National Championship.
Video: 2005 National Championship season highlights
On Saturday, as Texas Football hosts Oklahoma State, Texas Athletics salutes the 10-year anniversary of the 2005 national championship. Members of that team – including national title game MVPs Vince Young and Michael Huff – will be recognized on the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
In preparation to honor them Saturday, here's a look back at 10 memorable moments from the drive to the championship.
1. 38-37 victory against No. 12 Michigan
Texas Football's run to the 2005 national championship at the Rose Bowl began with a victory on the same field on Jan. 1, 2005. Dusty Mangum made a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give Texas a comeback win against Michigan in the first matchup between the historic programs.
Vince Young ran for 192 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 180 yards and another score, while famously promising to the crowd postgame, "We'll be back."
2. Road win at Ohio State
In the first meeting of the two programs, No. 2 Texas defeated No. 4 Ohio State 25-22. Young threw a 24-yard go-ahead touchdown to Limas Sweed with 2:37 left, capping a 72-yard scoring drive.
3. 45-12 victory against rival Oklahoma
The Longhorns ended a five-year losing streak to the Sooners to clear a huge hurdle in the path to the national championship.
4. Back-to-back wins against ranked conference opponents
The Longhorns faced No. 24 Colorado and No. 8 Texas Tech at home in back-to-back weeks. Texas outscored both by a total of 60 points – 94-34.
5. Comeback at Oklahoma State
The Longhorns trailed 28-12 to start the second half, then scored 38-straight points for an epic 47-28 road victory.
Young rushed for a career-high 267 yards and passed for 239 yards, then a school record for total offense in a game. He sparked the comeback with an 80-yard touchdown scramble on the third play of the second half. He added an 8-yard TD run late in the third quarter and a 21-yard TD pass to give Texas the lead for good.
6. 40-29 road win against rival Texas A&M
Texas' sixth straight win against the Aggies was hard-fought, as Texas A&M claimed a 15-14 first-half lead. Texas immediately responded with a 77-yard drive to retake the lead, and led 21-15 at halftime.
7. Big 12 Conference champions
A 70-3 win against Colorado gave Texas its first Big 12 title since 1996 and cemented its place in the Rose Bowl to play for the national championship.
8. Young's 17-yard scoring run vs. USC
Young's 17-yard scramble on second down closed out an eight-play, 69-yard drive and pulled Texas within 38-33 with four minutes to play against USC in the Rose Bowl.
9. Michael Huff's fourth-and-two tackle
The collegiate football game of the century came down to the final minutes in Pasadena, Calif. On fourth-and-2 from USC'S 45-yard line with 2:09 left, Huff stuffed running back LenDale White short of the first down, and returned the ball to Young and the Longhorns.
10. Fourth-and-5 from the USC 8
The Longhorns' season rested on one play – fourth and five from the USC 8 yard line. Young took the snap, went through his progressions and bolted right, all the way to the end zone. He ran again for the 2-point conversion to give UT a 41-38 lead with 19 seconds remaining.
Young ended the game with 200 yards rushing, 267 yards passing and three rushing TDs as the Longhorns won their first national championship since 1969.
