The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Great Games and Moments: 2000s
GREAT MOMENT
#13 Texas 45, Oklahoma State 17
Saturday, September 30, 2000
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
With a sellout crowd of 81,692 on hand, The University of Texas honored 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams by retiring the jersey he made famous, No. 34, when he rushed into the NCAA record books as a senior. Williams joined 1977 Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell (No. 20) as the only Longhorns to have their jersey number retired. In a pregame ceremony, Williams was joined by his mother, Sandy, and Longhorns head coach Mack Brown as UT remembered its star with a video documentary and the presentation of a commemorative framed jersey. The event was capped off by the unveiling of a banner featuring the two-time consensus first-team All-American on the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletic Center in the south end of the stadium. "I want to say that it is an honor and a pleasure to be standing on this wonderful field one more time,"Williams said in addressing the crowd. The No. 13 Longhorns presented Williams with a game ball following their convincing 42-7 victory against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
GREAT GAME
#12 Texas 43, #22 Texas A&M 17
Friday, November 24, 2000
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
No. 12 Texas extended its regular season winning streak to six games with a 43-17 victory against No. 22 Texas A&M. Sophomore QB Chris Simms completed 18-of-24 passes for 383 yards (No. 3 on UT's all-time chart and the most by a Longhorn against the Aggies) and three touchdowns as UT finished the regular season with a 9-2 (7-1, Big 12 South) record. Simms, who was making his second start against the Aggies and his fifth start of the season, led UT to touchdowns on each of its four possessions and completed all eight of his passes for a school-record 234 yards in the third quarter alone. The Longhorns entered that frame with a 10-7 advantage, but their 27-point outburst pushed the lead to 37-17 entering the final quarter. True freshmen receivers B.J. Johnson and Roy Williams were Simms' favorite targets on the day. Johnson caught six passes for a UT freshman-record 187 yards and a 70-yard touchdown, while Williams had four grabs for 85 yards and a score. Williams also scored on a 20-yard reverse as the Longhorns ammassed 492 yards of offense against a tough Aggies defense.
GREAT GAME
#9 Texas 47, #21 Washington 43
Friday, December 28, 2001
Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, Calif.)
In what was the biggest comeback in Texas football history, the No. 9 Longhorns overcame a 19-point third-quarter deficit en route to a thrilling 47-43 victory against No. 21 Washington in the Culligan Holiday Bowl. An ESPN television audience saw the Longhorns' post their first 11-win season since 1983 and their first Top 10 national finish (No. 5) in 19 seasons. Texas fell behind 13-0 midway through the second quarter before bouncing back to claim a 14-13 lead with 1:55 left in the half. The Longhorns, who trailed 36-17 at the 3:51 mark of the third period, rallied for scores on four (three TDs/one FG) of their final five possessions in posting a 30-7 advantage in the final quarter-and-a-half. Senior QB Major Applewhite set UT bowl game records in completing 37-of-55 passes for 473 yards and four touchdowns. He was named the game's co-Most Outstanding Offensive Player. The Longhorns tallied a UT all-time bowl game best 592 total yards and 47 points and sophomore WR Roy Williams set a Longhorns bowl game record with 11 receptions (for 134 yards). Classmate B.J. Johnson added six catches for 157 yards and freshman LB Derrick Johnson, the game's Defensive MVP, posted nine tackles, a sack and registered a fourth-quarter interception that set up the scoring drive that put UT ahead 40-36 with six minutes left in the game. After that score, the Huskies went 80 yards in seven plays to reclaim the lead at 43-40 on a Willie Hurst 34-yard TD run with 1:49 left in the game. However, Washington left too much time for Applewhite and the UT offense. Keyed by 25 and 32-yard receptions by Johnson, the Longhorns covered 80 yards on seven plays and ran 1:11 off the clock to secure the thrilling, come-from-behind victory.
GREAT MOMENT
Cole Pittman Dedication Game
#4 Texas 44, North Carolina 14
Saturday, September 8, 2001
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
Somehow, somewhere, somebody knew. It was the most poignant of moments as No. 4 Texas played North Carolina in 2001 in a game dedicated to the memory of Longhorns player Cole Pittman, whose life had tragically been taken in a car accident the previous spring. In an emotional pregame ceremony, Pittman's family had been honored. Much had been made of honoring Pittman's number, No. 44, so it seemed that fate took a hand as the Longhorns put their last touchdown on the board. As the team gathered for an extra point kick attempt, the Texas bench scurried furiously with another plan. As all of the players held up four fingers in tribute to No. 44, Mack Brown ordered quarterback Major Applewhite onto the field for what appeared to be a two point attempt. Instead, Applewhite, ironically a Louisiana native as Pittman was, stepped back and knelt down on one knee. Then, as emotion spread through the stadium, folks realized what was going on. Through a strange accumulation of points, which included safeties and several other quirks in scoring, the Texas total after the final touchdown stood at 44. And that is how Cole Pittman's former teammates chose to leave it, in a 44-14 victory that forever memorialized their fallen friend and teammate.
GREAT GAME
#8 Texas 17, #17 Kansas State 14
Saturday, October 19, 2002
KSU Stadium (Manhattan, Kan.)
The challenge was clear - one week after losing a Top Five showdown with Oklahoma, the 2002 Texas Longhorns found themselves with the daunting task of playing a rapidly rising Kansas State team on the road. En route to an 11-2 season, the Horns rose to the occasion, snapping the Wildcats' eight-game home win streak with a 17-14 victory. It was Texas' first victory over K-State, which finished the year ranked No. 7 nationally, in their three games in Big 12 competition. But more importantly it dramatically swung the momentum of Texas' second straight 11-win season. Dusty Mangum's 27-yard field goal with 1:32 remaining gave Texas the final margin, but it took a blocked field goal attempt on the game's final play to secure its sixth victory of the year.
GREAT MOMENT
#8 Texas 17, #17 Kansas State 14
Saturday, October 19, 2002
KSU Stadium (Manhattan, Kan.)
With seven seconds ticks left on the clock, overtime seemed almost inevitable as 17th-ranked Kansas State lined up for a 36-yard field goal that would tie the game. Texas, clinging to a 17-14 lead that had come from Dusty Mangum's 27-yard field goal with 1:32 left to play, had played admirably in the wake of a tough loss to Oklahoma the week before. Now, with just seconds remaining, the Wildcats' Jared Brite prepared for a field goal that would tie the 2002 meeting between the two Big 12 powers in Manhattan. As the ball was snapped, Longhorn tackle Marcus Tubbs crashed through the middle of the Wildcat defense and blocked the kick. As the ball bounced harmless a few yards down field, the Longhorns fell on it with one-second left to seal the victory.
GREAT GAME
#7 Texas 27, Nebraska 24
Saturday, November 2, 2002
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Before the largest crowd (78,268) in Nebraska's Memorial Stadium history, Texas snapped the Cornhuskers' national leading 26-game home winning streak with a 27-24 victory in 2002. It was only the second home loss in 11 years for Nebraska. In 1998, Texas had ended the Huskers' 47-game home winning streak. Chris Simms passed for a UT record 419 yards and Roy Williams had a school best 13 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns. But Williams' biggest catch, a 10-yard completion with 1:34 remaining that would have given Texas a first down and allowed them to run out the clock, was nullified by an offensive pass interference call. Nebraska's DeJuan Groce returned the insuring punt 44 yards to the UT 16 and two snaps later set up the games most dramatic play. With only 10 seconds remaining, and Nebraska camped deep in Texas territory, Nathan Vasher leaped high to pick off Husker QB Jammal Lord's pass at the UT one-yard line. Vasher's interception foiled a brilliant comeback by the Cornhuskers, who had trailed, 27-17 with less than three minutes remaining. It was a big game for fullback Ivan Williams, who had six pass receptions for 111 yards (most-ever by a UT fullback), and Cedric Benson set the tone on the ground with 86 yards on 28 carries as the Horns registered 498 yards of offense.
GREAT MOMENT
#7 Texas 27, Nebraska 24
Saturday, November 2, 2002
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
One more shot into the endzone, thought Nebraska coach Frank Solich, and then, kick a short field goal that would tie the game and send it into overtime. As quarterback Jammal Lord faded back to pass from the Texas 16-yard line, he saw a wide-open receiver near the goal line at the right side of the field. Texas, which had broken the Cornhuskers' 47-game home winning streak back in 1998, was trying to end a similar 26-game run in 2002. The Horns held on to a 27-24 lead as Lord threw and Longhorns cornerback Nathan Vasher responded. Vasher, with a tremendous burst and soaring leap, broke in front of the receiver, and came down with the game-saving interception.
GREAT MOMENT
#13 Texas 24, #16 Kansas State 20
Saturday, October 4, 2003
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
Moments before, it had appeared Texas' hopes in a nationally televised game, complete with an ESPN GameDay appearance in Austin, were fading fast. But Phillip Geiggar's great strip and recovery of a Kansas State fumble had given the Horns a chance. Trailing 20-17 with 9:55 left in the fourth quarter, Texas was on its own 12 when redshirt freshman Vince Young came on the field as the Longhorn signal caller. From there, Young went to work. In 10 plays, the highlight of which was a 52-yard pass from Young to Tony Jeffrey, Texas consumed 4:36 on the clock. Young scored what proved to be the winning touchdown on a one-yard run. Kansas State would go on to win the Big 12 Championship and earn a BCS bid, but the moment gave Texas its first glimpse of the competitiveness and clutch play of Young.
GREAT MOMENT
#6 Texas 43, Texas Tech 40
Saturday, November 15, 2003
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
It was a storybook ending for a game that took on all of the trappings of an Old West shootout. And in the end, the moment belonged to a guy who, as a kid, had appeared on a poster promoting the team he was about to beat. Chance Mock's roots were at Texas Tech, where his Dad was an outstanding player. But when it came time to choose a college, he picked Texas. And on a night when the two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense, it was his "chance"(if you'll pardon the play on words) to shine. Texas Tech had come from two touchdowns behind to take a 40-35 lead and only 2:03 remained when Mack Brown inserted Mock, a junior who had been the Horns starter at the first of the season, in the game. The Longhorns had the ball at their own 14. Mock's first pass was incomplete, but on his second try, he connected with Roy Williams for 54 yards to the Tech 32. On third down from the Tech 30, he hit a critical 10-yard pass to Tony Jeffrey, and then one for 11 yards to the Raider nine. Only 46 seconds remained when Mock connected with B. J. Johnson for a touchdown that gave the Horns the lead. He then rushed for the two-point conversion that netted the final score of 43-40. Of the 86 yards to victory, Mock had either passed or run for 85 of them.
GREAT GAME
#16 Texas 31, #12 Nebraska 7
Saturday, November 1, 2003
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
In one of their more dominant victories over a good opponent in the early part of the 21st century, Texas re-established itself as a contender for Big 12 and national honors as it crushed No. 12 ranked Nebraska, 31-7. Quarterback Vince Young and running back Cedric Benson became the first tandem in UT history to rush for over 150 yards each and the Texas defense held Nebraska to just 175 total yards. Texas also controlled time of possession, keeping the football for over 11 minutes in both the first and fourth quarters of the game. Benson rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries, and Young added 163 yards and one TD on 14 carries. In a battle of two of college football's winningest teams, the Longhorns' stretched their Big 12 Conference record to 5-1 over the Huskers. The victory was the third in a string of six straight wins that carried Texas to a No. 5 national ranking at the end of the regular season.
GREAT MOMENT
#7 Texas 22, Arkansas 20
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)
With the seventh-ranked Longhorns holding a 22-20 lead at Arkansas, the Razorbacks moved from their own 48-yard line to the Texas 15 with 2:54 remaining. Following a timeout, the Texas defense forced Arkansas QB Matt Jones from the pocket and DT Larry Dibbles punched the ball from his grasp. Safety Michael Griffin was there for the recovery to prevent Arkansas from an opportunity at a go-ahead score. The Razorbacks got one last chance, but S Phillip Geiggar intercepted the desperation heave as time expired. The Texas defense forced turnovers on all three Arkansas possessions in the final 9:58 after the Razorbacks had pulled within two.
GREAT GAME
#6 Texas 56, #19 Oklahoma State 35
Saturday, November 6, 2004
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
Sixth-ranked Texas turned in the biggest comeback in Longhorn history by rallying from 28 points down to defeat No. 19 Oklahoma State, 56-35. Trailing 35-7 with 1:21 left in the first half, Texas scored 49 unanswered points. The comeback surpassed the UT record of 19 points set in a 47-43 win over Washington in the 2001 Holiday Bowl and was just three points shy of the largest in NCAA history. QB Vince Young and TE Bo Scaife sparked the run by connecting on a five-yard TD pass with three seconds to go in the first half to cut the lead to 35-14. The Longhorns scored on their final seven drives of the game and were able to tie the score at 35 with 3:44 left in the third quarter on a 48-yard TD run by freshman RB Ramonce Taylor. UT ended up with 600 yards of total offense as RB Cedric Benson accounted for 141 rushing yards and five rushing TDs. Meanwhile, Young set UT records for consecutive completions with 12 and single-game completion percentage at 85.7 (18-of-21) en route to 278 yards passing and 401 yards of total offense.
GREAT MOMENT
#6 Texas 27, Kansas 23
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Memorial Stadium (Lawrence, Kan.)
For the second straight week, No. 6 Texas had its back against the wall attempting to avoid a loss that would damage hopes of a BCS Bowl bid. Down to what was potentially their final play, the Longhorns faced 4th-and-18 on their own 45 with just over one minute left. QB Vince Young dropped back, surveyed the field and took off to his right. When Young calmly stepped out of bounds, 22 yards and a Jayhawk defender were behind him. Four plays later, he found WR Tony Jeffery in the left side of the end zone for a game-winning 21-yard TD with 11 seconds showing on the clock.
GREAT GAME
#6 Texas 38, #13 Michigan 37
Saturday, January 1, 2005
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
It was one of the great games played on one of the grandest stages in college football. Two of the game's most storied programs met for the first time as No. 6 Texas outdueled No. 13 Michigan, 38-37, for the Rose Bowl Championship. The combination of Doak Walker Award-winning RB Cedric Benson and QB Vince Young proved to be too much for the Wolverines to contain. Texas finished with 264 yards rushing, including a UT quarterback record 192 yards from Young, who recorded four rushing TDs for the second time in the season. Young broke a 14-14 halftime tie by hitting the right sideline for a 60-yard TD run just over two minutes into the third quarter. Michigan answered 30 seconds later with a 50-yard TD pass from QB Chad Henne to the Biletnikoff Award winner, WR Braylon Edwards, his third TD catch of the game. The Wolverines added 10 consecutive points and took a 31-21 lead into the fourth quarter. However, the Longhorns were determined that their first appearance in the Rose Bowl would not be a loss. During a spectacular 10-yard TD run, Young appeared to have his legs wrapped by a Michigan defender in the pocket, but spun away and found the right corner of the end zone. Sandwiched between two field goals by UM's Garrett Rivas, Young added a 23-yard TD run down the left sideline with just under five minutes left. With Texas trailing, 37-35, and 2:58 showing on the clock, the stage was set for a legendary finish. Starting at the Longhorn 34, Young rushed on five of UT's next seven plays, collecting 34 yards. Benson added three rushes, the last of which placed the ball just inside the Texas 20 with two seconds left. Following a series of timeouts, PK Dusty Mangum sent the Longhorns and their faithful into a frenzy as his 37-yard FG attempt found its way through the uprights as time expired.
GREAT MOMENT
#6 Texas 38, #13 Michigan 37
Saturday, January 1, 2005
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
The Longhorns secured their first BCS Bowl win and Rose Bowl Championship in their first appearance in either on the game's final play as PK Dusty Mangum's 37-yard FG attempt went through as time expired in No. 6 Texas' 38-37 win over No. 13 Michigan. Mangum's kick from the left hash came with two seconds remaining and capped one of the great games in UT and college football history. Following what seemed to be an eternity of timeouts with the Wolverines attempting to ice the senior, Mangum delivered and was hoisted onto his teammates' shoulders as the Longhorns celebrated. Before the timeouts, head coach Mack Brown had simply said, "You're the luckiest person in the world, you get to be the hero in the Rose Bowl."
GREAT GAME
#2 Texas 25, #4 Ohio State 22
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
In an early season match-up, the second-ranked Longhorns traveled to Columbus to face the fourth-ranked Buckeyes in a game that would shape the race for the National Championship. For the second time in three games, Texas was taking on one of the Big Ten's finest programs for the first time in school history after having defeated Michigan in the previous year's Rose Bowl. The game turned into the classic it was expected to be and when QB Vince Young hit WR Limas Sweed for a 24-yard touchdown with just over two minutes to play, and an exciting comeback win was set. The Longhorns secured a 25-22 victory, snapping Ohio State's 36-game non-conference home winning streak. It was also the highest ranked team Texas had ever beaten on the road. Young was named the National Player of the Week for his performance after racking up 346 yards of total offense. He went 18-of-29 for 270 yards and two TDs and rushed for another 76 yards. But more importantly, Young brought Texas back from a fourth-quarter deficit for the fifth time in his career. With the nation watching, Texas jumped out to a 10-0 lead behind a David Pino 42-yard field goal and a 10-play, 84-yard TD drive that was capped by a five-yard strike from Young to WR Billy Pittman. The momentum swayed towards Ohio State in the second quarter. The Buckeyes started three of their four drives in Texas territory, but the stingy Longhorns defense managed to hold them to three field goals and only one TD. On the last drive of the half, Pino connected on his second field goal of the game to make the score 16-13 at halftime. Ohio State opened the second half by forcing a turnover and got the ball at the Texas 37, but again the UT defense held and forced a field goal to make the score 19-13. The teams exchanged field goals and the score remained 22-16 throughout most of the fourth quarter. After forcing Ohio State to miss a field goal Texas took over at their own 33 with five minutes to play. The Longhorns drove down the field to the Ohio State 24-yard line setting up Young's game-winning TD pass to Sweed. The Longhorns defense forced a fumble and notched a safety on Ohio State's final two possessions to help secure the victory.
GREAT MOMENT
#2 Texas 25, #4 Ohio State 22
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
With just under three minutes left in a hard-fought battle between two of the countries best teams, Texas stood at the Ohio State 24-yard line, down by six points. The Longhorns had already moved the ball 43 yards on the current drive and had plenty of time to score, but QB Vince Young wanted to take the lead on the next play. Texas lined up on the left hash mark with three wide receivers on a 2nd-and-9. Young, in the shotgun, took the snap and saw that WR Limas Sweed, who was lined up on the short side of the field, had beaten his man off the line. Young lofted a perfectly placed ball between the Ohio State cornerback and safety and into the hands of a leaping Sweed at the front corner of the end zone for the touchdown, giving Texas a lead it would not relinquish.
GREAT GAME
#2 Texas 45, Oklahoma 12
Saturday, October 8, 2005
Cotton Bowl (Dallas)
The Red River Rivalry celebrated its 100th meeting, as Texas snapped a five-game losing streak to Oklahoma in a big way, 45-12. The 33-point margin of victory matched the Longhorns' largest in the series, and the 45 points were a series high for UT. Texas mixed an explosive offense with suffocating defense, out-gaining Oklahoma in total offense, 444-171. The 171 yards was OU's lowest output in the series since 1979. The Longhorns had three scoring plays of 60 or more yards, as Vince Young completed 14-of-27 passes for 241 yards and three TDs and Jamaal Charles rushed for 116 yards and a TD. WR Billy Pittman was the recipient of two of Young's TD passes, including a 64-yarder, as he recorded 100 receiving yards for the game. Texas wasted no time establishing itself, as Young led the Horns on a 12-play, 82-yard drive, going 5-of-5 for 60 yards, including a 15-yard TD pass to Ramonce Taylor. The Longhorns' second scoring drive was virtually the same distance, but used a little less time, as Charles spun free of several defenders on the first play and sprinted 80 yards up the middle for a 14-6 lead. After a David Pino FG, Young and Pittman struck with just 17 seconds to go in the half. Pittman broke free down the left sideline and Young hit him in stride for a 64-yard score and a 24-6 halftime lead. It was Young and Pittman again in the third quarter, this time on a 27-yard pass to cap a six-play, 53-yard drive. The lead pushed to 38-6 early in the fourth quarter after a five-yard TD run by Selvin Young. After a 38-yard Sooner scoring drive that was set up by two UT penalties, the final score of the game was left to the Texas defense. After Oklahoma moved from midfield to the Texas 23-yard line, DE Brian Robison broke free and jarred the ball loose from Sooner QB Rhett Bomar. DT Rod Wright scooped the fumble and rumbled 67 yards to push the final to 45-12 and move the Longhorns to 5-0 for the first time since 2002.
GREAT GAME
#2 Texas 52, #10 Texas Tech 17
Saturday, October 22, 2005
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin)
In the national game of the week, No. 10 Texas Tech came to Austin in a battle of undefeated teams, but it was No. 2 Texas that stayed that way, 52-17. WR Billy Pittman had a career day in receiving yards with 138, while catching both of QB Vince Young's TD passes. RB Selvin Young rushed for two scores and 77 yards in a game that featured quick strikes from the Texas offense and big plays from the defense that held the nation's top-ranked offense to 17 points. PK David Pino put Texas on the board first with a 40-yard field goal, but it was the Red Raiders who would grab early momentum when a Vince Young interception was returned to the UT 21-yard line. Four plays later, Tech scored on a pass, and Texas trailed for just the second time that season, 7-3. Later in the first quarter, a Quan Cosby punt return placed the Longhorns at the Red Raider eight, and from there, freshman Henry Melton eventually scored on a one-yard run. Texas Tech answered with a FG, but that would be its last score before a 28-0 Texas run. Selvin Young and Pittman took turns scoring with a 10-yard TD run by Young, a 15-yard TD reception by Pittman that followed a blocked punt by Michael Griffin and a seven-yard TD run by Young that followed a Tim Crowder interception. When it was Pittman's turn again, it was Vince Young that found him over the middle on a crossing route on the third play of the second half, and Pittman headed to the end zone for a 75-yard score, effectively putting the game out of reach and giving the Longhorns a 7-0 record for the first time since 1983.
GREAT GAME
#2 Texas 47, Oklahoma State 28
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Boone-Pickens Stadium (Stillwater, Okla.)
Texas headed to Stillwater to face what appeared to be a struggling Oklahoma State team that was 0-4 in conference play, but instead ended up facing a 19-point first-half deficit. QB Vince Young turned in one of the best single-game performances in NCAA history, and, for the second straight year against the Cowboys, the Longhorns rebounded in incredible fashion. Trailing 28-9 with just over five minutes left in the first half, Texas scored 38 unanswered points to win, 47-28, tying the second-largest deficit overcome in school history. It was just a year earlier against OSU that the Longhorns found themselves down, 35-7, before rallying for the largest comeback on UT record with 49 unanswered points for a 56-35 win. Even more, in the 2003 game, Texas had trailed, 16-7, and posted 48 unanswered points. Over the three-year span, the Longhorns outscored the Cowboys in the second half, 118-0. Young rushed for a career-high 267 yards and two TDs, while passing for 239 yards and two more scores en route to a UT-record 506 yards of total offense. He became the first player in NCAA history to rush for over 250 yards and pass for over 230 in the same game. Tight end David Thomas also put together one of the better games at his position in UT history with 104 yards and a TD on six receptions. A bizarre first half featured everything for the Cowboys from a quick-snap 49-yard TD pass on 4th-and-1 to a 17-yard QB draw TD following an interception to a 29-yard TD pass that was snatched from the air off a ricochet from the UT defense. That play itself followed a Texas fumble, which had followed a blocked field goal (one of four blocked kicks for UT), and gave Oklahoma State its 28-9 lead. A field goal by PK David Pino just before the half cut the lead before Young opened the second half with one of the most memorable highlights of the season. On 3rd-and-10 at the Texas 20, Young rolled right, pump-faked a defender off of his feet and hit the sideline for an 80-yard TD run. Just like that, Texas was within single digits at 28-19 and would even regain the lead before the end of the third quarter. Two TDs on an eight-yard run by Young, and a 21-yard TD pass to TE Neale Tweedie, plus a two-point conversion, put the Horns ahead, 34-28. RB/WR Ramonce Taylor added the final two scores with TD runs of 57 and 12 yards for the 47-28 final.
GREAT MOMENT
#2 Texas 70, Colorado 3
Saturday, December 3, 2005
Reliant Stadium (Houston) -- Big 12 Championship
As Texas arrived at the Big 12 Championship in Houston to face Colorado for the second time in the 2005 season, no one could have predicted the dominating performance that took place in a 70-3 win. Seeking the first 12-win season in school history, the Longhorns hit 70 points with 7:36 remaining in the third quarter and the defense was just as strong in holding the CU offense to three points. When the clock hit zero, Mack Brown had the first conference championship of his career and roses were abound as Texas had punched its ticket to the 2006 Rose Bowl and BCS National Championship game.
GREAT GAME
#2 Texas 41, #1 Southern California 38
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.) -- National Championship
Texas entered their second consecutive Rose Bowl riding a 19-game winning streak and set to play for its first National Championship since 1970. Despite coming into the game as an underdog to the defending National Champion USC Trojans, who were on a 34-game winning streak, Texas won its fourth National Title with a thrilling come-from-behind 41-38 victory in what many people have called the greatest college football game of all time. Vince Young was named the Offensive MVP for the second consecutive year, becoming only the fourth player in Rose Bowl history to do so, after posting a Rose Bowl record 467 total yards, scoring three TDs and recording the sixth fourth-quarter comeback victory of his career. After a back-and-forth affair that saw Texas lead by as many as nine and trail by 12 with just under seven minutes left, the game came down to 4th-and-5 at the Texas eight-yard line with UT trailing 38-33. Texas QB Vince Young dropped back, went through his progressions, saw an opening on the right side and took off. With the help of a crushing block by right tackle Justin Blalock, he raced passed the USC defense and scampered into the right corner of the end zone to give Texas a 39-38 lead with only 19 seconds remaining. Young capped the scoring with a two-point conversion to produce the final margin of 41-38. With 6:42 left in the game, the Horns title hopes were in jeopardy after USC's Matt Leinart hit Dwayne Jarrett to give the Trojans a 38-26 lead. But, on the very next possession, Young drove the Longhorns 69 yards in 2:39, completing 5-of-6 passes and rushing twice for 25 yards, to cut the lead to five. On its ensuing possession, USC moved the ball to the Texas 45 and found itself facing 4th-and-2 with the game hanging in the balance. The Trojans decided to go for it, but the Texas defense, which had already forced a turnover on downs earlier in the game, came up with a huge stop, giving Texas the ball back with 2:09 and setting up the winning drive. Overall, Texas' defense held USC 12 points below its season average, made two fourth-down stops and picked off a pass in the end zone. Defensive MVP Michael Huff led the Longhorns in tackles with 12, including a TFL, and recovered a fumble. On offense, Young had 200 yards rushing and 267 yards passing, while TE David Thomas finished his UT career with 10 catches for 88 yards.
GREAT MOMENT
#2 Texas 41, #1 Southern California 38
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.) -- National Championship
After helping to bring Texas to within one score and thanks to the defense being able to get the ball back with just over two minutes left in the game, Vince Young was set up to pull out another victory for the Longhorns, but this time it was for the National Championship. With UT down five and facing a 4th-and-5 from the eight-yard line, Young checked with his three receivers in the pattern, but everyone was covered. He saw an opening on the right side. It was just enough room for him to scamper eight yards for the game-winning TD and bring Texas' fourth National Championship back to Austin.
GREAT GAME
#7 Texas 28, #14 Oklahoma 10
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Cotton Bowl (Dallas)
Texas registered 131 yards on 14 plays and scored TDs on its first two possessions of the second half to rally from a 10-7 halftime deficit and post a 28-10 victory. It was the second straight victory for the Horns in the Red River Rivalry. UT forced turnovers on all four (two fumbles/two interceptions) of OU's fourth-quarter possessions to prevent any hope of a comeback. Offensively, UT set the tone on the first two drives of the third quarter. Colt McCoy (11-of-18/108 yards/2 TDs/0 INTs), completed all five of his third-quarter passes, including a 33-yard score to Limas Sweed and a seven-yard TD toss to Jordan Shipley. On the ground, Selvin Young (11-60-1 TD) and Jamaal Charles (12-65) combined to pound out 125 yards on 23 carries. UT held an OU offense that was averaging 416.5 yards and 38.3 points per game to 333 yards and 10 points. In addition to his eight tackles, Aaron Ross made three of the four fourth-quarter game-sealing plays. He started by returning a fumble for a score then he intercepted passes on the Sooners final two drives to help seal the victory. The Longhorn secondary limited OU's leading receiver, Malcolm Kelly (94.8 receiving yards per game/10th NCAA), to just 31 yards on two catches. S Michael Griffin led the way with 11 tackles and forced and recovered a fumble. CB Tarell Brown added nine stops, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. After allowing Heisman Trophy candidate Adrian Peterson to rush for 71 yards and a TD on 12 carries as OU took a 10-7 halftime lead, UT's vaunted ground defense came back to hold the nation's third-leading rusher to just 38 yards on 13 carries during the second half.
GREAT GAME
#5 Texas 22, #17 Nebraska 20
Saturday, October 22, 2006
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
On his first-ever college attempt, walk-on sophomore PK Ryan Bailey stepped in for injured P/PK Greg Johnson and hit a 22-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining to lift No. 5 Texas to a 22-20 win at No. 17 Nebraska. It was the Horns' third straight win at Nebraska, 19th straight conference victory and 16th consecutive road win. The field goal drive was set up by a spectacular defensive play. With the Huskers clinging to a 20-19 lead and facing a third-down and three, Nebraska completed a pass in the flat but Aaron Ross' hit knocked the ball loose. Marcus Griffin recovered the fumble and UT took over at the NU 45-yard line. Fueled by a Quan Cosby 14-yard catch and a Selvin Young 12-yard run, the Horns drove 39 yards in eight plays to set up the winning field goal. The game-saving forced fumble topped off another terrific outing by the UT defense, holding a Husker Big 12-leading ground game that was averaging 207.7 yards per game (11th NCAA) to just 38 yards on 24 carries and forcing three turnovers. UT also held Nebraska to 340 yards, which was more than 100 yards below their average of 448.3, and 17 points below their scoring average (37 ppg/9th NCAA). Scott Derry led the defense with nine tackles and Michael and Marcus Griffin each chipped in eight stops. Offensively, Texas' balanced attack threw for 220 yards and rushed for 128. Colt McCoy completed 25-of-39 passes for 220 yards and two TDs (no INTs). He increased his season TD passes total to 20, breaking the UT freshman season record. Limas Sweed caught a career-high eight passes for 119 yards, including a 55-yard TD grab. Young (14-50) and Jamaal Charles (9-63) paced the running game, combining for 113 yards on 23 carries.
GREAT MOMENT
#5 Texas 22, #17 Nebraska 20
Saturday, October 22, 2006
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
With regular place-kicker Greg Johnson hampered by injuries and the Horns down by one point with 23 seconds remaining, sophomore walk-on Ryan Bailey was called upon to kick the game-winning field goal at Nebraska. It would be the first field goal he ever attempted in a Texas uniform. With the wind and snow swirling around Memorial Stadium, Bailey prepared for the 22-yard attempt. As the snap was about to come, Nebraska decided to challenge the previous play, in effect, icing the kicker. But, it didn't work. After the review, Bailey lined up and calmly drilled the game-winner, giving Texas a 22-20 victory.
GREAT GAME
#18 Texas 26, Iowa 24
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, Texas)
The Texas Longhorns rallied for a 26-24 victory over Iowa in the Alamo Bowl in front of a bowl-record crowd of 65,875. The game ended up being the most watched bowl game in ESPN history. The victory marked Texas' fifth bowl win in the last six years and the Longhorns won a bowl game in three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. Colt McCoy finished 26-of-40 for 308 yards and two TDs. The two TD passes gave him 29 on the season, which tied the NCAA freshman record set by Nevada's David Neill in 1998. Jermichael Finley led Texas with a career-high eight receptions for 46 yards. Quan Cosby added seven catches, while Limas Sweed posted three receptions for a team-high 70 yards. Iowa jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, before Texas scored the next 20. Ryan Bailey kicked two field goals (27, 43), while McCoy hit Sweed for a 20-yard score and Jamaal Charles for a 72-yard TD. But, Iowa struck back with a TD late in the third quarter. Texas answered on its next drive, but failed on a two-point conversion attempt to make the score 26-21. Iowa kicked a field goal to make the score 26-24, but some timely defense kept the Hawkeyes from threatening the rest of the game. After giving up TDs on the first two drives, the Texas defense settled down and held Iowa to five plays or less on nine of their last 11 drives. The Longhorns finished the game with three sacks and nine TFL. Michael Griffin and Roy Miller led the team in tackles with 10, while Scott Derry added seven tackles, including three TFL. Aaron Ross finished with three tackles, an INT and a PBU.
GREAT GAME
#17 Texas 28, Nebraska 25
Saturday, October 27, 2007
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin)
After trailing Nebraska 17-3 in the third quarter, Texas scored 25 straight points to claim a 28-17 lead with 3:34 left in the game and would eventually defeat the Cornhuskers, 28-25. The victory was Mack Brown's 100th at Texas, adding him to a Longhorns list that includes only Darrell Royal. Jamaal Charles rushed for 216 yards and three TDs in the fourth quarter alone to lead Texas to the come-from-behind victory. The 216 yards in a quarter were a UT record and just six yards shy of the NCAA mark for rushing yards in a quarter (222, Corey Dillon, Washington vs. San Jose State, 1996). With Texas trailing 17-9 with 13:13 left in the game, Charles ignited the Horns' final surge by capping a four-play, 74-yard drive with a 25-yard TD run that brought the score to 17-15. He followed up that effort with a spectacular, career-long 86-yard TD run two possessions later to give the Horns their first lead since early in the second quarter. Charles completed his scoring onslaught with a 40-yard TD run that put UT up 28-17. Behind Charles' career-high 290-yard rushing day, the Horns rushed for a season-high 364 yards and recorded 545 total yards. The 290 rushing yards were the most by any player ever against the Huskers. Charles rushed for 237 second-half yards, just four yards less than Hodges Mitchell's UT record of 241 yards in a half versus Kansas in 2000. The Horns' defense forced five punts and recovered a fumble on the six possessions during the comeback. The defensive play of the game came with UT clinging to a 21-17 lead and Nebraska at the Longhorns 29-yard line. Frank Okam charged through the line, sacked Nebraska QB Sam Keller and forced and recovered a fumble. He returned the fumble to the UT 43-yard line, setting up the TD drive that put Texas up 28-17.
GREAT MOMENT
#17 Texas 28, Nebraska 25
Saturday, October 27, 2007
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin)
With the victory against Nebraska, head coach Mack Brown joined Darrell Royal as just the second coach in UT history to reach the 100-victory plateau. At the time, he became one of only nine active coaches at NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools to win 100 games at their current school. Of the 79 coaches that have ever won 100 games at a FBS school, Brown is the 13th fastest to reach the century mark (124 games) and the second-fastest among active coaches.
GREAT GAME
#14 Texas 38, Oklahoma State 35
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Boone Pickens Stadium (Stillwater, Okla.)
Texas rallied from 21 points down to post its biggest fourth-quarter comeback in school history (second-largest second-half comeback ever) to defeat Oklahoma State, 38-35, in Stillwater. Ryan Bailey hit a 40-yard field goal as time expired to secure the win. After OSU jumped out to a 21-0 lead just over a quarter into the game, Texas outscored the Cowboys 38-14 over the final 44:36 of the game. Texas also trailed by 21, 35-14, with 8:40 left in the third quarter. It marked just the fourth time in UT history that Texas posted a victory on the games' final play. The Horns recorded 311 yards en route to outscoring OSU, 24-0, in the final period. The rally didn't come easy as the Horns were pinned inside the 10-yard line twice and scored on fourth-quarter drives of 59, 99, 91 and 57 yards. Jamaal Charles sparked the surge, rushing for 125 yards and two TDs on seven carries (17.9 ypc) in the fourth quarter. With Texas trailing 35-14 entering the last quarter, Charles scored on TD runs of 18 and 75 yards to pull the Horns within a touchdown at 35-28 with 7:30 left. Colt McCoy, who completed 8-of-9 fourth quarter passes (including eight straight at one point) for 145 yards and a TD, completed a 60-yard strike to Jordan Shipley to set up Vondrell McGee's one-yard TD run that tied the game at 35-all with 3:22 left. After OSU missed a 32-yard field goal with 1:13 remaining, McCoy's 30-yard completion to Jermichael Finley and his 14-yard run were the key plays on an eight-play, 57-yard drive that set up Bailey's game winning field goal. Led by an offense that featured a pair of 100-yard rushers, Texas recorded 589 yards (307 rushing/282 passing). Charles led the way, rushing for 180 yards and three TDs on 16 rushes (11.2 ypc). McCoy completed 20-of-27 passes for 282 yards and a TD. He also ran for career-high 106 yards on 16 rushes to tally 388 yards of total offense. Defensively, the Horns stood tall down the stretch as well. After allowing TD drives on four of the first seven drives of the game, UT held the Cowboys scoreless over the final 21:20 of the game (five drives). Marcus Griffin (12 tackles) led a group of four Longhorns that recorded double-digit tackles. Roddrick Muckelroy posted 11 tackles, while Rashad Bobino and Ishie Oduegwu each notched 10 stops.
GREAT GAME
#5 Texas 45, #1 Oklahoma 35
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Cotton Bowl (Dallas, Texas)
No. 5 Texas trailed by as many as 11 points twice before putting on a 25-7 second-half surge in knocking off No. 1 Oklahoma, 45-35, at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl. It was UT’s first regular season victory over a No. 1 team since a 28-7 win over Oklahoma on Oct. 12, 1963. After pulling within 21-20 at halftime, Oklahoma pushed its lead back to eight to open the second half, but the Longhorns responded with its 25-7 run. The Horns’ 45 points matched a series high. Offensively, Texas registered 438 total yards against an Oklahoma defense that was allowing just 256 total yards per game. WR Jordan Shipley had a career day, setting highs in receptions (11) and all-purpose yards (225), including 112 receiving yards, one TD reception and a Red River Rivalry record 96-yard kickoff return TD that cut Oklahoma’s lead to 14-10. He also had a 37-yard, fourth-quarter reception that positioned UT at the one-yard line for a TD to take the lead for good, 38-35. WR Quan Cosby had 122 receiving yards and QB Colt McCoy finished the game 28-of-35 for 277 yards and one TD and rushed for 31 more yards. RB Chris Ogbonnaya tallied 15 carries for 127 yards, including a career-long 62-yarder that set up the final of three Cody Johnson rushing TDs to give the Horns a 10-point advantage with 4:02 to play. Defensively, Texas held Oklahoma to just one TD in the final 26:15 and limited it to more than 100 yards below its season average and 14 points under its scoring average. UT held the Sooners to only 48 rushing yards on 26 attempts and starting tailback DeMarco Murray was held to six yards on seven carries. In all, the Longhorns recorded three sacks, two INTs and three forced fumbles. DE Brian Orakpo recorded two sacks and added two more TFL, while LB Roddrick Muckelroy led the team in tackles with 16. Freshman safety Earl Thomas posted two INTs.
GREAT MOMENT
#4 Texas 49, Texas A&M 9
Saturday, November 27, 2008
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin)
With a victory against Texas A&M, Mack Brown became the first head coach in UT history to reach the 200-victory plateau during a career. Brown became just the 19th coach, who has spent at least 10 years at a NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school, to win 200 games and the seventh-youngest coach to do so. Of the 80 coaches who have won 100 games at a FBS school, Brown was the 14th fastest to reach the century mark (124 games).
GREAT GAME
#3 Texas 24, #10 Ohio State 21
Monday, January 5, 2009
University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Ariz.)
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Texas played in its third BCS bowl in five years in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl, and kept its record perfect in those games, along with winning a UT record fifth-straight bowl overall, with a thrilling 24-21 win over No. 10 Ohio State. The win resulted in the Longhorns finishing the season 12-1, the second 12-win season in school history. The Longhorns amassed 486 total yards, including 414 passing yards, against the Buckeyes, who entered the game ranked in the Top 10 nationally in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense. After moving the ball, but struggling to score in the first half, Texas entered the third quarter trailing, 6-3. In that frame, the Longhorns scored 14 unanswered points and outgained their total yardage from the first half, while the defense held the Buckeyes to a total of two yards. Texas also held an 11:09-3:51 advantage in time of possession. The Longhorns took the opening kickoff of the half and moved 80 yards on 15 plays, capped by a 14-yard TD run by QB Colt McCoy. McCoy earned Offensive MVP honors for the third time in three bowl wins as a starting quarterback, setting UT and BCS records with 41 completions on 58 attempts for the 414 yards, which ranked second in BCS history and third in UT history. Both of his passing TDs were to WR Quan Cosby with the first coming on a seven-yard reception with 1:04 left in the third quarter. For the game, Cosby set a career high and a UT bowl record with 14 receptions for a career-high 171 yards, the second-highest total in UT bowl history. WR Jordan Shipley also reached double-figure receptions with 10 for 78 yards. Following Texas’ run, Ohio State returned the favor with a 15-0 run to open the fourth quarter. Buckeyes RB Dan Herron finished a drive with a 15-yard TD run and the two-point attempt again failed for a 21-17 Ohio State lead with just 2:05 remaining. That would be all the time McCoy would need to lead Texas 78 yards on 11 plays in just 1:42, including the conversion of a fourth-and-three where McCoy found WR James Kirkendoll, who fought off a Buckeye defender and stretched for the first down. Following a 14-yard completion to WR Brandon Collins, the Longhorns had the ball at the OSU 26-yard line. McCoy found Cosby on a slant to the middle of the field where he broke away from a defender and streaked 20 yards to the end zone with 16 seconds left. With the ensuing kickoff returned to the OSU 45-yard line, the Buckeyes had 11 seconds left, but DE Brian Orakpo sacked Todd Boeckman for a 10-yard loss. Orakpo finished the game with two tackles, one sack and three pressures, while DT Roy Miller earned Defensive MVP honors, holding the middle of the line, while recording three tackles, one sack and two pressures.
GREAT GAME
#3 Texas 16, #20 Oklahoma 13
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Cotton Bowl (Dallas, Texas)
Texas rode a strong defense to a 16-13 win over Oklahoma, giving the Longhorns their fourth win in five Red River Rivalry games.
The Sooners entered the contest averaging 35.0 points, 187.8 rushing yards and 457.0 total yards per game, but were only able to manage 13 points, minus-16 rushing yards and 311 total yards against Texas’ stifling defense. The minus-16 rushing yards was the lowest amount any team had ever allowed in the Red River Rivalry and the ninth-lowest total ever given up by a UT defense. The Horns caused five turnovers in the game. Texas held Oklahoma to 3-of-15 on third-down conversions, including 0-of-5 in the second half and 1-of-9 after the opening quarter. Sergio Kindle led Texas’ defense, logging three TFL and two pressures to go with his six tackles. Earl Thomas grabbed the game-sealing INT with 3:31 remaining in the game. He also had seven tackles, two TFL and a forced fumble. Aaron Williams grabbed an INT and added three tackles and one sack. Trailing at halftime, the Horns were able to wrestle the lead from the Sooners with some timely offense. After converting just 1-of-9 third down attempts and rushing for 40 yards on 16 carries in the first half, Texas converted 4-of-10 third downs in the second half (including 3-of-5 in the third quarter) and rushed for 102 yards on 24 carries after the intermission. For the game, Texas rushed for 142 yards against an Oklahoma unit that entered the contest ranked third in the nation in rushing defense (53.6 ypg). Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson led the ground assault. Whittaker gained 52 of his 71 yards in the second half and Johnson rushed five times for 31 yards (6.2 ypc), all in the second half. Colt McCoy joined Peter Gardere and Bobby Layne as the only QBs in school history to post at least three wins against Oklahoma. Playing with an injured finger on his throwing hand for much of the game, McCoy completed 21-of-39 passes for 127 yards and a TD and gained 33 yards on the ground. Marquise Goodwin caught his first career TD pass, a 14-yarder from McCoy in the third quarter. He also had a key 17-yard reception in the fourth quarter to set up UT’s game-winning field goal.
GREAT MOMENT
#3 Texas 51, Kansas 20
Saturday, November 21, 2009
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin)
With his 43rd career victory as a starting quarterback, Colt McCoy set the NCAA record for career wins by a QB, passing Georgia’s David Greene (42-10). McCoy completed 32-of-41 (78.0%) passes for 396 yards and four TDs. In the first half alone, McCoy completed 18-of-22 (81.8%) for 238 yards and two TDs as UT built a 27-6 lead.
GREAT GAME
#3 Texas 13, #21 Nebraska 12
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Cowboys Stadium (Dallas, Texas)
Big 12 Championship
Hunter Lawrence nailed a 46-yard field goal as time expired giving Texas a 13-12 win over Nebraska and its third Big 12 Conference title. It also marked the Longhorns’ 28th conference championship overall. The victory gave Texas 13 wins for the second time in school history, with the other coming in 2005. The Longhorns defense was dominant, holding Nebraska to just five first downs and 106 yards of total offense for the game. The 106 yards of total offense for Nebraska was their lowest output since at least 1984 and the 13th-lowest total given up by Texas since 1944. UT held Nebraska to 2-of-16 on third-down conversions for the game and limited the Cornhuskers to 26 yards on 27 plays during their nine drives in the second and third quarters. The Longhorns built a 7-6 lead at the half by holding Nebraska to just two first downs and 32 yards of total offense on 28 plays (1.1 ypp). Texas’ pass defense intercepted three passes and held NU to just six completions and 39 passing yards, the lowest totals in Big 12 Championship history. Colt McCoy rushed for the game’s only TD in the second quarter. He completed 20 passes for 184 yards and went 8-of-10 for 84 yards on the Horns’ final two drives, one of which was the game-winning FG drive. Jordan Shipley caught seven passes for 71 yards, including a 19-yarder on the game’s final drive to set up the game-winning field goal. In the game, Shipley set the UT single-season receptions record, finishg the contest with 106 for the year.