NCAA FB

Statement time for Texas, Nebraska Longhorns' goal within sight

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Updated Nov 30, 2009 8:30 PM ET
     
 
For 12 regular-season games, along with daily practices and workouts, Texas has targeted one goal above all others. Now the Longhorns are a single victory away. Texas (12-0) can take the final step Saturday in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium. With a win over Nebraska, the Longhorns will cement a berth in the BCS title game which eluded them last season. "This team's goal is to win all the games," coach Mack Brown said. "Their goals are to be conference champs and then they want to play in the last game of the year, and that's been since game one." While less lofty, Nebraska (9-3) carries its own hopes. A win would put the Cornhuskers in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, their first BCS appearance since 2001. An upset over Texas would be a huge comeback for a tradition-rich program that fell on hard times earlier this decade. "We're not ready for anything right now," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said after a less-than-impressive win over Colorado on Friday. "We've got to get ready this week. We don't need to be ready today. We have to be ready next Saturday night." Texas' defense didn't exactly impress in a 49-39 win over Texas A&M, although the Longhorns seem to be beyond style-point concerns. When the first BCS rankings were revealed, independent analyst Jerry Palm of CollegeBCS.com said Texas was among three teams that controlled its own destiny, along with Florida and Alabama. Nothing has changed. If Texas beats Nebraska, the Longhorns will play for a national title at the Rose Bowl, Palm said Sunday. "Absolutely," he said. "They aren't going to get caught with a win. If they lose, it's a different story. If they win, they're in the [BCS] championship game." Upsets have occurred before in the Big 12 title game, including the last time a North team won the Big 12 championship. In the 2003 title game, No. 15 Kansas State stunned top-ranked Oklahoma 35-7, ending talk that the Sooners might be the greatest team of all time. Nebraska and Texas each feature what may be the best player at their position in college football . Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was more than ready for his potential Heisman moment against A&M. His 479 yards total offense may have moved him into the front-runner spot, ahead of Alabama's Mark Ingram, whose hopes took a hit against Auburn. Nebraska's defense and the indomitable Ndamukong Suh stand as the one remaining road block to McCoy and Texas. The active senior defensive tackle has changed games with sacks and by interception, by blocking kicks and by stuffing the run. "I could care less about the Heisman," he told the Lincoln Journal Star. "It's a great honor, but [McCoy is] an offensive quarterback. Obviously, he's going to be up there. He plays for a great team and puts up great numbers both running and passing. "But I don't think it's a statement game. I just want to go out there and win. That'll be my statement, if we go out there and win." Texas dominance A look at how Texas has fared against Nebraska in the Mack Brown era: Year Result 1998 Texas 20, Nebraska 16 1999 Texas 24, Nebraska 20 1999* Nebraska 22, Texas 6 2002 Texas 27, Nebraska 24 2003 Texas 31, Nebraska 7 2006 Texas 22, Nebraska 20 2007 Texas 28, Nebraska 25 * Big 12 championship game
Tagged: Alabama, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska

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