University of Texas NCAA News

Kickoff: Noon, Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium , Austin, Texas TV: Fox Sports Florida.

Two months ago, Texas would have avoided any direct talk of playing for a national title.

THE FOOTBALL gods are smiling down on Texas. A year ago, the Longhorns were cursed by a few percentage points spit out by computers.

How can anyone argue with a Florida-Texas championship game? Sorry about that, Iowa, Boise State, Cincinnati and TCU.

Published: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. Line: Texas by 36.

That was evident during a scrimmage the Longhorns had with Davidson on Saturday in the Erwin Center.

Call it the Pasadena Parkway, a unique road with many possible paths. In Texas' case, the list of directions means the Longhorns can now reach the BCS national title game at the Rose Bowl without ever setting foot outside the Lone Star State.

Big 12RISING: Last season, Texas couldnt come up with interceptions, finishing with a league-low six.

Eight games into the 2009 season, 1 second from 2008 still haunts and motivates Texas.

Texas defensive back Aaron Williams, who injured his right knee early in the Longhorns' victory at Oklahoma State, is "day-to-day" heading into this week's game against Central Florida, UT coach Mack Brown said Monday.

Big 12 In 26 Conference games this season, 20 teams that have committed the most turnovers have lost.

Technically, neither No. 10 Oregon nor No. 3 Texas ever really left the Bowl Championship Series national title chase. Sure, the Ducks lost their first game of the season to Boise State, but one-loss teams from automatic BCS-qualifying conferences have advanced to the championship game several times. The Longhorns and their supposed Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback were unimposing for much of the season's first two months, yet they remained undefeated all the while.

Still, not until Saturday night did both squads emphatically remind college football followers why they deserve considerable mention in any national title game discussion. Oregon beat No. 4 Southern California worse (47-20) than any opponent has since 1997. Texas tossed aside No. 13 Oklahoma State, also by 27 points (41-14).

Over the past three months, they've used at least three different slogans. Many of the players still subscribe to the belief that inspiration can be drawn from multi-colored rubber wristbands.

Texas safety Earl Thomas talks about the Longhorns' 41-14 win at Oklahoma State on Saturday night.

Texas is back to No. 2 in the AP college football poll. The Longhorns jumped Alabama and landed right behind top-ranked Florida on Sunday, the day after winning 41-14 at Oklahoma State in their best performance of the season.

Many communities hit hardest by job losses, those built around dying factories and mills, have been slowest to see relief from President Barack Obama's stimulus plan, underscoring how hard it is for Washington policymakers to create lasting work in areas that need it most.

STILLWATER, Okla. Among his 40 career victories as Texas' starting quarterback, Colt McCoy has racked up better statistics than he posted in Saturday night's 41-14 victory over Oklahoma State.

The Texas defense forced Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert from the game in the third quarter.

To get his football career back where he wanted it to be, Malcolm Williams knew he had to earn the trust of one man.

Curtis Brown promised his grandmother back when he was attending Gilmer High School he'd take care of his grades and find a way to college.