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Texas looks to avoid injuries vs. I-AA Sam Houston State

Sep 26, 2006 - 10:18 PM Sam Houston St (2-1) at No. 7 Texas (3-1), 7:00 pm EDT

AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) - Mack Brown's starters likely will get some rest a week before their showdown with Oklahoma.

Seventh-ranked Texas hopes to avoid any major injuries Saturday when it faces Division I-AA Sam Houston State.

The Longhorns (3-1) face the 16th-ranked Sooners next week in their annual "Red River Rivalry" matchup in Dallas. While Oklahoma has Saturday off, Texas looks to open a big early lead over the Bearkats, then rest its key players.

"Our job when a game is scheduled is to play our best and improve as a football team and not analyze what's best for college football," Brown said. "A lot of people have asked me if it is better to have an open date before a game, like OU's got an open date before us. But we don't, so it is what it is and we're going to take what we've got and make it work."

Texas opened Big 12 Conference play with a 37-14 triumph over Iowa State last Saturday in a game delayed 70 minutes by rain after the third quarter.

Redshirt freshman Colt McCoy completed 18-of-23 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the defending national champions, who have won 16 straight league games.

Sam Houston State (2-1) snapped an eight-game road losing streak with a 20-17 win at Missouri State last Saturday. Defensive back Carlton Cobey stopped Missouri State running back Michael Cooper in the backfield on 4th-and-1 with 1:18 left to secure the win.

The Bearkats are facing the Longhorns for the first time and are 2-19 all-time against I-A opponents. Last year, they were trounced by then-No. 22 Texas Tech, 80-21, in Lubbock.