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Texas looks for second straight win vs. Oklahoma

Oct 3, 2006 - 11:47 PM No. 7 Texas (4-1) vs. No. 14 Oklahoma (3-1), 3:30 pm EDT

DALLAS (Ticker) - Behind all-world quarterback Vince Young, Texas finally got over the hump against Big 12 Conference rival Oklahoma last year. Now the Longhorns hope Colt McCoy is up to the challenge.

The seventh-ranked Longhorns take on the 14th-ranked Sooners on Saturday in their annual "Red River Rivalry" matchup at the Cotton Bowl.

Oklahoma had won the first five matchups this decade before Texas cruised to a 45-12 triumph last year en route to the national title. The Longhorns have not won consecutive meetings since taking three in a row from 1997-99.

A redshirt freshman, McCoy ranks eighth in the nation in passing efficiency (174.3), having thrown for 846 yards and 10 touchdowns with just two interceptions for the Longhorns (3-1, 1-0 Big 12 South). However, he did not play well in Texas' lone loss to top-ranked Ohio State.

Last Saturday, the Longhorns dominated Division I-AA Sam Houston State, 56-3. McCoy passed for two touchdowns and Henry Melton ran for a pair of scores for the Longhorns, who limited the Bearkats to just 195 total yards despite playing their reserves for much of the second half.

Oklahoma (3-1, 0-0 South) has not played since manhandling Middle Tennessee on September 23, 59-0, in its first game since a controversial loss at Oregon.

Heisman Trophy candidate Adrian Peterson ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns and Paul Thompson completed 13-of-18 passes for 257 yards and three TDs for the Sooners, who scored on six of their first seven possessions and also registered a defensive touchdown.

Peterson may have trouble finding daylight against the Longhorns, who rank second nationally in rushing defense at 36.6 yards per game.

"You don't get re-dos in college football," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "Ohio State came down and beat us, so we can't get that one back. Oklahoma, on the other hand, had a controversial game with Oregon that came down to a call or two that was very difficult for them in the end. Both teams are coming in with one loss. Theirs was much closer than ours was."