• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red-hot McCoy, Texas host Arkansas

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:05 AM Arkansas (2-1) at (7) Texas (3-0), 3:30 pm EDT

AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) -- Two weeks later than scheduled, Texas finally gets to re-new its rivalry with Arkansas.

The seventh-ranked Longhorns host the Razorbacks on Saturday in a game that was postponed from September 13 due to the threat of Hurricane Ike.

The former Southwestern Conference rivals have not met since 2004, when the Longhorns posted a 22-20 victory. Texas avenged a 38-28 loss to an unranked Arkansas team the previous season in Austin.

If the Razorbacks are going to have another chance at an upset, they will have to find a way to slow down quarterback Colt McCoy, who is playing his best football in three seasons at Texas.

Last week, McCoy threw four touchdowns passes in a 52-10 rout of Rice, giving him a school-record 62 in his career. He surpassed the previous Texas mark of 60 held by Major Applewhite, currently an assistant coach for the Longhorns (3-0).

"The game has really slowed down for (McCoy) right now," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "He knows exactly what is going on. He has a different demeanor right now than he did at this time last year. He's become a great leader."

Having completed nearly 78 percent of his passes, McCoy ranks third in the Football Bowl Subdivision in passing efficiency. He is even contributing with his legs, as he rushed for a team-high 83 yards this past weekend - the second time this season he has been Texas' leading ground gainer.

"He is more confident and more aggressive," Brown added. "We were so inconsistent last year. We just didn't finish games last year. We've had three really efficient second halves in the first three ballgames, and I think he's a big part of that."

Saturday's game continues a brutal stretch for Arkansas in which it will face four top-16 teams in as many weeks. Up next for the Razorbacks are contests against No. 4 Florida and No. 16 Auburn.

Last week, Arkansas began one of the most difficult stretches in a school history with a 49-14 loss to then 13th-ranked Alabama. Casey Dick threw three interceptions for the Razorbacks, two of which were returned for touchdowns.