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Oklahoma State faces rugged test at Texas

Oct 25, 2008 - 10:31 AM (8) Oklahoma State (7-0) at (1) Texas (7-0), 3:30 pm EDT

AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) -- Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is about to find out how good his team really is.

Having matched their best start in more than 60 years, the eighth-ranked Cowboys visit No. 1 Texas on Saturday in a critical contest between rivals in the Big 12 Conference South Division.

After beating Baylor, 34-6, last week, Oklahoma State (7-0, 3-0 Big 12 South) remained in a three-way tie with Texas and Texas Tech atop the division.

Last week, the Cowboys played their first game as a top-10 team since 1988 and showed no signs of nerves. They also were not caught looking ahead to this week's showdown.

Dez Bryant caught a career-high 11 passes catches for 212 yards and two touchdowns as Oklahoma State improved to 7-0 for the first time since 1945.

"We have a lot of maturity on this team," Gundy said. " We have a lot of chemistry among the group."

Up next, however, is the Cowboys' sternest test of the season against a Texas team that appears to be getting better and gaining momentum in a quest for a second national championship in four years.

After an emotional 45-35 win over previously-No. 1 Oklahoma two weeks ago, the Longhorns (7-0, 3-0 South) showed not even a hint of a letdown last week, drilling Missouri, 56-31.

Texas, which also is No. 1 in the first weekly BCS rankings, built a 28-0 lead in the first half before Missouri even crossed midfield.

Each week, its seems that Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy improves his Heisman Trophy chances. Against the Tigers, he was almost perfect, completing 29-of-32 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns.

During one stretch of the game, McCoy completed a school-record 17 straight passes.

"He just needs to continue to be who he is," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "I don't know if we need him to play any better. He's showing fantastic leadership, he's poised and he's not into all of the hype. It's not affecting him at all."

Still, there is no respite for the Longhorns after their back-to-back wins over Oklahoma and Missouri. Saturday's contest is the first of consecutive games against undefeated opponents. Texas plays at No. 6 Texas Tech next week.

"This team has a chance to be special if they continue to work and continue to get better," Brown said. "The thing we are seeing in college football each week, is that if you don't bring your 'A' game, you're going to get beat."

Last season, Texas posted a stunning 38-35 victory at Oklahoma State in which it erased a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Ryan Bailey kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired the give the Longhorns the win.

McCoy rushed for 106 yards in last year's game against Oklahoma State, marking the first time he surpassed the century mark on the ground. He is Texas' leading rusher this season with 371 yards and six touchdowns.

The Longhorns have won 10 straight against the Cowboys, dating to a 42-16 loss in Stillwater in 1997.