Texas quarterback Colt McCoy holds his offensive player of the game trophy after Texas defeated Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday night. Ap photo
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McCoy hit Quan Cosby for a 26-yard touchdown with 16 seconds to play, lifting third-ranked Texas to a 24-21 victory over No. 10 Ohio State on Monday night.
"I don’t think there’s anybody in the country who can beat us at this point,” McCoy said.
The Buckeyes nearly pulled off the upset behind quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Todd Boeckman but instead went down to another disappointing bowl loss.
McCoy, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, calmly led the Longhorns 78 yards in 11 plays and 1:42 without calling a timeout. On the touchdown, Cosby caught a short pass, slipped a tackle and sprinted toward the goal line before diving into the end zone.
The Longhorns (12-1) rebounded after Ohio State (10-3) had taken a 21-17 lead on a 15-yard run by Dan Herron with 2:05 to go.
That score came five minutes after Boeckman hit Pryor for a 5-yard score to cut Texas’ lead to 17-15. Pryor’s pass on the 2-point conversion was incomplete.
For most of the night, the Buckeyes stifled the high-powered Longhorns, who averaged 43.9 points this season but mustered only a field goal in the first half. They didn’t lead until a nifty third-quarter touchdown run by McCoy, who also threw for 414 yards and two scores with an interception.
The Longhorns hoped to use the Fiesta Bowl to persuade voters they deserved the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25, their only hope for a piece of a national championship.
"This team started this way and finished this way, and they’re obviously one of the best teams in the country if not the best,” Texas coach Mack Brown said.
Texas players rushed onto the field after Boeckman’s last-gasp pass hit the turf deep in Texas territory, then gathered in front of the band and sang "The Eyes of Texas with jubilant fans.
But early on, it looked as if the Buckeyes would finally be celebrating.
Texas brought Bevo, its steer mascot, but left its offense back in Austin, at least in a sluggish first half.
The Longhorns failed to score in the first quarter.
Texas was shut out in only four quarters all season — and only once in the first quarter, in a 39-33 loss at Texas Tech on Nov. 1.
The Buckeyes took a 3-0 lead on a 51-yard field goal by Aaron Pettrey midway through the first period. Ohio State drove 43 yards in nine plays, the biggest chunk coming on a 22-yard burst by Wells.
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By the way Bill here are the comments from the Austin paper and the link as well. Apparently you have a definition or expectation of a sellout other than people in the stands.
"Empty seats"
While the game was listed as a sellout, there were plenty of empty seats in the top section of University of Phoenix Stadium.
It was reported that neither school sold its entire allotment of tickets.
http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/01/06/0106texnotes.html
I'm a Sooner living in South Texas. Some of the best wine in the country comes from this area...right around Austin. Best Whiners in the world. You beat Ohio State.. So did Penn State , you saw what USC did to them. And so did USC, and Texas is no USC. Stop Whining, you're embarrassing yourself UT!
Forth Quarter...fun to watch. UT beat OSU...not the entire Big 10 or the rest of the world either. The political posturing is way out of hand. At the end of the day it's a game.
Okay, Mccoy saying he doesnt think anyone in the country can beat them at this point.
How many times was Mccoy sacked by Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl?
LOL, what's next a plane flying over the BCS championship game with 24-21. The shorthorns will make the argument that the small 10 is a better conference than the SEC (super ego conference) and that Ohio St. was the best team in the country. I wonder what it would've been like if Beanie could've played the second half? Nice try Mack, time for your diaper change.
According to article in Austin Statesman neither schools sold out their alloted tickets and sections of seating were empty around the upper portions of the stadium. Not exactly a setting for a national championship to be decided unless Mack/Colt would like to participate in Div II or III football. A little consideration should be given to the level of competition they played the #10 ranked Ohio State, not even in the top 5 and the same can be said about giving a trophy to USC or Utah. So you win a game against a lower ranked opponent in the overall BCS ranking that doesn't include a national championship trophy. Now Mack and Texas have their ugly little Fiesta bowl trophy, USC have their at home Rose bowl trophy, and the impressive Utah team have their Sugar Bowl trophy, they all should pack up their hardware, say their thank-yous and good-byes, and head home. Of course for some the trip will be shorter than others so USC will be able to pocket their transportation cost of their bowl adventure.
All the crying, and whining, and plane flying for this?! Mike and Mike are getting an e-mail from me this morning, and I'm nominating Texas for this week's "just shut up" award! They should be thankful they didn't have to play Utah, let alone us or Florida!!
Colt, I really think you are a good QB but your immaturity showed AGAIN!! I have really supported you but you held your own destiny and lost to Texas Tech. That is why you are not in the Championship game. You barely got by Okla State and the 10 points you beat Oklahoma is really skewed. You scored the last TD because OK had a desperation atempt that failed and like true sportsmans that you are, you wanted more points. Texas played a terrible first half like they did against TT and you were lucky to win, so, just that the win gracefully and move on.
ummm the way texas played tonight OU Florida USC and Utah would've beaten the crap out of texas! i was pulling for Ohio State but it wasnt meant to be for them. Mack Brown needs to shut up and quit whining....his team barely beat ohio state, texas # 1 my A$$! Gawwwwd i hate mack brown with a passion!
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"Empty seats"
While the game was listed as a sellout, there were plenty of empty seats in the top section of University of Phoenix Stadium.
It was reported that neither school sold its entire allotment of tickets.
http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/01/06/0106texnotes.html
How many times was Mccoy sacked by Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl?