Texas rights its season with win over Nebraska

With one big win over Nebraska, Texas' season has been rejuvenated.

That's after two straight losses had the Longhorns teetering on the brink of disaster.

''This team the past two years has only lost two games, one in the regular season,'' quarterback Garrett Gilbert said. ''It's been a different kind of season for us. Tough times bring out the true character, and you're starting to see this team's character.

''We have a lot of potential to be great. We're going to go back and work hard and be humble and that's what we're going to do all season.''

After a two-week absence from The Associated Press Top 25 - the first stretch since 2000 the program hadn't been in the ratings - the Longhorns returned Sunday at No. 22 after their 20-13 win in Lincoln.

Saturday's victory likely was Texas' parting gift to Nebraska. The Huskers are joining the Big Ten in 2011, and the teams won't meet again in football for the foreseeable future unless it's in the Big 12 championship game in seven weeks.

Texas' season was in danger of slipping away after consecutive losses to UCLA and Oklahoma.

The Cornhuskers had been gunning for them since last December's Big 12 title game, which Texas famously won 13-12 after one second was put back on the clock, time enough for the Longhorns to kick the winning field goal.

Defensive end Sam Acho said Saturday's meeting with the Huskers came at a make-or-break point of the season. The Longhorns had never lost three straight in the regular season in Mack Brown's 13 years as coach.

''It was definitely a great opportunity for this entire team to come out on national TV and show everyone what we're all about,'' Acho said. ''We had the two losses the past two weeks and we wanted to get that taste out of our mouths and, thankfully, we did. We just played with passion and excitement and we had fun.''

Gilbert, better known for his passing, surprised the Huskers with 11 runs for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Texas' defense limited the Huskers to 202 yards and got into Taylor Martinez's head to the point that the redshirt freshman was benched in the third quarter.

''We've got a lot of young pieces and they are trying so hard to come together and grow up,'' Brown said. ''I told them this is a waste unless we go back and win next week.''

Texas led 10-0 early, and Nebraska never got closer until Eric Hagg returned a pooch punt 95 yards to make it 20-13 late in the fourth quarter.

''We started slow against UCLA and started awful against Oklahoma, and then we came back and played a pretty good offensive second half against UCLA. We played a pretty good second half against Oklahoma but we haven't been playing whole games,'' Brown said. ''We felt like that start gave us the confidence to win this game and they were all into it on the sideline.''

The emergence of the running game was the most pleasing development. They had come into the season determined to run more, but they averaged just under 130 yards on the ground through five games.

By getting Gilbert involved with quarterback draws and sprints, that figure increased to a season-high 209 yards. Cody Johnson had a game-high 73 yards and Tre' Newton 41.

''I was proud that our team could run the ball,'' Brown said. ''That's something that we've been trying to do. When we've run for over 200 yards, we've never lost. We need to keep fighting the running game and get better.''

Brown said defensive coordinator Will Muschamp devised an excellent plan to counter Nebraska's zone-read option. Texas' five-man front clogged Martinez's running lanes, and the quarterback was unable to outrun defenders on the perimeter.

''Usually when you get coaches from the South, they are used to the option and I thought Will had a great plan and the guys fought it,'' Brown said. ''Our plan was obviously to stop the running game and make them throw the ball.''

The Longhorns are a half-game behind Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the South Division. They have to hope the Sooners, who beat them Oct. 2, lose twice. They play Oklahoma State at home on Nov. 13.

''We've got to continue to get better because we are not at a point where we can play poorly and beat anybody,'' Brown said, ''so we're going to have to play well each week to win.''