List of Texas Longhorn football games
This is an article about the greatest games in the history of the Texas Longhorn football program
1893-1936
- November 30, 1893 – Texas' very first football game was an astounding upset victory. The varsity team sent a band of 15 players to face the "Champions of Texas" Dallas Football Club, a team that had been undefeated for several years. The game ended with an 18-16 upset victory for Texas. From there, Texas went undefeated in its first season of football.
- October 10, 1900 – The first meeting between Texas and Oklahoma resulted in a 28-2 victory over the Sooners. From there Texas went on to win the next three in the series until a 6-6 tie in 1903.
- November 25, 1920 – The largest crowd in history (est. 20,000) was on hand to see undefeated Texas and undefeated Texas A&M on Thanksgiving Day. The winning score was set up by an incredible one handed catch by Tom Dennis. Texas won the game 7-3 and gave the Aggies their first loss in two years.
- October 23, 1923 – Texas faced a then powerful Vanderbilt team at the State Fair. The lone highlight was an incredible run made by Texas' Oscar Ekhardt where he knocked over several Vanderbilt defenders before crossing the goalline for the score. Texas went on to shut out Vanderbilt 16-0.
- October 18, 1930 - Undefeated Texas faced undefeated Oklahoma in Dallas. The game was a defensive battle as both teams were tied at 7 going into the fourth quarter until Texas answered with a 98 yard touchdown drive to take the lead. Texas would answer again with a field goal to put the game away 17-7 marking a fourth straight victory over the Sooners.
- October 6, 1934 – The game that brought Texas to more national prominence as the Longhorns beat Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, 7-6. The loss for Notre Dame was their first opening setback since 1896.
1937-1956
- October 21, 1939 – With Texas trailing 13-7 to Arkansas and under 1 minute to play in the game, many fans were headed for the exits when halfback Jack Crain caught a short pass and ran 67 yards untouched for the go ahead score. This game was known as the "Renaissance Game" during the Bible era and the win revitalized the Texas football program.
- November 28, 1940 – Inspired by head coach Dana X. Bibles "It can be done" speech, Texas' Noble Doss was credited for the "impossible catch" that set up the only touchdown of the game. Texas won 7-0 and knocked Texas A&M from a Rose Bowl bid and a national championship. Texas finished 8-2 on the season.
- December 6, 1941 – #4 Texas was not awarded the Rose Bowl bid and took out its aggression on Oregon, overwhelming them 71-7.
- January 1, 1943 – Texas' first bowl game was against #5 Georgia Tech in the Cotton Bowl. #11 Texas went on to win the game 14-7.
- January 1, 1946 – Bobby Layne, one of Texas' greatest quarterbacks of all time, contributed to every point scored in the 1946 Cotton Bowl victory over Missouri in a 40-27 win.
- January 5, 1947 – #5 Texas reeled off a huge victory over #6 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, 27-7, finished the season 10-1 in Blair Cherry's first season as head coach.
- January 1, 1949 – Texas faced #8 ranked Georgia in the Orange Bowl. The Longhorns were considered a huge underdog prior to the game but scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and won the game 41-28.
- November 4, 1950 – #7 Texas faced the #1 team in the nation, the SMU Mustangs. The Longhorns defense held their great halfback, Kyle Rote, to minus 3 yards rushing in a 23-20 victory for Texas.
- January 1, 1953 – The rematch from the 1951 Cotton Bowl, #9 Texas again faced Tennessee in the 1953 Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns held the Vols to minus 14 yards rushing in a 16-0 shutout win.
- November 13, 1954 – With Texas down 7-27 against top ranked TCU, the Horns rallied off 21 unanswered points for the comeback win by 1 point 35-34. The game 813 yards of total offense and was Texas' greatest comeback win at the time.
1957-1976
- October 11, 1958 – Texas headed into Dallas against #2 ranked Oklahoma as a 13 point underdog. The Longhorns struck first and went for the two-point conversion to put them up 8-0. OU came back and led Texas 14-8 until Bobby Lackey hit Bobby Bryant with a touchdown pass with three minutes left in the game. Texas won 15-14 and ended a six game losing streak to the Sooners.
- January 1, 1964 – #1 ranked Texas faced #2 ranked Navy in the Cotton Bowl. Navy was led by Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach. Texas won convincingly 28-6 and celebrated its first National Championship, finishing the season 11-0.
- January 1, 1965 – #5 Texas faced Joe Namath and #1 Alabama in the Orange Bowl. The game was noted for the Texas goal line stand led by Tommy Nobis. In the remaining minutes of the game, Nobis met Namath just inches short of the goal line and Texas won 21-17.
- January 1, 1969 – With the newly installed Wishbone offense by Royal, #1 Texas was dominating opponents in every game. Texas, led by quarterback James Street, faced Tennessee once again in the Cotton Bowl. The game was not close as Texas won in dominating fashion, 36-13.
- December 6, 1969 - Texas was unbeated in 18 games and Arkansas had won 15 straight. Texas was ranked #1 by the AP poll and Arkansas was ranked #2. With Texas behind 14-8, Royal instructed Street to pass on 4th and inches. Street rolled left and hit Randy Peschel for the 42 yard gain to set up the touchdown. Two plays later Jim Bertlesen crossed the goal line and Texas won 15-14 in what became known as the "Game of the Century".
- January 1, 1970 - Fresh off their win against Arkansas, Texas faced Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. Notre Dame was ending its 44 year self-imposed bowl moratorium. The game was an instant classic as the Irish led 17-14 with under seven minutes to play. Texas quarterback James Street led a 76 yard drive with 2 fourth down conversions and the go ahead score as Texas won 21-17 and cemented the schools second National Championship. It was also Texas' 500th win in school history.
- January 1, 1973 - #3 Texas was making its fifth straight Cotton Bowl appearance after winning the Southwest Conference again. Texas faced Bear Bryant and #5 ranked Alabama. With Alabama leading 13-10 and under 6 minutes to play, Texas quarterback Alan Lowry ran a bootleg play to perfection and scored from the Alabama 30 as Texas won another Cotton Bowl trophy, 17-13 and finished 3rd in the polls.
- December 27, 1975 - #9 Texas faced #10 Colorado in the Bluebonnet Bowl. Down 21-7 at halftime, Texas came back in the second half scoring 31 unanswered points against a staggering Colorado defense and won 38-21.
1977-1997
- October 8, 1977 - Randy McEachern came off the bench at quarterback for Texas after both the 1st and 2nd string starters went out with injuries. The third string quarterback led Texas on an 80 yard score as #5 Texas beat #2 Oklahoma 13-6.
- November 26, 1977 - Earl Campbell ran for 222 yards and four touchdowns as #1 Texas whipped #12 Texas A&M in College Station, 57-28. The win capped off an 11-0 perfect season for the Longhorns.
- January 1, 1982 - #3 Alabama was leading #6 Texas 10-0 in the fourth quarter of the 1982 Cotton Bowl. Texas rallied twice behind quarterback Robert Brewer in the last minutes of the game to win 14-12 snapping Alabama's six game bowl win streak. Texas still holds a 7-0-1 all time record over the Crimson Tide.
- September 17, 1983 - #3 Texas faced Bo Jackson at #5 Auburn to open the 1983 season. Texas was able to shut down Auburn's running game and prevailed 20-7 starting off another undefeated season.
- October 17, 1987 - Texas was in a rebuilding year while #15 Arkansas was in line for a Southwest Conference championship. Down 14-0, Texas managed to come from behind to win. In the final seconds of the game Brett Stafford threw a 30 yard touchdown pass for the score as a stunned Arkansas audience watched Texas win 16-14. It was the first time in UT history that a game was decided on the final play.
- September 8, 1990 - #23 Texas started off the 1990 season with an upset victory at #21 Penn State 17-13, and the "Shock the Nation Tour" season took the Longhorns to a #3 national ranking and a near perfect 10-1 season.
- December 7, 1996 - An unranked Texas team faced #3 Nebraska in the inaugural Big 12 Championship game. Texas up by only three points faced a 4th and inches call when James Brown rolled to his left and hit Derek Lewis for a 61 yard completion that set up the touchdown by Priest Holmes. Texas went on to win 37-27 and claimed the Big 12's first conference championship.
1998-Present
- October 31, 1998 - In Mack Brown's first year as head coach, #20 Texas went into Lincoln to face #7 Nebraska. With a powerful running game behind Ricky Williams and 269 yards passing by Major Applewhite, Texas ended Nebraska's 47 game home win streak, 20-16.
- October 23, 1999 - #3 Nebraska faced #17 Texas in Austin looking to salvage the previous years upset win in Lincoln. The Texas team fought strong on both offense and defense as the Horns won a third straight time over the Cornhuskers, 24-20.
- December 28, 2001 - Major Applewhite saved his best game for last as #9 Texas met #21 Washington in the 2001 Holiday Bowl. The game was a shoot-out with several lead changes in the second half. Major Applewhite set a record 473 yards passing with 4 touchdown passes as Texas won 47-43.
- November 15, 2003 - Unranked Texas Tech came into Austin with a powerful pass offense as both teams combined for over 1000 yards total offense. The game came down to the final minutes when Chance Mock led Texas on an 80 yard drive to score and win the game 43-40.
- September 11, 2004 - Two old conference rivals met in Fayetteville, AR as #7 Texas faced Arkansas again. Vince Young led the way for the Horns as Texas won a close game 22-20.
- January 1, 2005 - Winning an at-large bid in the Bowl Championship Series, Texas made its first ever Rose Bowl appearance against Big 10 champion Michigan. Despite both teams' rich histories, it was their first-ever meeting. Michigan had a 31-21 lead at the end of the third quarter, but Vince Young led two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. Dusty Mangum kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired to seal a 38-37 win for the Longhorns.
- September 10, 2005 - #2 Texas defeated #4 Ohio State 25-22 in Ohio Stadium, in the first-ever matchup between the two storied programs. Thanks to three turnovers, OSU started drives at the Texas 18, 30, and 37 yard lines, but the Texas defense held them to a field goal each time. A highlight-reel 24-yard touchdown grab by Limas Sweed put Texas ahead for good with 2:19 left to play. Both teams went on to win their respective conferences (Texas won the Big 12 outright; OSU shared the Big 10 title with Penn State) and play in BCS bowls.
- December 3, 2005 - Texas destroyed Colorado 70-3 in the Big 12 Championship Game, earning its second Big 12 title. It was, and still is, the most lopsided conference championship game in college football history. #2 Texas led 42-3 at halftime and 70-3 with 7:36 left in the third quarter.
- January 4, 2006 - #2 Texas defeated #1 Southern California 41-38 in the Rose Bowl to clinch a 13-0 season and its fourth national championship. The two teams had a combined 53-game winning streak and USC was playing for its third consecutive national title. Down 38-26 with 6:42 to play, Texas scored 15 unanswered points to win, capped by a 4th-down rushing touchdown by quarterback Vince Young with 0:19 left in the game. Young accounted for 467 yards of total offense. The win marked Texas' 800th all time victory. The game is widely regarded as one of the best games in college football history.
- December 27, 2007 - #17 Texas was selected to play #12 Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. Prior to the game Sun Devils quarterback, Rudy Carpenter, made it known to the Texas players that he was not impressed with them during bowl game functions. The Texas defense proved him wrong all throughout the game pounding the Sun Devils quarterback and eventually taking him out of the game. Texas went on to win the first meeting between the schools, 52-34 finishing 10-3.
- October 11, 2008 - #5 Texas went into Dallas to face #1 Oklahoma. Down 14-3 early, Jordan Shipley returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead. The game was a back and forth shoot-out between two great quarterbacks, Colt McCoy of Texas and Sam Bradford of Oklahoma. Late in the 4th quarter Texas led 38-35 and faced a 1st and 10 from their own 36 when Texas running back, Chris Ogbonnaya took off 62 yards down the sideline to put Texas in scoring position at the OU 2. Texas went on to win 45-35 and obtain their first #1 ranking in the polls since 1984.
- January 5, 2009 - #3 Texas faced #10 Ohio State in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. This was only the third meeting between the two storied programs with both teams winning once. Texas led 17-6 into the fourth quarter when Ohio State came back to lead 21-17. With under two minutes to play Texas quarterback Colt McCoy led the Horns on an 80 yard drive. Quan Cosby caught a 26 yard touchdown pass for the go-ahead score as Texas won 24-21. This was Texas' third straight victory in a BCS Bowl game and fifth straight bowl victory.
- December 5, 2009 - Two top 11 defenses clashed as #3 Texas faced #22 Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Both offenses combined for only 308 total yards. Hunter Lawrence hit a 46-yard field goal to seal a 13-12 victory and Texas' third Big 12 title.
[1]
- ^ "Great Games and Moments". MackBrown-TexasFootball.com. http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/fb-great-games.html. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
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