This is something new for Mack Brown.
He's been in the Big 12 Championship game before, but always against teams he'd already played during the year. In 1999 it was Nebraska. 2001 and 2005, Colorado. The Horns always won in the regular season, but only once in the title game.
Now they face Nebraska for the first time this year.
And the Huskers are playing like the blackshirts of old. That's... on defense. Led by Ndamukong Suh, the defense is one of the best in the nation. And Texas has been lucky enough to play some pretty bad defenses this year. Yes, Oklahoma is #7, a little better than Nebraska at #11, but look at some of the others: UTEP is #111, Texas A&M is #107, Baylor is #96, Wyoming is #83, Kansas is #74, Colorado is #60, Missouri is #55, Texas Tech is #48, Central Florida #46, LA Monroe #45, Oklahoma State #32.
Not exactly a "Murderer's Row".
Coming up, after #11 Nebraska: Either #1 Florida or #3 Alabama... with apologies to #2 TCU who will be left out of the Championship Game unless Texas loses.
And Texas will not lose because of Nebraska's offense. The Husker defense can keep it close, but the anemic ground attack of Nebraska (#64 in the nation, even behind the Horns) won't get it done against Texas.
If Texas loses, it will be their own fault. Kind of like Oklahoma's loss to the Horns. Take away a couple of those turnovers and the Sooners probably win that game. That's the only chance Nebraska has in this one.
The Husker defense is the only chance for Big Red.
And I wouldn't bet on it happening.
