COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Ticker) -- Texas coach Mack Brown has been widely criticized for an inability to win the big one, but the Longhorns could have a lot on the line Friday when they face Texas A&M for the 110th time.
Texas (9-2, 6-1 Big 12 South) is hoping to receive its first BCS bowl bid during Brown's six-year tenure as coach. Texas is sixth in this week's BCS standings and is in contention for one of the two at-large berths.
"We really appreciate our players putting us in the mix of the top 10 teams in the BCS," Brown said. "It's fun to be in a rivalry game with a lot to play for."
The Longhorns, who have won five straight, have been off since holding on for a 43-40 victory over Texas Tech on November 15, when the Red Raiders' Keith Toogood missed a potential game-tying field goal as time expired.
Texas' has been in high gear during the winning streak, surpassing 40 points four times. The Longhorns' potent attack has been centered around running back Cedric Benson and freshman quarterback Vince Young.
Benson needs just six yards to join Ricky Williams (1995-98) and Chris Gilbert (1966-68) as the only Texas players with three straight 1,000-yard seasons. No Texas player has had four 1,000-yard campaigns.
Young, who replaced Chance Mock as the Longhorns' starter after Texas' embarrassing 65-13 loss at Oklahoma, has rushed for 858 yards, fourth on the Longhorns' all-time list for freshmen.
However, it was Mock who rallied the Longhorns against Texas Tech. Entering the game for the first time with 2:03 remaining, Mock engineered a seven-play, 86-yard drive that he capped with a 46-yard TD pass to B.J. Johnson.
"These guys have down a tremendous job of turning this season around since the loss against Oklahoma," Brown added. "They have put themselves back in the mix and now it's time to win again."
The Aggies (2-7, 2-5) are concluding a difficult season under first-year coach Dennis Franchione. They are headed for their first losing campaign since going 5-6 in 1982 under Jackie Sherrill.
One bright spot for Texas A&M has been running back Courtney Lewis, who is a leading candidate for Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Lewis leads all first-year Big 12 players in rushing (940 yards) and touchdowns (11) and could become the Aggies' first 1,000-yard runner since Dante Hall rushed for 1,024 yards in 1998.
Texas and Texas A&M are playing for the 89th straight year in a series that is tied for the third-longest in Division I-A history. The Longhorns have won the last two meetings to increase its lead to 70-34-5.
Texas is looking to win two straight at Kyle Field for the first time since 1981-83. Two years ago, the Longhorns defeated the Aggies, 21-7, here, registering only their second win at Texas A&M since 1983.
