Big 12 Reduced to Big 2, as Nebraska and Texas Win

After opening the season 3-4 and making a habit of losing fourth-quarter leads, the Texas Longhorns are finishing strong.

The Longhorns wrapped up the regular season with a 51-15 victory over rival Texas A&M; on Friday for their fourth win in a row. The victory also gave Texas the Big 12 South title and a berth in the Big 12 championship game next Saturday at St. Louis.

The Longhorns, 7-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12, will face Nebraska, the North Division winner.

James Brown passed for four touchdowns, two to Mike Adams, as the Longhorns made it two in a row over the Aggies (6-6, 4-4), who were eliminated from bowl contention and endured their first non-winning season since going 5-5-1 in 1983.

It was the most lopsided victory by either team in the 103-game series since Texas beat A&M;, 53-16, in 1982.

“It’s been a frustrating year for everyone connected with A&M; football,” Coach R.C. Slocum said. “We have some rebuilding to do.”

Texas, which rolled up 594 yards, took control early in the third quarter after stopping a fake punt by Texas A&M; at the Aggies’ 39 and scoring eight plays later on a two-yard pass from Brown to Derrick Scott for a 24-9 lead.

“That was a big play because that would have given them some momentum and maybe an opportunity to strike,” Texas Coach John Mackovic said. “From there, we began rolling.”

Adams caught touchdown passes on plays of 14 and 36 yards to put Texas ahead, 37-9, with 2:42 left in the third quarter. Adams, who finished with six receptions for 153 yards, set a school record for touchdown catches in a career with 16, passing Lovell Pinkney, who had 15 from 1992-94.

Brown, 18 for 30 for 336 yards, connected with running back Wane McGarity on a 53-yard touchdown pass play in the second quarter.

Ricky Williams, a sophomore from San Diego, had 145 yards in 22 carries and scored on a 55-yard run in the fourth quarter for Texas. Priest Holmes ran for two scores.