Texas Pounds Nebraska in 31-7 Victory

The punishing running game. The stifling defense. Texas gave Nebraska a sense of what humiliation feels like.

With Cedric Benson rushing for 174 yards and three touchdowns and a dominating defensive effort in their 31-7 victory Saturday, the No. 16 Longhorns dismissed the No. 12 Cornhuskers as easily as Nebraska once disposed of its opponents.

Benson, a 1,000-yard rusher the last two seasons, hasn’t played well in Texas’ big games this season and missed the previous game against Baylor after he was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

“It felt good to get back on the field,” said Benson, who didn’t start but finished with 28 carries. “My week off helped me get my mind where it needed to be.”

Texas, 7-2 and 4-1 in the Big 12, also got 163 yards rushing from freshman quarterback Vince Young. And the Longhorn defense resembled Nebraska’s famed blackshirt units of old, holding the Cornhuskers to 175 total yards.

Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord ran for 234 yards against Texas last season but was dropped for a five-yard loss on the Cornhuskers’ third play from scrimmage Saturday -- the first of 16 tackles for losses. Lord was sacked five times and had 22 yards rushing in 21 carries.

Nebraska (7-2, 3-2) managed eight first downs, and crossed midfield only twice in the second half.