The rankings are in and Texas is number 2 in the BCS standings prompting many Longhorn fans to make plans for Pasadena. Although, Texas is 8 – 0 is it too early to dream of championships?  More importantly, is Texas taking game 9 against the University of Central Florida (UCF) for granted?

Not according to Colt McCoy.  "I think it's hard for y'all not to think about it, but for us, we understand that there still is a lot of football left to be played," McCoy said. "We are through the first two parts of our season. The most important part is now. We've got to finish, and it [the UCF game] is just one more step to that."

Coach Mack Brown had this to say on the subject.  “Here we are at midseason and everybody’s saying…It looks good, it looks like we’re on our way and I’m saying, you know, I’ve got practice Tuesday, I’ve got practice Wednesday, I don’t want to hear it.”

Longhorn fans may be jumping the gun, but with players like Colt McCoy who’s a Heisman contender, Jordan Shipley a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, and Earl Thomas a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, fans anticipate the best.  Not to mention Texas has one of the leading defensive lines in the conference.  So how does Coach Mack Brown feel about his key players? "I do feel like, the way Colt has been playing the last two weeks, that he's right back in the middle of the Heisman race," said Coach Brown.  What about the Texas defense? "It's unusual to have a defense that scores like our defense is scoring…its fun. It's exciting." 

Well its game time and Longhorn fans are looking for another win to get their team one step closer to a championship.  Will this game get them closer to that goal?  Let’s find out.

Texas kicks off to UCF.  The game starts with a roar as Justin Tucker kicks the ball and WR, Quinton McDuffie returns it to the 26 yard line. Rob Calabrese comes in as the UCF quarterback.  But Calabrese just can’t get a drive started for UCF.  Quickly UCF goes through the motions, 1st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^TH down, UCF punts.

Texas possession; WR, DJ Monroe runs the ball for a gain of one and the first Texas play of the game.  Colt’s first pass of the game is to WR, Malcolm Williams for a 1^st down.  Colt hits Shipley next for a gain of 5, then again to Williams for another 1^st down.  Colt deep to WR, Dan Buckner; Bucker under pressure misses the ball.  Texas brings in the kicking team but Hunter Lawrence uncharacteristically misses the field goal.

UCF possession; First play of the drive Robinson sacks Rob Calabrese.  But it wasn’t a clean play and there’s a flag, holding UCF 1st down.  Calabrese hands off to RB, Jonathan Davis for another 1^st down.  Calabrese rolls to the left, runs and dives for the 1^st down.  Calabrese in trouble scrambles but DE, Sergio Kindle brings him down for his 3^rd sack of the year.  UCF 3^rd down but Calabrese is unable to find anyone open runs and tries to power through the line but gets nowhere.

Texas possession; UCF defense trips up Colt as he’s brought down.  But Colt still manages to get 3 yards.  Colt with his first pass to WR, Jordan Shipley comes up with a 1^st down.  Colt, hands off to Whittaker who pitches it back, but Colt misses it to the dismay of fans.  Thankfully, OG, Charlie Tanner recovers the ball.  Texas is unable to convert and brings in the punting team.

UCF possession; Calabrese fires to HB, Ricky Kay, the pass is complete for a 1^st down.  But the 1^st quarter comes to a close and Longhorn fans grumble as the quarter ends scoreless.  Texas 0, UCF 0.

The 2^nd quarter UCF still has possession; Calabrese hands off to Davis for a gain of 5 and again for a 1^st down.  UCF is now at the Texas 22 yard line and getting dangerously close to the end zone.  The Texas defense recognizing the threat brings on the pressure forcing Calabrese to shot-put the ball forward.  The ball comes loose.  But UCF comes up with the ball.  Timeout UCF.   3^rd & 10, Calabrese throws into the end zone but the pass is incomplete.  UCF brings in the kicking team and the kick is good.  UCF 3, Texas 0.

Texas possession; Colt fires down the field to Shipley and it’s a nice catch for a gain of 44 yards.  Colt fires deep into the end zone but the pass is incomplete.  Colt to Williams, the pass is complete.  Williams manages to get more yardage as he stiff arms his opponent for a gain of 16.  The play sets up the hand off to Cody Johnson who powers into the end zone, TOUCHDOWN!   Hunter Lawrence’s delivers.  Texas 7, UCF 3.

Texas kicks off to UCF, WR, Quinton McDuffie returns the ball to the UCF 14 when RB, Antwan Cobb delivers a tremendous hit stopping McDuffie in his tracks.  UCF possession; Calabrese to Davis, Davis manages to get 3 before he’s brought down by one of the conference’s top defensive player DE, Sergio Kindle which fires up the Texas defense.  Calabrese under pressure rolls left but feels the heat from the Texas defense and throws the ball away. 

Texas possession; Colt fires to WR, John Chiles but Chiles is unable to come back to catch the ball.  Scrambling, Colt runs out of bounds but picks up 5.  Colt fires straight down the middle to Chiles and picks up the 1^st down.  Colt, unable to find anyone open scrambles again but there’s a flag on the play, holding against Texas.  1^st & 20, Colt fires to Shipley, 1^st down.  A couple of plays later UCF chases Colt out of the pocket and he throws the ball away.  3^rd & 9, Colt fires to Shipley, pass is complete.  Shipley stumbles but has the 1^st down.  Texas is steadily getting closer to the end zone but stumbles as Colt keeps the ball for a no gain.  3rd & 1, Colt hands off to Cody Johnson.  Cody goes around the edge runs into the end zone, TOUCHDOWN!  Texas 14, UCF 3.

Texas kicks off to UCF and the Texas defense delivers another hard hit stopping UCF at the 20.  Calabrese with a shovel pass to Davis for a gain of 3.  Calabrese again to Davis but Emmanuel Acho makes the stop.  3^rd & 3, Calabrese with the option gets the 1^st down.  But the Texas defense steps it up UCF is now at 3^rd & 13.  Now under pressure Calabrese stumbles and goes down. 

Texas possession; Colt from the Texas 7 yard line fires to Shipley.  Shipley runs down the sideline for a gain of 53.  Texas at the UCF 40, Colt throws but the pass is under thrown and intercepted.  Turnover!  Longhorn fans go silent.

UCF possession; Calabrese with the quarterback draw is brought down by Sergio Kindle. 2^nd & 11 and less than a minute left in the 2^nd quarter.  Calabrese hands off to Davis for a gain of 6.  Timeout Texas. Calabrese to Davis and again Sergio Kindle is there for the stop.  UCF punts.  Time :28 left in the 2^nd quarter.

Texas possession but Colt and the Longhorns run out of time.  The 2^nd quarter comes to a close, Texas 14, UCF 3.

 Half time!

 3^rd Quarter; Texas possession at the 20; Colt to Marquise Goodwin for a gain of 6.  2^nd & 4, Colt passes to Shipley for the 1^st down.  But Colt’s next pass is batted down.  Colt steps right back in and fires to Williams.  Williams wrestles for the ball for a 1^st down.  But Colt gets into trouble on the next play and gets sacked.   4^th & 12, Texas brings in the punting team.

UCF possession; But UCF can’t get a drive going and quickly brings in their punting team.

Texas possession; Colt quickly fires to Kirkendoll and then hands off to Whittaker for a 1^st down.  But he almost gets picked off on the next play.  Colt recovers with the quarterback draw as he runs jumps and dives but is short of the 1^st down.  Next play, Colt dives again for the 1^st down.  Texas is now steadily heading down the field as Colt goes to Chiles, Buckner and Shipley for another 1^st down. But UCF smells the next play and Texas has a loss in yardage.  But Texas goes for the 4^th down with the hand off to Cody Johnson who powers through for the 1^st down and almost gets free much to the delight of Longhorn fans. Colt rolls right, wide open he connects with Greg Smith making this Smith’s 6^th reception of the year.  Colt, busts out of the pocket and fires into the end zone and connects with Kirkendoll, TOUCHDOWN. Texas 21, UCF 3.

Texas kicks off to UCF but it’s a short kick and UCF has possession at the UCF 46.  Calabrese hands off to Davis for a gain of 9.  Again to Davis but DE, Sam Acho makes the stop.  Calabrese, rolls to the right but goes down short of the 1^st down; flag on the play and it’s a UCF 1^st down.  Another flag and its UCF 1^ST & 15.  Calabrese goes down as he’s sacked by DT, Lamarr Houston. The 3^rd quarter comes to a close.

Fourth quarter starts with UCF punting and the ball is downed at the 2 yard line.

Texas possession at the 2^nd yard line; Colt, from the end zone hands off to Cody Johnson.  Cody barely makes it out of the end zone.  But UCF challenges the play.  The call stands, 2^nd & 10.  Colt fires to Williams but the pass is incomplete as both receivers wrestle for the ball and both come up empty.  Colt again to Williams and he hangs on for a 1^st down but gets clobbered on the play.  UCF questions the play for another review.  But the call stands, 1^st down!  Colt fires deep to Shipley who breezes by the UCF defenders for 88 yards and a touchdown.  Texas 28, UCF 3. 

Shipley’s touchdown reception makes this his 77^th career reception.

UCF possession; But Calabrese with a couple of incomplete passes just can’t get a drive started.  UCF punts.

Texas possession; Colt fires to Chiles and hands off to Cody Johnson, 3^rd & 2.  Another short pass to Cody Johnson for a 1^st down but Cody powers for another couple of yards.  Colt again to Chiles, pass is complete and he manages to gain a few more yards for a 1^st & down at the 15 yard line.  Cody Johnson makes it to the 5 yard line and Colt hands it to Whittaker who runs it up the middle for a touchdown.  Texas 35, UCF 3.

UCF possession; Calabrese tries to starts a drive but the Texas defense is not willing to give away any points.  1:49 left in the game 4^th & 12 UCF goes for it.  But the Texas defense holds them.

Texas possession; Garrett Gilbert comes in as quarterback to close out the game.

Texas is now 9 – 0 and looking strong.  But the Longhorns had a slow start and played with no sense of urgency in the first half.  But the Horns lit up in the second half for a decisive win.

When asked about the performance in the first half Colt McCoy responded, “We played great in the 2^nd half we were a little inconsistent in the 1^st half but came back …we really pulled it together in the 2^nd half.”

Jordan Shipley also had a record breaking day with 11 passes today and a school best of 273 yards. "He's the best receiver in the country," said teammate James Kirkendoll.  “There's nothing he can't do on the field."

The Longhorns have three more hurdles to jump and fans are feeling confident that Texas will come out ahead.  But never count your opponent out, especially when there’s a chance to knock down an undefeated team like the Longhorns.  But the Horns appear to be ready to take on the challenge.  So join me next week for another exciting game and HOOK’EM HORNS!