"Prelude to A National Championship"
Top 10 Texas Longhorn games since 1995

Number 5:
#6 Texas 38, #13 Michigan 37
January 1, 2005 Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)

It was one of the great games played on one of the grandest stages in college football. Two of the game’s most storied programs met for the first time as No. 6 Texas outdueled No. 13 Michigan, 38-37, for the Rose Bowl Championship. The combination of Doak Walker Award-winning RB Cedric Benson and QB Vince Young proved to be too much for the Wolverines to contain. Texas finished with 264 yards rushing, including a UT quarterback record 192 yards from Young, who recorded four rushing TDs for the second time in the season. Young broke a 14-14 halftime tie by hitting the right sideline for a 60-yard TD run just over two minutes into the third quarter. Michigan answered 30 seconds later with a 50-yard TD pass from QB Chad Henne to the Biletnikoff Award winner, WR Braylon Edwards, his third TD catch of the game. The Wolverines added 10 consecutive points and took a 31-21 lead into the fourth quarter. However, the Longhorns were determined that their first appearance in the Rose Bowl would not be a loss. During a spectacular 10-yard TD run, Young appeared to have his legs wrapped by a Michigan defender in the pocket, but spun away and found the right corner of the end zone. Sandwiched between two field goals by UM’s Garrett Rivas, Young added a 23-yard TD run down the left sideline with just under five minutes left. With Texas trailing, 37-35, and 2:58 showing on the clock, the stage was set for a legendary finish. Starting at the Longhorn 34, Young rushed on five of UT’s next seven plays, collecting 34 yards. Benson added three rushes, the last of which placed the ball just inside the Texas 20 with two seconds left. Following a series of timeouts, PK Dusty Mangum sent the Longhorns and their faithful into a frenzy as his 37-yard FG attempt found its way through the uprights as time expired.

WE'RE BACK THIS YEAR FOR OUR SECOND WIN IN A ROW!