AUSTIN -- Darn the BCS anyway. Texas will worry about
winning the Big 12 and then see what happens.
The defending national champion Longhorns couldn't help but be a
bit surprised to find themselves all the way down at No. 9 in the
first Bowl Championship Series standings released this week.
Texas is No. 5 in The Associated Press poll, which is not part
of the BCS formula
With No. 17 Nebraska (6-1, 3-0) next on the schedule, coaches
and players said all they care about is beating the Cornhuskers and
defending their conference title.
"I haven't had one conversation about it (the BCS) with another
player," receiver Quan Cosby said Monday.
Collectively, the Longhorns (6-1, 3-0) said it's too early to be
concerned about the BCS and where they stand. Too much football
left to play.
But there were hints the Longhorns did pay attention. And hints
they aren't happy about it.
Senior offensive lineman Kasey Studdard acted like he didn't
know where Texas or other teams stood, but then let it slip that he
did.
"I don't care," Studdard said. "Notre Dame's ahead of us? I
don't care. Oh, well."
In fact, the Irish are No. 8. They join No. 4 Auburn and No. 6
Florida as one-loss teams ahead of Texas. All three are behind the
Longhorns in the AP poll.
"In a way, it's really a challenge to this team," said
defensive tackle Derek Lokey. "Ultimately, our goal is to win the
Big 12. We do that, and we hope to fall into those top two spots.
To do that, we have to beat Nebraska first."
Texas has known for weeks it would need help to return to the
Jan. 8 BCS title game in Glendale, Ariz.
A 24-7 loss to No. 1 Ohio State on Sept. 9 meant the Longhorns
would not only need to win the rest of their games, but would need
the undefeated teams in front of them to lose.
That could very well happen.
Head-to-head matchups between BCS No. 5 West Virginia and No. 7
Louisville, Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan, and No. 2 Southern
California and No. 10 California could boost the Longhorns.
The best Texas can do on its own is win the Big 12. If things
fall the right way and teams ranked ahead of Texas lose, the
Longhorns could creep into one of the top two BCS spots by season's
end.
Coach Mack Brown admitted the Longhorns are lower in the BCS
standings than he expected.
"I thought we'd probably be about fifth. When we came out
ninth, everybody said, 'What does this mean? How did this
happen?" Brown said.
It happened mostly because the Longhorns have taken a hit for
their weak schedule.
Although Texas beat Oklahoma, the three other Division I-A
opponents -- North Texas, Rice and Iowa State -- have a combined
record of 7-13. Sam Houston State is 4-2, but the Bearkats play in
Division I-AA.
A late-season winning streak should push Texas up the BCS
rankings. Nebraska, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and
No. 23 Texas A&M round out the schedule.
In the meantime, Texas must wait for the teams in front of them
to lose.
"Somebody else needs to get beat," Brown said. "As a long as
those at the top are undefeated, none of the rest of us matter
anyway."