In his seven seasons as head coach of the Texas Longhorns, Mack Brown had undeniably taken the program to a higher level than from the one he inherited from John Mackovic. In fact, Texas seemed to have just one MAJOR problem; that being the other powerhouse team that they shared the Big 12 South Division with, Oklahoma. Under Brown from 2001-2004, Texas had posted straight up records of 11-2, 11-2, 10-3, and 11-1 respectively. Despite all of that success, however, the one constant remained Texas Longhorns’ inability to defeat Oklahoma, who was responsible for half of those eight Texas losses in that span.
Name brand prices Texas Longhorns
Despite double digit win seasons every year and the attractive bowl berths that went along with it, Texas Longhorns finished in the black only once in those four stellar seasons as they were the epitome of a name brand college football team. And with name brand teams come name brand prices that the ignorant NFL oriented masses of asses are willing to always lay on a college team that they have familiarity with.
Epic end to 2004 sparked hope
Texas had a strong finish in 2004 after their lone loss of that season to Oklahoma, which ended with a thrilling 38-37 Rose Bowl win over fellow name brand entity Michigan. The epic end to 2004 sparked hope that the 2005 season would finally be the one in which Texas Longhorns would overcome the Oklahoma hurdle and go all the way.
Texas Longhorns Statement makers right away
Texas Longhorns opened the 2005 season as enormous 39.5-point home chalks against Louisiana-Lafayette and covered with ease 60-3. Their next game was at Ohio State in a game that was touted for months. The Longhorns were 1.5-point chalks at the famed “Horse7shoe” and rallied from a late deficit to win the nationally televised thriller 25-22 as they began the season with a par of statement makers right away.
Juggernaut towards the Red River Shootout
Texas returned home to face Rice as a 40.5-point chalk, barely covering by a single half of a point 51-10. In their next game at Missouri as 15.5-point chalks, the Longhorns prevailed 51-20 as the juggernaut towards the Red River shootout continued with four straight wins and covers.
Over the hump Texas Longhorns
It was now time for that old nemesis, Oklahoma, as Texas was in the unusual role of 14.5-point chalks for the Red River Shootout. Many mainstream gamblers and more than a few touts thought that Oklahoma was a steal at that price, but it was a trap, as Texas rolled 45-12 to finally get over the hump against their tormenter.
Stampeding
With Oklahoma behind them the Longhorns next hosted Colorado as a 16-point chalk and scored a 42-17 win and cover. High flying Texas Tech visited next as a 17-point dog and Texas again got the cash in a 52-17 win and cover to start the season stampeding at 7-0 both straight up and against the spread.
Unstoppable Texas Longhorns
Texas was finally an overlay at Oklahoma State in a 47-28 win as whopping 37-point chalks. They rebounded with two straight covers, however. First, they dispatched of Baylor 62-0 as 30.5-point road chalks and then walloped Kansas 66-14 as 32-point home chalks and looked unstoppable in the process. At Texas A&M against the Aggies, Texas was a stunning 28-point chalk against their archrivals and failed to get the cash in a 40-29 win.
Post season perfection
Texas met Colorado for the second time in 2005 for the Big 12 championship game as a 25.5-point favorite and scored a frightening 70-3 blowout win that cost CU coach Gary Barnett his job. In the Rose Bowl for the national title against USC, Texas rallied from a 26-38 deficit with 6:42 remaining to win 41-38 as 7-point dogs in a game for the ages. Texas’ post-season perfection capped off their first national title in 35 years and established Brown as a top shelf coach.