Oct 24, 2001
With its Big 12 title hopes on the line every time Texas steps on the field, the Longhorns aim to continue their offensive surge when they battle conference foe Missouri at Memorial Stadium.
Though the Longhorns (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) have climbed to No. 7 in the AP poll after falling to No. 11 with a 14-3 loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 6, the conference championship is still an unlikely possibility.
The Longhorns are in second place in the Big 12 South but would need the division-leading Sooners to lose twice to sneak into the conference title game. Oklahoma takes on Big 12 North-leading Nebraska on Saturday.
"It is good to still be in the mix of the national picture this time of year and our guys are excited about that," coach Mack Brown said. "We can't slip up and we have to play well each week regardless of who we are playing."
Texas enters the game coming off consecutive offensive outbursts, outscoring Oklahoma State and Colorado by a combined 86-24, while rolling up 904 yards of offense.
Quarterback Chris Simms, maligned after throwing four interceptions against Oklahoma, has bounced back by tossing eight touchdown passes in the past two games.
Helping Simms is the Longhorns' ability to establish the ground game. Freshman Cedric Benson rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries and a pair of touchdowns as Texas cruised past the then-No. 14 Buffaloes 41-7 on Saturday. That performance followed his 131-yard outing a week earlier in the 45-17 win over the Cowboys.
"He's becoming a dominant back. He's stepping up and growing up," senior offensive tackle Mike Williams said of Benson. "He's going to be spectacular."
While the Longhorns' offense is third in the Big 12 with 438.6 yards per game, the defense has quietly been just as dominant. Texas ranks second in the league, yielding just 278.3 yards per game and 17.9 points per game.
That unit will take on an improving Missouri team (3-3, 2-2 Big 12) lead by quarterback Kirk Farmer. The junior has played in five of the Tigers' six games - starting the past four - completing 73-of-147 passes for 804 yards. He also has rushed 27 times for 173 yards.
In Saturday's 38-34 win at Kansas, Farmer combined for 328 total yards.
Missouri, however, has struggled this season, losing two of its last four games and first-year coach Gary Pinkel has yet to beat an opponent with a winning record.
However, he can make up for it by stopping Texas' high-powered offense and dashing the Longhorns' conference title hopes.