LINCOLN, Neb. - Games like these are why college football is so special.
The ending couldn't have been written any better.
Longhorns lose the lead on a halfback pass. Snow falls as the offense punts with less than 3 minutes remaining. Texas' defense forces a turnover, and the game is won by a walk-on kicker in his first collegiate attempt.
The game was so intense, it had Mack Brown bleeding from the ears.
As Brown gave some post-game comments to ABC, a single trickle of blood ran down Brown's left ear.
Was it the pressure? The epic nature of the game? His brain escaping out the side?
Whatever it was, it didn't affect his players.
The Longhorns came though in their darkest hour of the season. Higher-profile games against Ohio State and Oklahoma took a back seat to the comeback in the prairie.
Sure, there were mistakes on both sides, but don't let those bury the fact Texas vs. Nebraska turned into an instant classic.
"There were a lot of guys crying in the locker room" cornerback Aaron Ross said.
"We just had to keep fighting," defensive end Tim Crowder said. "We know what we're made of now."
The hero was Ryan Bailey, who drilled a 22-yard field goal to win the game.
But to the glory almost always goes the quarterback. While he did enough to win the game, it was a game of firsts all over again for Colt McCoy.
First game out of state. First fourth-quarter comeback.
McCoy is building quite a resume as a freshman. After eight games he's completed 68 percent of his passes for 20 touchdowns and three interceptions. By season's end, he might have some numbers better than Matt Leinart.
Unfortunately, McCoy and the playmakers coughed up the ball quite a bit against Nebraska.
The Longhorns fumbled five times, losing it once, with the last fumble happening on the final drive.
Had lineman Kasey Studdard not covered the ball after it slipped loose from Quan Cosby, it'd be game over.
The win was epic, but the Longhorns did a few things to keep Nebraska in the game.
First, the trick play with Jordan Shipley near the goaline was a breath of fresh air offensively, but probably not the best timing. Shipley hid behind the line of scimmage similar to what Arkansas ran against Auburn. But while the Arkansas running back broke free in the open field, Shipley was stopped cold in short yardage.
Also, Texas' defense remains prone to giving up big plays.
A missed tackle on Maurice Purify turned a short reception into a 63-yard touchdown. Running back Brandon Jackson also cruised up the middle in the fourth quarter for a 49-yard touchdown.
Texas' defense is also running out of bodies.
Aaron Lewis filled in brilliantly for Brian Robison, who tweaked his ankle in pregame warmups. But in the course of the game, Robert Killebrew and Derek Lokey were helped off to the sideline.
"We've got to figure out how to find enough people to line up on defense," Brown said.
But after the game, players from both teams planned to meet up again.
Most likely it will be Dec. 2 in Kansas City for the Big 12 championship game.
One of the teams took a major step toward the goal.
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