It’s no wonder that hard-hitting safety Kenny Vaccaro announced via Twitter moments after the game that he would be returning for his senior season, citing a desire to win the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back, and travel to the Orange Bowl, the site of next season’s national championship. Texas is going to have win a lot more than eight games to earn the right to take their talents to South Beach, but the way they played against the Golden Bears showed that they’re on the right track. Here’s a rundown of 10 Holiday Bowl thoughts:  

1. David Ash played well enough to earn Holiday Bowl MVP honors but didn’t come close to proving that he should be the outright starting quarterback

Texas and Cal combined for just 450 yards and four touchdowns in Wednesday's Holiday Bowl and the victorious Longhorns' leading rusher had just 35 yards while their leading receiver had 49 yards. So even though freshman quarterback David Ash who wasn't announced as the starting quarterback until moments before kickoff only threw for 142 yards and didn't rush for any, the fact that he scored twice, once on a 47-yard touchdown pass and again on a 4-yard touchdown catch, was enough to earn Holiday Bowl offensive MVP honors. But, by no means, did he solidify himself as Texas' starting quarterback heading into the offseason. It was 25 possessions between Ash-led touchdown drives and the long scoring strike to Marquise Goodwin in the third quarter was his first touchdown pass in 127 pass attempts, six of which were intercpeted, as the Longhorns'  leading signal-caller. Ash did a great job not turning the ball over, something Case McCoy could not do in the second half against Baylor earlier this month, but don't forget that McCoy waited until his 126th throw this season before he was picked off. Ash may have finished the season on a higher note than his sophomore counterpart but when you look at the season as a whole, you'll find that McCoy was the better quarterback.

2. Texas will need a healthy stable of running backs in 2012

Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron were fantastic before they got hurt. Brown was on pace to run for 1,000 yards before he suffered a turf toe injury, something he said has actually been nagging him since high school while Bergeron was coming off two monster 100-yard, multi-touchdown performances before he hurt his hamstring. Before their respective injuries, the dynamic duo had combined to run for more than 1,000 yards and 5.5 yards per carry while rushing for barely over 150 yards and less than 3 yards per carry after getting hurt. With senior running back and kick returner-extraordinaire Fozzy Whittaker the "heart and soul" of the team, according to Mack Brown out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL, it was no coincedence that Texas hit the rough patch of the year at the same time their two fantastic freshmen running backs went down. With three-time state champ, two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year, and record-holder for the most touchdowns scored in high school history Jonathan Gray coming to Austin soon, Texas will once again have a formidable trio of running backs next year.

3. As many young players that contributed this season, there are several seniors that will be missed

This year's senior classes offered many disappointments, including several players that left the program before this year and contributing to the program's first losing season since 1997, but several of its members will be sorely missed. Cody Johnson, despite leading the team in rushing as a junior, unselfishly slid over to fullback, a move that benefitted both the team and Johnson's prospects of a professional football career. Blaine Irby overcame a horrific knee injury and provided much-needed offensive leadership and caught touchdowns in each of the Longhorns' last three regular season games, nearly making it four in a row with a 30-yard reception that saw him tackled four yards shy of the goal line. David Snow started all 12 games at center a year ago but, like Johnson, switched positions for the betterment of the team as he moved to guard, was consistently Texas' best offensive linemen, and took the youngsters on the offensive line under his wing. Kheeston Randall was the only reliable part of a defensive tackle unit that, other than Randall, had only one start between them. But after spending a season with new coach Bo Davis, guys like Calvin Howell, Ashton Dorsey, Desmond Jackson, and Chris Whaley vastly improved and ensured that the defensive tackle position will be just fine while Randall enjoys what is sure to be a successful time in the NFL. Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho combined to make 434 tackles over the last two seasons and were two of the biggest reasons why Manny Diaz' first year as defensive coordinator went so smoothly. With Kenny Vaccaro coming back for his senior season and Adrian Phillips' ability to seamlessly transition from cornerback to safety, Blake Gideon, the starter of 52 consecutive games (1 shy of the school record owned by Colt McCoy), won't be missed as much as Acho or Robinson but did provide valuable contributions during his four years here. Last but not least, Justin Tucker despite missing two of his last four field goal attempts in a Texas uniform may be the most difficult senior to replace because of how well he handled all three kicking duties (kicking, punting, kickoffs). 

4. It’s hard to believe but the Texas defense will be even better next year than it was last year

Texas loses four starters on defense. Junior college transfer Brandon Moore, a mammoth defensive tackle who was on Alabama's roster when the Crimson Tide beat the Longhorns to win the national title two seasons ago, should make the loss of Kheeston Randall a little easier. Demarco Cobbs and Steve Edmond, both of whom were very highly-touted coming out of high school and who were productive in the little playing time they got this season, should do a good job replacing linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho. And with Kenny Vaccaro and Adrian Phillips likely starting at safety next season, even without four-year starter Blake Gideon, Texas should have one of the nation's best secondaries. Not to mention one of the nation's best defenses. Manny Diaz will be working with two of the country's best pass rushers, Jackson Jeffcoat and Alex Okafor, a group of young but extremely talented defensive tackles, a solid group of linebackers and a secondary capable of shutting any passing attack down. If you thought the Longhorns had a good defense this year, just wait until 2012. 

5. This offseason will be much more productive than the last as Texas spends a whole offseason with these new coaches while they were busy hiring them before last year

This time last year, Mack Brown just witnessed his team's worst season in 14 years and knew the program needed serious change. So, this January, he hired six coaches in a two-week period. The change was swift and effective. Co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin came from Boise State and implemented a successful run-first offense and provided elements of trickery and mystery that were non-existent while Greg Davis was the Texas offensive coordinator. Manny Diaz was probably Brown's best hire, turning an inexperienced defense into the Big 12's best. Brown said Tuesday, though, that Stacy Searels "may have done as good a job as anyone in the country," and for good reason. He moved a senior over to an old position so a freshman could start at center from the beginning of the season and replaced another senior with a true freshman at left tackle while recruiting beautifully, landing several top prospects, including junior college transfer Donald Hawkins that could fill the hole left by David Snow, the only starter that won't be returning next year. Bo Davis turned several young defensive tackles into legitimate run-stoppers and head strength coach Bennie Wylie turned everybody into monsters. It's going to be fun to see what comes out of an entire offseason with those guys. 

6. This team can and, should be expected to win 10 games in 2012

Assuming Landry Jones and Robert Griffin III don't both come back, there are too many returning starters, not nearly as tough of a schedule as this year's, and too many talented youngsters both returning and incoming to let Texas lose more than three games in 2012. The Longhorns' toughest non-conference contest will come during a trip to Oxford when they play Ole Miss while TCU and West Virginia should not present too much of a challenge to a Texas team that will be much-improved and likely much healthier next season. Collin Klein will still be back at Kansas State but Brandon Weeden at Oklahoma State won't. The Wildcats and Sooners could take down the Longhorns but they should win every other game. If they lose one other game, as long as they triumph in a bowl, Texas could be 10-3 next year. A BCS bowl, a Big 12 title, or a national title might be too much to ask for, though. 

7. Conference and national title might not be too much to ask for in 2 or 3 years

It might not be too much to ask for in two seasons though. Holiday Bowl victories in 2003 and 2007 preceded BCS bowl victories, which were followed by a national championship game appearance. Texas certainly has the pieces in place to make a run like that in 2013. Both David Ash and Case McCoy, along with Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron, and Jonathan Gray will still be here in two seasons. Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis, both of whom started this season will be here, as will four of this year's starting offensive linemen. All of the starting defensive linemen from this upcoming season, with the exception of Alex Okafor, should be around in two years, along with all of next year's starting linebackers. And everyone in the secondary other than Kenny Vaccaro will still be on the Forty Acres in 2013. It might be too early to make such a bold prediction, but look for the Longhorns to be a preseason top-five team in two years. 

8. Texas has a chance to have the nation’s best secondary next year

Texas' starting cornerbacks next season will include a guy that was named 1st-team all-Big 12 this season  and the 2011 Big 12 defensive freshman of the year Carrington Byndom and Quandre Diggs, who drew comparisons from his head coach to LSU's Tyrann Matthieu, aka Honey Badger. If Adrian Phillips does indeed move over to safety in 2012 and starts alongside Kenny Vaccaro, the Longhorns will have one of the nation's top pair of safeties. Vaccaro, who was known primarily for his prowess as a hard hitter, improved his cover skills drastically this year, as evidenced by his limiting Texas A&M's Ryan Swope, who racked up more than 1,100 receiving yards this year, to a mere 33 yards on three catches both tied for season-lows. Big 12 offenses will have their hands full trying to get anything done against this secondary.

9. Kenny Vaccaro really does have a chance to win the Thorpe

Despite multiple pleas with the media to look at his Twitter account for his announcement regarding whether or not he would forego his senior season, Vaccaro finally owned up to the fact that he was coming back for another year. Before he mentioned any chances Texas had to win a national title in 2012, Vaccaro said he wanted to win the Thorpe Award given each year to the nation's top defensive back. Then, the junior safety talked about his desire "to go to South Beach," which is near the site of next season's national title game, the Orange Bowl. As blunt as Vaccaro might have been, he has a legitimate chance to win the award. Tyrann Matthieu is sure to be the overwhelming favorite to win the award, unless the defending Thorpe winner, his teammate Morris Claiborne comes back for his senior season like Vaccaro. I wouldn't be surprised if Vaccaro was at least a finalist though. 

10. Blame Mack Brown for the 5-7 debacle in 2010 but give him credit for everything he’s done since then

He hasn't been shy about his failure as a head coach during Texas' awful 5-7 2010 campaign or about the fact that his program needed drastic changes, including the replacement of one of his closest friends, former offesnive coordinator Greg Davis. All six of the guys that he hired over last offseason have proven to be homeruns, especially Diaz. Without his three best running backs or his best receiver (Jaxon Shipley) healthy for most of the second half of the season, without his initial starting quarterback for the last 10 games, and coming off a losing season he managed to help Texas go 8-5 while working on what could end up being the top-ranked recruiting class a remarkable accomplishment. The future is bright for Texas football.

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When most people think of the two head coaches, they remember the 2004 episode when both Tedford and Brown lobbied for their respective teams to get a BCS bowl berth. Tedford's Cal team narrowly beat Southern Miss on the last week of the regular season while Brown's squad took down rival Texas A&M. The Longhorns leapforgged the Bears in the BCS standings and defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl while the Golden Bears fell to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl.

But Tedford's and Brown's history go back even further than that. Tedford was the offensive coordinator at Oregon when the Ducks faced the Longhorns in their first Holiday Bowl appearance in 2000 and their first loss to Oregon in five meetings (Texas won the first four by an average of 32.3 points per game). Tedford had his hands full facing a defense that feautred future NFLers Quentin Jammer, Nathan Vasher, Shaun Rodgers, Cory Redding and Casey Hampton but managed to help the Ducks pull out a 35-30 win. 

"I don't know that you could have played a team as talented as Texas that year. They were loaded," Tedford said. "There was a scout who came over that day who had just been to the Texas practice. I said, 'How do they look?' He said, 'You don't stand a chance.'"

Now Tedford and Brown meet again in this year's Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl today. Both teams come into the game 7-5 but arrived at that mark very differently. Texas lost three of its last four games with the only win coming by two points on Thanksgiving in College Station. Meanwhile, Cal won three of its last four regular season contests with the only loss coming in Palo Alto by three points to the Andrew Luck-led Stanford Cardinal. Tedford cited his quarterback Zach Maynard's improvement managing games as the most important reason why the Bears played so well down the stretch but knows it's not the only one.

"We've grown, not only one the football field but off the field," said Tedford. "The guys with the balls in their hands typically get all the credit or all the blame. But the guys up front - our offensive line, our tight ends, our fullbacks have done a nice job of blocking in the run game, of protecting the passer."

Cal running back Isi Sofele running for more than 140 yards per game and averaging 6.5 yards per carry over those last four games didn't hurt, either. As for the Longhorns' ground game, it should get a boost with freshmen Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron both being healthy at the same time for the first time October. The two combined for more than 1,100 yards despite each missing three games and should help Texas jumpstart its offense.

"[Malcolm Brown's] better than he was in the A&M game," Mack Brown said. "He's been full speed and he's done really well. We expect him to be fresh and ready to go."

Texas did not release a depth chart or name a starting quarterback Tuesday, although Brown did reiterate that both of his quarterbacks - sophomore Case McCoy and freshman David Ash - should see significant playing time today. Both McCoy and Ash have played hot potato with the starting quarterback spot since Garrett Gilbert was ousted in the Longhorns' second game against BYU, had shoulder surgery, and decided to transfer to SMU. The "or" between their names on the depth chart finally disappeared before Texas faced Baylor in its regular season finale as McCoy got the nod. He completed 11 of 18 first-half passes for 235 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions before getting picked off three times after halftime. Co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin indicated after the game that McCoy would start in the bowl game but it seems like the two-quarterback system that was used in three contests earlier this season will return today.

"Both have played well at at times this year and both have struggled," said Brown. "I thought we were getting back on track and then all our running backs and receivers got hurt at one point so we didn't help them enough. In this ballgame, we've got to help our quarterbacks. [Cal] does a tremendous job on defense."

The Longhorns have a terrific defense in their own right. Despite facing three of the top of four most prolific offenses in the country and six of the top 13, Texas managed to boast the Big 12's best defense. The Longhorns' secondary faced the likes of Landry Jones, Brandon Weeden, Collin Klein and last but not least Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III but became the conference's top pass defense despite the glaring lack of experience that resulted from the departure of three players to the NFL. 

One of those youngsters, Quandre Diggs - the Big 12 defensive freshman of the year - should feel right at home in San Diego, where he planned to spend the holidays before Texas accepted an invitation to play in the Holiday Bowl. Diggs' older brother and current member of the San Diego Chargers' secondary, Jammer, will share both his home turf at Qualcomm Stadium and his locker. 

"It's not going to make him taller, but he's still going to have [Jammer's locker]," Brown said of the 5-foot-10 freshman. "Quentin is obviously long-armed, taller and he's been one of the best corners to play in the NFL. Quandre is a much better ball catcher. He's physical, very fundamentally sound."

Diggs and the Texas secondary will face another good quarterback in Maynard but will be facing a quality signal-caller in a bowl game for the first time. Because the Longhorns played more freshmen than anyone in the country, many of their biggest contributors simply haven't played a full season at the collegiate. But some of the other players have last year's 5-7 season to blame for not having participated in a bowl game before. In fact, it's been nearly three years since the Longhorns have ended a season with a win. 

"[Winning a bowl game] makes everything so much better for next season," said senior linebacker Keenan Robinson. "It really helps the players, it really helps the coaches, and it really helps recruiting because now we can focus on Texas football - having 10-plus win seasons like we have had here in the past."

Texas can't get to 10 wins this season after racking up half that many losses but like, Robinson said, an eighth win would help the program give it the boost it needs to become a conference and national title contender again. Before the 1,086-day bowl win drought, Texas went five seasons between bowl losses, winning five in a row between the victory over Michigan in the 2005 Rose Bowl and the triumph over Ohio State in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. Year after year, the Longhorns feeded off the euphoria of finishing the season with a win. Three of those five were BCS bowl victories and one, of course, resulted in a national title. 

"One of our main motivations this season was not being home at this time of year," said senior safety Blake Gideon. "7-6 sounds a lot worse than 8-5. It's more than just getting the eighth [win]. We want to get the last win. We want to finish strong."

Because, for once, Texas is rebuilding - through reloading. 

It hasn't been a secret that many of the Longhorns' premier players have been underclassmen. Texas has a freshman and sophomore fighting over the starting quarterback spot and two true freshmen showing considerable promise at running back. Jaxon Shipley, another rookie, proved to be the Longhorns' best receiver. Two freshman and two sophomores start on the Texas offensive line. All but one of the roster's defensive linemen returns next season. And, despite losing three players to the NFL Draft, the Longhorns' secondary boasts a first-team All-Big 12 member and the conference's defensive freshman of the year. 

Last season, Texas didn't play in a bowl game for the first time since 1997 with its season ending on Thanksgiving. This time around, the Longhorns are getting two games after Thanksgiving - the loss to Baylor and the chance to redeem themselves in the Holiday Bowl against Cal. Regardless of the outcome, however, Texas will get another 13 practices under their belt before the squad reports back for spring practice Jan. 17, a luxury the 'Horns had to do without in 2010. 

"The more reps you get at anything, it'll make you better," said senior defensive tackle Kheeston Randall. "These 13 practices we're getting are crucial for these guys heading into next year and into the spring."

Because of their youth, the Longhorns' extra bowl practices will pay off, along with the first opportunity to spend a full offseason with their new coaching staff. Mack Brown hired six new coaches after the end of the season - co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, offensive line coach Stacy Searels, wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt, defensive tackles coach Bo Davis, head strength coach Bennie Wylie, and defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. But almost none of them have yet to reap the benefits of an entire offseason with their players. With the exceptional recruiting class that came in before this season and the one set to come in before next season, Texas should be in great shape by the time the 2012 season kicks off.

"I am excited about what's to come," said sophomore guard Mason Walters. "We're young in some key positions and I think with a little more experience and growht, we can be a contender."

Walters is one of four returning starters on the offensive linemen. Along with freshman left tackle Josh Cochran, freshman center Dominic Espinosa, and right tackle Trey Hopkins, Walters will make up what is sure to be a formidable foundation for future Longhorns offenses. Considering the caliber of running backs that Texas will have next season with Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron, who combined for more than 1,100 rushing yards this season, and two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year and record-holder for most touchdowns scored by a high schooler Jonathan Gray, Texas should dominant its opponents on the ground.

As for the defensive line, Randall is the only starter that won't be back for the 2012 campaign. Outside of the spectacular senior, the rest of the defensive tackles were a major question mark before this year as only there was only one start between them. But after guys like Calvin Howell, Ashton Dorsey, Desmond Jackson, and Chris Whaley played so well, the Longhorns may not have much to worry about at that spot, even without Randall. And with elite pass rushers like Jackson Jeffcoat and Alex Okafor coming back, Texas should have one of the nation's best defensive lines next season.

"It'll be totally better," Randall said. "You've got pretty much everybody returning except for me. Alex [Okafor] is going to be a monster and the DT room is going to have so much competition in there. They're going to be fighting for spots and it's going to make everybody better."

Another thing the Longhorns will benefit from is the fact that they finally gave in and nabbed a couple of junior college recruits for 2012 - offensive guard Donald Hawkins and defensive tackle Brandon Moore - both physical freaks that will have shots to start in 2012. They double the number of junior college players to come to Texas during the Mack Brown era and the first to play on the Forty Acres since 2001. Their average height is 6'6" and average weight is 330 pounds. 

"They're both big, talented kids," said head coach Mack Brown. "We haven't been actively involved in junior college recruiting in our 14 years at Texas, but this year we felt like there were two really special young men that fit our needs and would give us immediate depth since they can come in January."

Also, Texas should have a slightly easier schedule next season. The 'Horns will welcome five new opponents as they'll face Wyoming and New Mexico at home while taking a road trip to Ole Miss to round out their nonconference schedule. They will also see TCU and West Virginia in Big 12 play as Texas A&M and Missouri depart for the SEC next summer. Not only that, but Baylor's Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, Oklahoma's Landry Jones, and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden will all likely hear their name called next April's NFL Draft. 

"It's a process," said Walters. "I wouldn't get out of bed and try to play football if I thought we would lose a game. We'll have every expectation in the world to win every game."

But the trio of first-rounders also represented what Texas would be missing this year as the Longhorns did not return a single starter with forward Gary Johnson and point guard Dogus Balbay exhausting their eligibilty last season. But head coach Rick Barnes buckled down and brought in a recruiting class that was both deep and talented. Now, Barnes is working with what might be his most inexperienced team since he took over as the Longhorns head coach in 1998. 

Myck Kabongo was the most highly-touted of the six rookies. The lightning-quick point guard came to the Forty Acres needing to increase his understanding of the game. So far, so good. Kabongo did not shoot 50 percent from the floor in either of his first five contests. In his last five, he has made at least half of his field gaol attempts, shooting more than 58 percent from the floor, scoring in double figures four times, and posting no less than seven assists in each of those five games. Texas has seen great point guards go through its basketball program recently, including D.J. Augustin and T.J. Ford, so the standard is set high for Kabongo. If he keeps playing like he has over the past couple of weeks, Kabongo could meet that standard.

Fellow freshman guard, Sheldon McClellan, like Kabongo, was a member of the ESPNU 100, checking at No. 47. Despite averaging nearly 25 minutes per game, McClellan scored more than 12 points in just one of his first seven games. But his 23-point outburst in a 80-62 win over Texas-Arlington earlier this month showed everyone what he's capable of. He missed just three of his 11 shots, connected on four of his six three-point attempts, and snagged six rebounds for good measure. Because of the fact that the Longhorns lost six of their top seven scorers from last year's squad, a legitimate scoring threat like McClellan that can complement J'Covan Brown will prove very useful the rest of this season.

Brown has come a long way since getting ejected in a three-point loss to NC State and going 3-for-10 against North Texas. After two 20-plus-point performances in victories over UCLA and Nicholls State, the junior shooting guard is beginning to look more like the prolific scorer that tied his career-high with 28 points in the season opener, topped it with 35 the following game, and averaged 27.3 points over his first three contests this season. Because Brown is the only one with experience as a legitimate scorer for the Longhorns, he will be crucial to whatever success Texas has this year.

Julien Lewis was another member of last year's ESPNU 100 (No. 76), one of four on that list to come to Texas this season, three of which were from Texas. Lewis, a La Marque product, hit four three-pointers en route to scoring 18 points against Boston University in his collegiate debut. But it took him almost a month top that number when he nailed five shots from downtown in a 19-point effort against Texas State. Lewis has solidified himself as a starter but needs to be more consistent. Excluding those two performances, Lewis has barely made one-third of his field goal attempts. Either way, Lewis has displayed how high his ceiling is, making the prospect of him reaching it very intriguing.

Alexis Wangmene is one of two seniors on the team and has grown into a dominant defensive force and an extremely efficient offensive presence. He leads the team with 5.7 rebounds per game and a 60.5 field goal percentage. He's had at least seven boards and a block in each of his last three games, which is exactly what the Longhorns need from Wangmene. But another interesting statistic also reveals what Texas does not need from him: Texas is 8-0 when Wangmene does not foul out and 0-2 when he does. Pretty simple - Wangmene needs to stay out of foul trouble.

The other senior on the squad is another big man, 6-foot-10 Clint Chapman. He is the only of Texas' ninescholarship players to not have scored in double figures this season but he registered a career-high five blocks in Texas' most recent game against Nicholls State, a 93-40 rout. Chapman leads the team with 1.7 blocks per game and his performance this Tuesday could be a good indication that he's shaken off the rust he developed while sitting out all of last year with an injury. 

But Chapman and Wangemene are grossly out-numbered by the freshmen on the team, including Jaylen Bond - the team's best dunker. Why his jersey number is not seven is a travesty and a crime against pregame festivities everywhere but the fact that he scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the aforementioned 53-point blowout victory over the Colonels is a sign that Bond can be a big contributor this year and in the years to come. He averages only 4.5 points per game (the 18 points he scored was three times more than he scored in any other contest this season) but, like all of the Longhorns' youngsters, showed just how much potential he has.

The only other scholarship player not mentioned yet is Sterling Gibbs, Pittsburgh star point guard Ashton Gibbs' younger brother. Gibbs scored only 12 points total during his first eight games as a Longhorn but topped that number in his most recent outing after scoring nine the game before that. The freshman guard made each of his five attempts, including three from behind the arc, as he scored 14 points off the bench for Texas against Nicholls State. He did not miss, even swishing a meaningless three-pointer after a foul was called during the contest. If Gibbs ever earns more playing time, he should make the most of it.

Defensive End: 1st string – Jackson Jeffcoat, Alex Okafor; 2nd string – Cedric Reed, Reggie Wilson; Others - Caleb Bluiett, Hassan Ridgeway

Again, this is a tentative projection because of the possibility of Okafor declaring for the NFL Draft. The junior made 54 tackles and 14 for loss, along with seven sacks and 17 quarterback hurries, good enough to land him on the AFCA All-American team. His partner in crime, sophomore Jackson Jeffocat actually racked up more tackles (63) and more tackles for loss (18) than Okafor, to go along with six sacks. If they both came back next season, they would make for one of the country's best pair of pass rushers - a useful thing to have in a Big 12 conference that always boasts several of the top quarterbacks in the nation. If Okafor decides to go pro, then either Reed or Wilson - both talented but young players - would have big shoes to fill. 

Defensive Tackle: 1st string – Calvin Howell, Brandon Moore; 2nd string – Ashton Dorsey, Desmond Jackson; Others – Greg Daniels, Chris Whaley, Malcolm Brown

This position was thought to be one of the most unreliable coming into this season, even with the sensational senior Kheeston Randall leading the way. Randall earned second-team All-Big 12 honors this season but won't be around next year. Thanks to defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and defensive tackles coach Bo Davis, guys like Calvin Howell, Ashton Dorsey, Desmond Jackson and (especially) Chris Whaley (a former tailback who is learning the position on the fly) have made significant strides. Howell made six starts and Dorsey made four this year and would both project to be starters if it weren't for junior college transfer Brandon Moore - a member of the 2009 national championship Alabama team that beat Texas in the title game. He's listed at 6'7", 335 pounds and should provide a big boost to Texas' run defense next season. Five-star defensive tackle Malcolm Brown comes in for next year and will be one of several young studs on this Longhorns defensive line.

Outside Linebacker: 1st string – Jordan Hicks, Demarco Cobbs; 2nd string – Kendall Thompson, Tevin Jackson; Others – Aaron Benson, Paul Boyette, Jr., Peter Jinkens, Alex De La Torre, Timothy Cole

Linebacker was one of the most productive units on the entire team this season but without Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho, who have combined to make more than 400 tackles over the past two seasons, they could take a step back next year. Jordan Hicks will be the lone returning starter among Longhorns linebackers but with someone as talented as Demarco Cobbs, who missed this season's first six games with a broken arm, lining up opposite him, Texas should be in good shape. Peter Jinkens and Timothy Cole are two of the most highly touted linebackers of the Class of 2012 while Alex De La Torre gives the Longhorns a good chance to land teammate and No. 1 overall prospect, according to ESPN - Denton Ryan defensive end Mario Edwards.

Inside Linebacker: 1st string – Steve Edmond, 2nd string - Chet Moss

Robinson played outside linebacker as a junior but moved to the middle for his senior season. But while a broken thumb kept him out of most of Texas' 17-5 loss to Missouri, Texas fans got a glimpse of what they'll be getting a bigger dose of next year at middle linebacker. When the Tigers blocked a Longhorns fan and recovered at Texas' 1-yard line, Missouri got stuffed on three straight plays, the last of which saw Demarco Cobbs keep the Big 12's leading rusher, Henry Josey, out of the end zone. It's plays like that that have Longhorns fans excited about the prospect of Cobbs starting in 2012, even if they'll miss Robinson.

Cornerback: 1st string - Carrington Byndom, Quandre Diggs; 2nd string - Josh Turner, A.J. White; Others - Leroy Scott, Bryson Echols, Orlando Thomas

Like defensive tackle, cornerback was a position that many were unsure of coming into this season but one that grew into a strength. Even after losing three guys (Chykie Brown, Curtis Brown, Aaron Williams) to the NFL Draft, Texas' secondary grew into one of the conference's finest with Byndom becoming an elite corner and Diggs proving to be a problem for offensive playmakers across the Big 12. Both garnered postseason accolades with Byndom being named first-team All-Big 12 and Diggs earning conference defensive freshman of the year honors. With both of these guys and all of their backups returning, including DeSoto's Bryson Echols coming in and Orlando Thomas, this will be a strength for the Longohrns once again.

Safety: 1st string – Kenny Vaccaro, Adrian Phillips; 2nd string – Mykkele Thompson, Sheroid Evans; Others – Kendall Sanders, Adrian Colbert, Kevin Vaccaro

Both of the players listed as starters here might not make any starts at safety next season as Vaccaro (who tweeted "Dang my time with my boys is winding down" this Thanksgiving) has yet to decide whether he's coming back for another year or declaring for the NFL Draft. Whether or not his brother Kevin Vaccaro recently committing to play for Texas next fall will have an impact on his decision remains to be seen. As for Adrian Phillips, he could play either corner or safety but the Longhorns might need him more at safety with Blake Gideon (who, once he starts against Cal in the Holiday Bowl Dec. 28, will become one of only two players, the other being Colt McCoy, to start at least 52 consecutive games) and Christian Scott playing their final year this season, especially if Vaccaro isn't around. Each of three incoming freshmen at this position - Vaccaro, Kendall Sanders, and Adrian Colbert - have committed this month and should provide the position with some much-needed depth.

Kicker: 1st string – Ben Pruitt, 2nd string – Nick Jordan, Others – William Russ

Justin Tucker took over all three kicking duties (kicking, punting, and kicking off) this season and will be sorely missed in 2012. With four different players that can contribute to the kicking game, it's very unlikely Mack Brown will let someone take on all three duties next year. Ben Pruitt is one of the likely candidates to take over Tucker at kicker, although whoever does take over will have big shoes to fill. After punting 10 times against Texas A&M, Tucker forever cemented his name in Longhorn lore when he nailed a 40-yard field goal as time expired to deliver the game-winning blow and give Texas a 27-25 victory at Kyle Field in the last scheduled meeting with the Aggies before they leave for the SEC. If there's an NFL team in need of a kicker, they would do well to consider signing Tucker.

Punter: 1st string – William Russ, 2nd string – David Ash, Other – Ben Pruitt

Tucker averaged over 40 yards per punt on nearly 150 career punts, with 21 going for more than 50 yards and 54 ending up inside the 20-yard line. Like the kicker spot, whoever fills Tucker's shoes will have a high standard to meet. William Russ could be the man for the job, although quarterback David Ash, a first-team all-district punter as a senior at Belton High School, might contribute as a punter as well. Nick Jordan, an incoming freshman, could help Texas on kickoffs. 

Kick Returner: 1st string – Marquise Goodwin, D.J. Monroe; 2nd string – Quandre Diggs, Jaxon ShipleyWith Texas' receiving corps depleted with injuries to guys like Jaxon Shipley and John Harris, along with departures by others such as Malcolm Williams, Gregory Timmons, Brock Fitzhenry, and Chris Jones, Mack Brown didn't let his wideouts return kicks during most of the second half of the season, even after senior running back Fozzy Whittaker, who had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in back-to-back weeks against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, was lost for the season with a torn ACL and MCL suffered against Missouri. But with Shipley fully recovered from his knee injury and Harris likely to be over his broken foot by the time next season begins, Brown should let dynamic guys like track star Marquise Goodwin and Shipley to contribute in the return game once again. Another member of the Longhorn track squad, D.J. Monroe, should be a big part of the return game.

Punt returner: 1st string – Jaxon Shipley, 2nd string – Quandre Diggs

Shipley's older brother, Jordan, averaged 12.5 yards per punt return during his Longhorns career, good for fourth all-time in the school's record books and returned three punts for touchdowns. He even returned a momentum-changing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown as a junior in a 45-35 win over No. 1 Oklahoma. Jaxon Shipley returned eight punts for just 42 yards this past season but should get many more chances in 2012. Quandre Diggs led Texas with 181 return yards on the same number of punt returns (eight), including an 81-yarder that set up a crucial touchdown against Texas A&M this Thanksgiving. 

Quarterback: 1st string – Case McCoy, 2nd string – David Ash, Others – Connor Brewer, Jalen Overstreet

The position behind center was unquestionably the most turbulent in 2011. Incumbent junior Garrett Gilbert beat out three others during fall camp for the starting spot before being ousted by sophomore Case McCoy in Texas' second game against BYU. While Gilbert was getting shoulder surgery and transferring to SMU, McCoy and freshman David Ash were busy splitting snaps and playing hot potato for the starting quarterback job. McCoy started in wins against UCLA and Iowa State and in a loss to Oklahoma before Ash took over against Oklahoma State. Mack Brown claimed that Ash provided a mobility and strength that McCoy couldn't but it was McCoy's 25-yard scamper that set up Justin Tucker's 40-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to cap off a 27-25 win over Texas A&M, the Longhorns' signature victory this season and a loss that provided the nail in Mike Sherman's coffin. 

Connor Brewer is a highly-touted, three-time state champion from Chaparral High School in Arizona who committed this February while Jalen Overstreet is a less highly-touted recruit that pledged to play for Texas much more recently. Brewer is a traditional pocket passer while Overstreet, who many thought would play safety in college, is a dual-threat quarterback. Because of the way McCoy finished the season, with a four-interception outing in a loss against Baylor in the season finale, the quarterback position will end the year in a state of flux. But co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, who has decided what to do with his gunslingers all year long, said after falling to the Bears that McCoy would start against Cal in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl Dec. 28. Even if McCoy plays well and the Longhorns beat the Golden Bears, it won't guarantee him the starting spot at the beginning of next season.

Running back: 1st string – Malcolm Brown, 2nd string – Joe Bergeron/Jonathan Gray, Others – D.J. Monore, Jeremy Hills

Thanks to an extraordinary stable of running backs, it might not matter so much how Texas' quarterbacks play, as long as they're able to hand the ball off. The Longhorns lose Fozzy Whittaker, who many of his teammates called the heart and soul of the team, but bring back freshman phenoms Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron. Both Brown and Bergeron showed glimpses of brilliance, combining for more than 1,100 yards and scoring five touchdowns apiece, but each missed multiple games due to injuries. If they can stay healthy, Texas will have one of the country's best backfields. 

Jonathan Gray - two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year and member of the two-time defending state champion Aledo Bearcats (who faces Manvel in the state championship game this Saturday) - has rushed for more than 10,000 yards and scored more than 200 touchdowns during his illustrious high school career and promises to immediately add a spark to the Longhorns' offense. Even with Brown and Bergeron proving themselves worthy of playing time this season, Gray should push for carries, too.

Wide Receiver: 1st string – Marquise Goodwin, Mike Davis, Jaxon Shipley; 2nd stringers – Miles Onyegbule, DeSean Hales, John Harris; Others – Cayleb Jones, Bryant Jackson, Thomas Johnson, Marcus Johnson

Whoever wins the starting quarterback job will also be aided by a top-notch receiving corps. The group was short on experience and depth this season but has never been short on speed or talent. Marquise Goodwin, who briefly pursued Olympic dreams, joined the team midseason but should look like a seasoned senior next year. Goodwin, who claims to run a 4.28 40-yard dash, will be joined by junior-to-be Mike Davis and fabulous freshman Jaxon Shipley. Mike Davis has caught 92 passes over his first two years as a Longhorn, three of which have been for touchdowns. Davis served as Texas' deep-threat wideout but will need to find the end zone more often in 2012. Had Shipley not missed three contests with a knee injury, he would have been the Longhorns' leading receiver in his first year on the Forty Acres 40 catches and 593 yards. Jordan Shipley's younger brother also threw a pair of touchdown passes.

The second-teamers include freshman Miles Onyegbule (who caught four passes and made one start this year), freshman John Harris (who caught two passes and threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Shipley in the Longhorns' season opener against Rice), and junior DeSean Hales (a highly-touted prospect who has only 13 career receptions). Local product Cayleb Jones headlines a trio of incoming freshmen wideouts who will provide depth to a group of receivers that sorely need it.

Tight End: 1st string – D.J. Grant, 2nd string – Barrett Matthews, Others – Dominique Jones, Darius Terrell, M.J. McFarland (Luke Poehlmann??)

Mack Brown called Texas' tight end play "inconsistent" and for good reason. D.J. Grant notched three touchdown receptions in a 49-20 rout of UCLA after no Longhorns pass catcher - wide receiver, running back or tight end - had more than two all of last season. But those would be Grant's lone scoring plays of the season as no Texas tight end would find the end zone in the next three games before senior Blaine Irby caught a touchdown pass in each of his last three games. Irby, who saved his best touchdown catch (a one-handed grab as he was falling in the back of the end zone against Baylor) for last, would have a good chance to get another year of eligibility but is likely done as a Longhorn. Meanwhile, Barrett Matthews and Dominique Jones, who each caught a touchdown pass each in 2010, return next season, along with current freshmen Darius Terrell and M.J. McFarland. Rising senior Luke Poehlmann entered this season as an offensive linemen but contributed as a tight end, mainly as a blocker, but scored on a short touchdown catch against Baylor.

Offensive Tackle: 1st string – Josh Cochran, Trey Hopkins; 2nd stringers – Paden Kelley, Garrett Greenlea, Others – Taylor Doyle

When Colt McCoy began his career at Texas, he was a baby-faced freshman who had not come close to gaining the respect of an experienced offensive line fresh off a national title campaign. The Longhorns employed a no-huddle offense so McCoy didn't have to face his offensive lineman before every play. If McCoy's younger brother, who will be a junior in 2012, wins the job, that won't be a problem. But he will be in a similar situation as his older brother in that an unproven quarterback will become the beneficiary of a talented and experienced offensive line.

Josh Cochran took over for senior Tray Allen about halfway through this season as the starting left tackle and performed well enough to be considered a freshman All-American by Yahoo and Scout.com. Trey Hopkins was also solid at right tackle. Both were big reasons why Texas was able to run the ball so effectively, especially in wins over Kansas and Texas Tech - games where the Longhorns outscored their opponents by a combined score of 95-20 and ran for a collective 880 yards. 

Offensive Guard: 1st string – Mason Walters, Donald Hawkins; 2nd string – Thomas Ashcraft, Sedrick Flowers

Both Mack Brown and Bryan Harsin consistently praised two offensive linemen all season long - David Snow and Mason Walters. With Snow departing after this season, Walters becomes the leader of 2012's offensive line. At 6'6", 315 pounds, Walters is a tough person to get around. Freshman Sedrick Flowers, a 6'3", 313-pound mammoth in his own right, had Brown and his staff excited this year would have played many more than three games had he not been hampered with injuries. But Brown has resorted to recruiting junior college players as a part of rebuilding his football program. The Longhorns will welcome two former junior college players, including offensive guard Donald Hawkins, next year, as many as Brown had brought in during his first 14 years as the Texas head football coach. Hawkins stands at 6'5" and 320 pounds and was an offensive tackle at Northwest Mississippi Community College but could move over to offensive guard at Texas (unless Hopkins moves back to guard, where he started four games as a freshman, opening up Hawkins to just stay at tackle). Thomas Ashcraft will provide depth behind Walters at the other guard spot.

Center – 1st string – Dominic Espinosa, 2nd string – Garrett Porter

With David Snow being the only member of this year's offensive line to come into the season with multiple years of starting experience (19 starts over his first three years as a Longhorn to be exact, more than the rest of the offensive line before this year combined), it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Snow would start at center in 2011. It was the four guys around him that was a bit uncertain. But despite missing time during spring ball, redshirt freshman Dominic Espionsa impressed new offensive line coach Stacy Searels so much that he decided to make him the captain of the offensive line as Espinosa started all 12 games for Texas at center this season. Garrett Porter should serve as Espinosa's backup once again. 

Then again, it's hard for the Longhorns not to be confident after picking up a victory like the one over Texas A&M on Thanksgiving. Despite trailing 13-0 and watching the Aggies score a go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes left in front of a raucous crowd of 88,000-plus at Kyle Field, Texas found a way to march 48 yards downfield - its longest drive of the night - and give Justin Tucker a chance to nail a game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expired. 

But how confident can a team be going against the nation's second-most productive offense, one led by a Heisman Trophy candidate and one that scored 66 points a week ago?

Matchups to watch:

1. Robert Griffin III vs. Keenan Robinson, Emmanuel Acho

Robinson did not hesitate when asked if Griffin would have a signature moment that would put him over the top in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. 

"It's not going to happen. We're not going to let it happen," said the senior linebacker. 

Acho was just as eager to insist that Griffin would not deliver a Heisman-worthy peformance against the Longhorns defense but conceded that Griffin has made significant strides in his passing game and described his dynamic dual-threat ability as "annoying." But Acho is a part of a defense that has worked its way to among the 10 best in the country. Griffin led Baylor to a 30-22 victory over Texas a year ago, but Acho and Robinson will need to find a way to limit Griffin and the Bears' quick-strike offense Saturday.

2. Carrington Byndom vs. Kendall Wright

Kenny Vaccaro said Wright was the best receiver he's gone up against. Manny Diaz claimed that Wright "takes a backseat to no one." Those are meaningful remarks coming from two guys that know what it's like to face the likes of Ryan Broyles and Justin Blackmon. But Wright is that good. He's got over 1400 yards and 12 touchdowns this year and is the catalyst of a Baylor vertical passing game that is one of the nation's best. But Byndom, a mere sophomore, has quickly thurst himself onto the short list of the conference's and country's premier defensive backs. But he'll have his hands full covering Wright this weekend.

Keys to the game:

1. Win the red zone battle

For Texas to have a chance at beating Baylor, they can't let anyone in the end zone - a daunting task. Even Diaz conceded that the Bears will rack up yards but preached the importance of making sure they don't score points. The Longhorns will need to bring a great red zone defense to Floyd Casey Stadium Saturday. Texas has only allowed 17 touchdowns in 36 red zone opportunities opponents have had this season. It'll need a similar showing against Baylor. Likewise, the Longhorns offense, which did not have a drive longer than 48 yards against Texas A&M in its last game (its last drive), will need to punch it in when they get their chances in the red zone.

2. Re-establish running game

The Longhorns embraced a run-first identity this season, running for a whopping 439 yards against Kansas and 441 against Texas Tech before their top three running backs fell victim to injury. One of them (senior Fozzy Whittaker) has been lost for the season with a torn ACL and MCL, another (Joe Bergeron) has played sparingly since hurting his hamstring and has been ruled out for Saturday's contest against Baylor while the third (Malcolm Brown) says he's over his turf toe injury and will start Saturday. Texas needs a big day from Brown, who could use some help from D.J. Monroe and Marquise Goodwin on speed sweeps and Cody Johnson on short-yardage situations. 

Prediction:

Malcolm Brown finally started looking like himself in the second half against Texas A&M, lowering his shoulder and falling foward at the end of runs instead of falling backward like he did in the first half. He won't have Bergeron helping him but he says the turf toe that has nagged him since high school is no longer an issue. With Case McCoy finally taking over as the full-time starter and Texas' defense, one of 10 to allow less than 300 yards per game in the nation, playing lights ouot, the Longhorns have what it takes to go to Waco and leave with a win.

Texas - 34, Baylor - 31

It may take a year or two, but, like the Texas football program, Rick Barnes has the basketball squad on the right track. With an top-notch recruiting class that come in this season and another set to come in before the next, the Longhorns are poised for success. But it will be a process, as evidenced by Texas' 4-2 start. For the first time in a while on the Forty Acres, a trip to the NCAA tournament is not guaranteed. Even with Kansas not being the overwhelming juggernaut it's accustomed to, the Horns are not a primary contender for the Big 12 title. Nevertheless, here's my player-by-player take on the Longhorns' first six contests:

J'Covan Brown: C

He's proven to be one of the nation's best scorers but that doesn't make him one of the nation's best players. His ejection practically cost Texas a win over NC State when the Wolfpack ended the game on a 24-9 run after  Brown's fifth foul - a technical foul for uttering an obscenity under his breath following his fourth foul - as the Longhorns lost by three. His sluggish six-point showing against North Texas Tuesday night didn't help matters. If he wants to embrace his new role as the go-to guy on offense, he must accept the responsibility of that position and not take games off like he did against the Mean Green. Texas needs Brown to step up to be successful this season.

Myck Kabongo: B+

Kabongo is always the quickest guy on the floor, regardless of Texas' opponent. He can get an entire frontcourt in foul trouble because of his ability to turn himself into an orange and white blur. He's constantly looking to distribute the ball but it would be nice to see him assert himself more on offense, like he did against North Texas Tuesday when he scored 16 points and had seven assists in his best performance of the season. More games like that and Kabongo could be all-conference by year's end.

Jonathan Holmes: A-

Holmes gets the highest grade not because he's the most talented or productive player on the team but because he hustles the most, he gives up his body for loose balls and has an uncanny ability to be in position for rebounds and easy baskets. Holmes has even shot 37.5 percent (3-of-8) from beyond the arc, impressive for a 6-foot-7 forward. He hasn't made any freshman mistakes that I've seen but Holmes seems to be the first-year player closest to reaching his ceiling. But if he plays like this for four years, I won't complain.

Alexis Wangmene: B+

Wangmene, one of two seniors on the roster, has always been known for his defensive process but has made strides offensively. The 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 6.7 points (up from 2.3 last season) and is shooting 57.7 percent from the floor (up from 36.2) while maintaining his defensive presence, averaging 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game (up from 2.3 and 0.2 a season ago). 

Sheldon McClellan: B

McClellan has established himself as a legitimate scoring threat, a useful trait especially on a team that lost more than 80 percent of its offensive production from last season. He has also made it evident that he's one of the team's best dunkers en route to being one of the Longhorns to average a double-digit number of points per game. It'd be nice if McCllelan could improve on the one assist he's recorded in six games.

Clint Chapman: C+

Chapman may still be rusty after missing all of last season with an injury as he has not been himself. He stands tall at 6-foot-10, easily making him Texas' tallest player, but he's playing like he's 5-foot-10. Unlike Wangmene, he dunks from time to time, but for the Longhorns' sake, they'll need him to play like the dominant force he can be, especially since he's, along with Wangmene, one of his squad's only two legitimate post presences.

Julien Lewis: B

Lewis may have the longest way to go before he realizes his potential of all the Texas freshmen. But that doesn't mean he's having a bad start to his Longhorns career. He's always one of the most athletic players on the floor and will work on turning raw talent into production on both sides of the floor this season. He is tied with McClellan for the team lead with 10 steals and averages 9.8 points per game but could stand to improve on his 34.8 field goal percentage.

Jaylen Bond: B+

Bond. Jaylen Bond. Really wish his jersey number was 7 instead of 2 but oh well. Would also like to see him get more minutes as he averages 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes played. Only problem is he's only playing 13.5 minutes per game. As long as he keeps playing consistently well in his limited role, he should get a chance to shine in a bigger one.

Sterling Gibbs: B

Gibbs is another freshman who hasn't gotten a chance to showcase his abilities as much as other players. He is the only scholarship player to average less than 10 minutes per game but has shown that he's not a typical warm-the-bench player. He scored a season-high five points in 11 minutes in his last game against North Texas and has made five of his nine shots from the field, including two of four three-pointers. He's another guy that could take advantage of a chance to play more often.

Rick Barnes: B+

Barnes did an outstanding job compiling this recruting class, especially under the pressure of knowing that he had only had three scholarship players returning to his team this season. Time will tell if the six-member class will realize its potential but, like the Longhorns football program, its best years are ahead of it. As good as Barnes' group of freshman is, none of the rookies should be leaving for the NBA anytime soon. Even J'Covan Brown should return next season as Texas welcomes in another impressive group of prospects. As for this season, whether or not the Longhorns can contend for a Big 12 title and become a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA tournament will be decided by whether or not Barnes can develop his first-year players. So far, so good. 

Robert Griffin III would love to change that. He's amassed over 4,000 yards of offense and more than 40 total touchdowns this season while potentially making his way onto Heisman Trophy ballots. 

"He's just as good of a passer as he is running," said senior linebacker Emmanuel Acho, who has racked up 54 tackles, 10 for loss, over his last four games. "He'll drop back and then, all of a sudden, he wants to run it. You come up to stop the run and then he throws it right over your head. It's really annoying. You have to make him pay every time he runs the ball."

The senior quarterback has thrust his Baylor Bears to their best season in decades, bringing them from the Big 12 cellar to one of the conference's most respected teams. Two other Big 12 quarterbacks - Oklahoma's Landry Jones and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden - have drifted in and out of Heisman contention while Richardson, Wisconsin running back/touchdown machine Montee Ball and a handful of other quarterbacks, including Stanford's Andrew Luck, Houston's Case Keenum and USC's Matt Barkley are making cases of their own. But Texas is not willing to oblige Griffin and facilitate a signature Heisman moment.

"It's not going to happen," said senior linebacker Keenan Robinson. "We're not going to let it happen."

In fact, the Longhorns have made a habit out of shutting down prolific high-profile opposing quarterbacks lately. Ever since Jones torched the Longhorns seconary in this year's Red River Rivalry, Texas has made shutting down signal-callers look easy. Weeden, whose 4,111 yards are good for the 3rd-highest in the country, was held to just one touchdown pass and 218 yards, more than 150 less than his season average. His favorite target, last year's Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon, had only 74 yards and a touchdown.

Kansas' Jordan Webb is not nearly of a productive passer as Weeden but averaged a respectable 200-plus yards through the air entering the Jayhawks' meeting with the Longhorns earlier this season. But Webb was limited to a season-low 48 yards passing, managing to fare better than a Kansas rushing attack that produced -2 yards.

Texas Tech's Seth Doege, who has thrown for nearly 4,000 yards and leads the nation in completions with 397, went 40-of-55 for 381 yards but did not find the end zone until late in the third quarter after Texas had already built up a 38-6 lead.

Missouri's dual-threat quarterback James Franklin, likely the closest thing to Griffin the Longhorns have seen this season, has averaged almost 300 total yards per game but mustered just 219 against Texas. But, with the Longhorns offense failing to score a touchdown for the first time in seven years, the defense's dominant effort didn't matter much.

Two weeks ago, against Kansas State's Collin Klein, Texas delieverd another impressive defensive performance. Klein, who is second only to Montee Ball with 25 rushing touchdowns as he nears Ricky Williams' Big 12 record of 27, struggled when his Wildcats took on the Longhorns. The junior quarterback scored twice but had only 83 yards passing and four yards rushing on 26 carries after averaging more than 250 total yards in his previous 10 games and over 100 per game on the ground. Again, despite Case McCoy's valiant second-half effort, Klein's mediocre showing was enough to give Kansas State the win.

Last but not least, Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill had his worst game of the season in this year's Lone Star Showdown. His 224 passing yards was the second-lowest this year, the three interceptions he threw tied a season-high and his 40.8 completion percentage last Thursday was, by far, a season-low.

Now, Griffin, coming off a three-touchdown performance in Baylor's 66-42 victory over Texas Tech despite suffering a head injury in the first half and not playing at all in the second half, is set to face this Longhorns defense in the Bears' regular-season finale. Like the Joker said in "Dark Knight," it will be like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. Should be fun to watch.

Robert Griffin III would love to change that. He's amassed over 4,000 yards of offense and more than 40 total touchdowns this season while potentially making his way onto Heisman Trophy ballots. 

"He's just as good of a passer as he is running," said senior linebacker Emmanuel Acho, who has racked up 54 tackles, 10 for loss, over his last four games. "He'll drop back and then, all of a sudden, he wants to run it. You come up to stop the run and then he throws it right over your head. It's really annoying. You have to make him pay every time he runs the ball."

The senior quarterback has thrust his Baylor Bears to their best season in decades, bringing them from the Big 12 cellar to one of the conference's most respected teams. Two other Big 12 quarterbacks - Oklahoma's Landry Jones and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden - have drifted in and out of Heisman contention while Richardson, Wisconsin running back/touchdown machine Montee Ball and a handful of other quarterbacks, including Stanford's Andrew Luck, Houston's Case Keenum and USC's Matt Barkley are making cases of their own. But Texas is not willing to oblige Griffin and facilitate a signature Heisman moment.

"It's not going to happen," said senior linebacker Keenan Robinson. "We're not going to let it happen."

In fact, the Longhorns have made a habit out of shutting down prolific high-profile opposing quarterbacks lately. Ever since Jones torched the Longhorns seconary in this year's Red River Rivalry, Texas has made shutting down signal-callers look easy. Weeden, whose 4,111 yards are good for the 3rd-highest in the country, was held to just one touchdown pass and 218 yards, more than 150 less than his season average. His favorite target, last year's Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon, had only 74 yards and a touchdown.

Kansas' Jordan Webb is not nearly of a productive passer as Weeden but averaged a respectable 200-plus yards through the air entering the Jayhawks' meeting with the Longhorns earlier this season. But Webb was limited to a season-low 48 yards passing, managing to fare better than a Kansas rushing attack that produced -2 yards.

Texas Tech's Seth Doege, who has thrown for nearly 4,000 yards and leads the nation in completions with 397, went 40-of-55 for 381 yards but did not find the end zone until late in the third quarter after Texas had already built up a 38-6 lead.

Missouri's dual-threat quarterback James Franklin, likely the closest thing to Griffin the Longhorns have seen this season, has averaged almost 300 total yards per game but mustered just 219 against Texas. But, with the Longhorns offense failing to score a touchdown for the first time in seven years, the defense's dominant effort didn't matter much.

Two weeks ago, against Kansas State's Collin Klein, Texas delieverd another impressive defensive performance. Klein, who is second only to Montee Ball with 25 rushing touchdowns as he nears Ricky Williams' Big 12 record of 27, struggled when his Wildcats took on the Longhorns. The junior quarterback scored twice but had only 83 yards passing and four yards rushing on 26 carries after averaging more than 250 total yards in his previous 10 games and over 100 per game on the ground. Again, despite Case McCoy's valiant second-half effort, Klein's mediocre showing was enough to give Kansas State the win.

Last but not least, Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill had his worst game of the season in this year's Lone Star Showdown. His 224 passing yards was the second-lowest this year, the three interceptions he threw tied a season-high and his 40.8 completion percentage last Thursday was, by far, a season-low.

Now, Griffin, coming off a three-touchdown performance in Baylor's 66-42 victory over Texas Tech despite suffering a head injury in the first half and not playing at all in the second half, is set to face this Longhorns defense in the Bears' regular-season finale. Like the Joker said in "Dark Knight," it will be like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. Should be fun to watch.