Fourth Quarter
– I know I’m going to jinx it, but this game is flying compared to the marathons of the last few nights.
– Pino blew it. He had a rough angle, but he has now given away four points.
USC on its own 20
– Texas can’t handle White and Jarrett off the line.
– At some point, the UT LBs have to sell out Florida State Orange Bowl-style and try to get some pressure on Leinart. They have to do something to disrupt his rhythm. The front four isn’t getting it done.
– Third and six. Texas hasn’t come up with a clutch stop yet in this half.
– And it still can’t. Leinart’s timing is perfect with Jarrett. It’s so much fun watching Leinart when he’s on. He can be such a surgeon.
– Now is the time to let Reggie go Reggie. The Texas D is tired and frustrated trying to stop the quick pass. Now it’s time to go nuclear.
– USC tries No. 5, but Texas is all over him wide. They need to go four wide and really push the suddenly struggling UT secondary.
– Texas has absolutely no answer for LenDale White. He’s averaging 6.6 yards per crack.
– 3rd and 2 … just go back to No. 21.
– And why not? Another big run for a first down.
– Texas is in desperate, DESPERATE need of a turnover.
– Holy (bleep). There’s the Bush bomb. Just when the Longhorn D is gassed, Bush finally gets loose and rips up the right sideline for a diving, somersault touchdown.
– With the way the USC offense is humming, why not go for two and make this a two-score game? Texas has done absolutely nothing to slow down LenDale White. Just give it to him, get the two, and go up nine.
– Of course, USC kicks the extra point.
USC 31 … Texas 23
– Texas is 0-for-3 on defense in the second half and has lost any and all momentum from the first half lead, but things really aren’t that bad. There’s a ton of time left, and UT is a touch-and-two away from tying this thing up.
– Two words; Jamaal Charles.
Texas on its own 32
– Oooooh. That looked like USC ball. Charles caught it, fumbled, and USC recovered. It’s not going to be ruled indisputable (it was ruled incomplete), but USC is going to get royally screwed yet again in the replay side of things. Even in real-time speed it’s a fumble.
– The play stands. If Texas goes on to win this game, there’s going to be some mega-whining from the other side; and rightfully so.
– Texas is marching through the air. Even with 10:47 to play, this is four down territory with the way the USC offense is playing.
– Eeesh. Texas has stopped calling plays and has basically broken down into Vince running the ball.
– Pino hits this field goal attempt to pull within five. I know, a touchdown gives you the lead, but with just over eight minutes to play, the three doesn’t really do Texas much good. If USC goes on a six minute march and makes it four touchdowns in four second half drives, it’s over.
– However, there’s a major element of our nation very, very happy to get the deficit under seven.
USC 31 … Texas 26
USC on its own 19
– Okay, Texas. You want the national title? It’s on your defense.
– As purely a college football fan, I want to see Texas hold, score a touchdown, and then see Leinart on one final drive and needing a field goal.
– I’m calling it. Ball game.
– Leinart completes the long pass, and then he takes a big, late shot to get the ball down to the Texas 31.
– You wouldn’t be wrong to name Lutui the MVP of this game.
– And there’s BCS national title number two.
– Leinart connects with Jarrett, who stretches the ball across for a touchdown and the national championship. Michael Griffin and Tarrell Brown each got knocked out hitting Jarrett.
USC 38 … Texas 26
Texas on its own 31
– Holly Rowe on the sidelines said the Texas defenders are hanging their heads after Brown was helped off the field with a broken arm I’m sure getting pantsed by the USC offense in the second half had nothing to do with it.
– I don’t want to get into the old rant about the problems with the prevent, but Texas is moving too well.
– Young is playing desperate. He doesn’t really have to. There’s still 5:31 to play. It’s touchdown-onside kick time no matter what, but you have to get the score first.
– Young is having a phenomenal game, but it might get lost in the loss.
– UnFRICKINGbelievable. I have such a man crush on both of these quarterbacks. Young walked into the end zone on his pump fakes alone.
– They kick the extra point, as they should’ve. You have to go onside kick here. With four minutes to play, you can’t trust your defense.
– It’s a five-point game with four minutes to go, and the energy of the broadcast makes it seem like UL Lafayette is blowing out Idaho by 40.
– Not only does Texas kick away, but it kicks away to Reggie Bush who brings it out past the 30. Texas is playing it honest.
USC 38 … Texas 33
USC on its own 31
– Now, purely as a fan, I want to see Young get one last shot with the game on the line.
– He won’t get it. Leinart and Jarrett are too good.
– 3:08 to play, USC on its 46.
– White simply can’t be stopped for negative yards.
– With the overaggressive, overpursuing Texas D, a reverse to Reggie would go for a 50-yard touchdown.
– 3rd and 7, and Texas stops White, who fumbled, but it was recovered by Steve Smith.
– C’mon Pete, go for it. 2:13 to play. Fourth and two. Take your national title.
– I love Pete Carroll.
– USC got a very, very, VERY generous spot. White wasn’t even close, but it was a great mark for the Trojans.
– OOOOOOOOH, six inches short. This sucker just went into the all-timer category.
– Vince … let’s go.
Texas on its own 43
– 2:04 to play.
– USC is blitzing and stopped the first two pass plays. I love Pete Carroll even more. With everything on the line, he’s bringing it.
– It sucks, but the officials had to call a penalty on Darnell Bing. Young completed his pass out to midfield well short of the first down, but Bing got tagged with a five-yard face mask.
– :57 to play, Texas on the USC 41.
– They’re reviewing a catch by Brian Carter and a possible fumble, but it wasn’t even close. He was down, and this is giving Texas time to regroup.
– I can’t imagine being a fan of these teams right now.
– Young dances his way for the first down and gets out of bounds with :53 to play.
– Young: 17 carries, 187 yards, 2 touchdowns.
– Ball on the 30
– Young to Carter on a crossing pattern inside the 15. :45 to play.
– To my die-hard Texas friend Joel who had plane tickets to Pasadena but didn’t go because he didn’t want to pay the eBay ticket price to get into the game. Oops.
– OOOOH. Limas Sweed just missed a juggling catch for a touchdown.
– Young down to the nine; :30 to play. Third and five.
– I have a whiz to throw that’s making my whole body cramp.
– Young just misses on a throw to Sweed. Are you kidding? Fourth and the national title?! This doesn’t suck.
– TOUCHDOWN!!!
– MAKE A CALL, KEITH! Unbelievable dead silence as Young crosses the goal line. Worst non-call ever of one of the most important plays in the history of college football.
– I get all my wishes. Leinart will get one last shot.
– Uhhhhhh, USC? Why are you calling that last timeout?
– Young rushes for the two-point conversion.
– Now I’m getting greedy. I want overtime.
Texas 41 … USC 38
– If Texas kicks it to Reggie Bush, USC should win on general principle alone.
USC on its own 30
– :16 to play.
– USC needed that timeout. Leinart shovels it to Bush for a huge gain.
– :08 to play on the Texas 43.
– Oh Matt. He held on to the ball too long and time ran out. A champion should’ve gone down with more of a bang than that.
– From now on, sports media, never, ever, ever, ever run a Greatest Team of All-Time series until the game is played.
Final Score: Texas 41 … USC 38
NOTE: FINAL KEY STATS
Vince Young: 30-of-40, 267 yards, 19 carries for 200 yards and three TDs
Matt Leinart: 29-of-40 for 365 years and a score with one pick
LenDale White: 20 for 124, 3 TDs
Dwayne Jarrett: 10 catches for 121 yards and a TD
Reggie Bush: 13 for 82 with one TD, 6 catches for 95 yards
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