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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Longhorns defensive end Brian Orakpo have been named The Associated Press Big 12 offensive and defensive players of the year.

McCoy set a school record with 3,445 yards passing and 32 touchdowns. He also led the Longhorns in rushing with 576 yards and 10 TDs. Orakpo led Texas with 10½ sacks.

The offensive newcomer of the year is Baylor freshman quarterback Robert Griffin. Oklahoma freshman linebacker Travis Lewis was voted top defensive newcomer.

The players were selected by a panel of media that covers the Big 12.

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Nice start.

And there were no computers involved.

Colt McCoy is also a finalist for the 2008 Manning Award, honoring the nation's top quarterback.

This is a relatively new award (5 years old), and Vince Young won it in 2005.

The other finalists include the usual suspects: Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Chase Daniel (Missouri), Nate Davis (Ball State), Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), Brian Johnson (Utah), Zac Robinson (Oklahoma State), Mark Sanchez (USC), Matthew Stafford (Georgia) and Tim Tebow (Florida).

With the Heisman finalist announcement waiting in the wings, that's FIVE awards Colt is up for so far this season.

I'm sure there will be more.

If you recall, last week Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow and Graham Harrell were chosen as the three finalists for the Maxwell Award.

Today, Colt joins Harrell and Sam Bradford as the three finalists for the Davey O'Brien award for best quarterback.

And just now, our man is one of five finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award - along with Tebow, Bradford, Harrell and Michael Crabtree.

I expect Colt to join Tebow, Bradford and Harrell in their invitation to the Heisman Trophy presentation in a couple of weeks.

The Heisman ballots went out Nov. 19th, and voters have until Dec. 10th to return them. The winner will be announced at the annual dinner on Dec. 15th.

The BCS is not really THAT worthless - except when its computers are faced with situations such as the one we have now.

I'm no geek, but it seems to me that they just need to change one little algorithm.* The computer just needs to "digest" this bit of info before spitting out a result: "If two teams have the same records and one of them beats the other, under no circumstances would the losing team be awarded a higher standing than the winner." I'm sure the gearheads could figure out how to code that in.

What's wrong with head-to-head? The human polls finally saw the value of it Sunday, but the computers could not - given the way they must have been programmed.

No more on this subject. It'll just sound like whining. And you know how much Aggies and Sooners like it when you whine - since that is their normal means of communication.

* a prescribed set of well-defined, unambiguous rules or processes for the solution of a problem in a finite number of steps.

I was actually hoping for the other way around, which was the only way UT could've stayed above the Sooners in the BCS poll.

Even though the final regular season BCS won't be out for another seven hours, it's a foregone conclusion which Big 12 team will have the highest BCS ranking. One of the half-dozen or so BCS computer polls has already been released, and OU is above the Longhorns.

That'll put the Sooners up against Missouri in another bloodbath in the Big 12 championship game and assure them they stay at No. 2 and face Florida (who WILL beat Alabama next week) for the national title.

You could hear by the sound bytes that Mack Brown hated that the Big 12 had a conference championship game, and even though he never mentioned it, I got the feeling he didn't care about not playing in it as long as Oklahoma wasn't there.

The comments of Brent Musburger and company last night also foretold an OU victory in the polls. Before OU poured it on the Cowboys (while it was still close) they were all about Texas deserving it, and then once the 60-point level was hit they said they would be shocked if OU wasn't picked ahead of Texas.

Well, one bit of solace Colt McCoy and his team can take after it's all over is that they actually beat the national champion.

I didn't say it was a lot of solace.

P.S. Another thing that chaps my hide is that this probably means Colt won't get the Heisman. That trophy is supposed to be about something that transcends points and victories, but it generally comes down to winning - and Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow get one more chance to win a game ... and pile up the points while doing it.

P.P.S. As you can see, I am trying the double-reverse jinx tactic. Hey, it could work.

... to beat the Aggies! Great feeling, huh?

I think Texas did enough to keep its No. 2 ranking in the BCS (and trip to the Big 12 championship) IF Oklahoma has trouble beating OSU this weekend, i.e., just barely wins.

The main thing that happened last night was that Colt McCoy showed the doubters or first-time viewers what he was made out of ... it's called The Right Stuff.

In a wire story this morning, Mack Brown has heard all this, too, and he says any talk about that is "disrespectful" to the Aggies. Now, I would never be disrespectful to those farmers either (ahem), but I like Mack's point.

Colt McCoy has yet to experience the sweet taste of victory over those crazy guys. But I doubt if he's paying much attention to the talk or the fact that UT is a 34-point favorite going into the game. This is his year to make the Maroon swoon.

It's a toss-up who I "hate" the most - Sooners or Aggies. I guess the latter wins, mainly because of their crotch-grabbing, saber-wielding, drooling cadets - although I would never be disrespectful, of course.

The only dessert I need after turkey dinner Thursday is a nice, sweet can of whoop-(oops, can't say that word).

BTW: At least the game is in Austin. Last year at College Station, there was no ice at any of the concession stands. As you recall, the senior who had the recipe graduated the year before.

Hullabaloo, y'all!

Pages 18 to 25. I haven't seen such a tribute in a long time ... not even for Michael Phelps.

It's called "The Eyes and the Heart of Texas." I especially liked the graphic comparing Colt and Vince Young.

Do yourself a favor, Burnt Orange Nation ... go get you a copy right now.

SPEAKING OF TRIBUTES ...

It was announced today that Colt is one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award, along with Tim Tebow and Graham Harrell.

The Maxwell may not have as cool a trophy (not shabby, though), but most people recognize it as honoring college's top player. The winner will be announced Dec. 11.

My money's on Colt!

As much as I dreaded seeing OU humiliate Texas Tech, and enhance the much-hated Sooners' national championship standing, there is good news for Colt McCoy fans.

Even though Texas might lose ground to OU in the BCS today, Colt's position in the Heisman Trophy race has to have been improved by last night's carnage. In fact, I imagine the cool statue will either go to Colt or Tim Tebow.

Graham Harrell is essentially out of the race. When Texas fell behind Tech a few weeks ago, McCoy engineered an amazing comeback. That's Heisman material, folks! When Tech fell behind Oklahoma last night, Harrell looked bumfuzzled. And if you recall, Bradford was still shown up by Colt earlier this year.

BTW, that's a picture of John W. Heisman in his University of Pennsylvania football uniform taken sometime around 1891.

They accompany a story about which quarterback is going to win the Heisman.

Sounds like the SI'ers have already counted our man out of the race, however, and are leaning toward Tim Tebow.

Even though, as they pointed out, Colt is the only QB in major college football this season with 500 yards rushing and 3,000 yards passing. Also, I don't think they buy into my whole theory of other options for the Longhorns making it to the title game (see previous entry).

The voters didn't give the Heisman to Vince Young a few years ago when he deserved it over the other candidates - including Reggie Bush.

I still can't figure that out.

The Heisman is handed out a month before the National Championship game is played, and I guess those voters back in 2005 didn't think Texas was really that good ... and USC was better. Oops.

Colt is also up for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, as well as the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell awards. There is no greater validation of a season played than being mentioned for those four awards.

Colt is a team guy, of course, and I imagine the only reason those individual awards would be important to him at all is because they would make his mother proud. And we ALL want to make our mothers proud.

But even if he won all four, I'm sure he'd trade them all in for a crystal football just like the one Mack Brown and others held aloft after that Rose Bowl game.

P.S. - My wife, who is a huge Longhorn fan and NFL expert, reminded me that most Heisman winners - especially recently - are busts in the pros, and the award is almost like a kiss of death. But she can see my point about making your mother proud. ;-)

OK, now that we have some time before the Aggie game, let's review one more time how Colt McCoy and the Longhorns can make the National Championship game.

1. As No. 1 BCS seed - Tech loses to OU but beats Baylor. UT takes out two years of frustration on the Aggies and murderlizes them. OU then loses to OSU, so Tech still goes to the Big 12 game where they are upset by Missouri.

In the meantime, "back East," Florida is upset by Florida State but then barely beats Alabama. That gives the 'Horns the No. 1 spot, probably followed by USC or Alabama.

2. As No. 2 BCS seed - Tech wins out and becomes No. 1 in the BCS. UT beats the Aggies, Florida beats Alabama but loses to Florida State. Alabama also loses to long-time rival Auburn. Even if USC wins out, Texas gets No. 2 because of strength of schedule.

That means an all-Big 12 South championship game.

3. As No. 2 BCS seed (and Big 12 champion) - OU beats Tech, but not by much, and everything works out for a three-way tie. Texas edges out the other two in the BCS rankings and advances to the Big 12 championship game where they beat Missouri again.

They'd be up against Alabama or Florida for the championship.

It's all going to become a little clearer after Saturday night. If Tech wins, the Longhorns need to hope for Option No. 2 above. If OU wins, then UT's chances are a little better for either No. 1 or No. 3.

The way he's played this season, Colt definitely deserves a shot at the title.

If you weren't convinced the success of the University of Texas this season is due to our man wearing No. 12, then the 35-7 victory on the frigid road over Kansas should make you a believer.

He was 24-of-34 for 255 yards and 2 TDs, while rushing for another 80 or so and another touchdown.

Not that the offensive and defensive lines didn't have something to do with the "W" as well. But leadership is what won that game.

The four-touchdown margin of victory should be good enough for the 'Horns to keep their No. 3 BCS ranking, and that nice 11-day rest before hosting the Turkeys for their final regular season game should be just what the doctor ordered.

SECOND HALF (First Drive)

That's more like it for our man Colt! Take the ball on your own 39, go 10 plays, throwing for three completions and running it yourself three times.

A Superman impression by Jordan Shipley on a fake field goal didn't hurt either.

21-0, Burnt Orange!

FIRST HALF

Man, talk about book-end drives for the first half against Kansas.

Colt McCoy looked unstoppable on the opening drive against the Jayhawks, leading the Longhorns to paydirt on 10 plays.

Then a fumble, a sack, an incompletion and turnover-on-downs ended the next four drives for UT.

But ... the last drive of the half (not counting the final 14 seconds), Colt took it in himself on a 4-yard run to cap an 8-play drive. He finished the first half 14-of-19 for 122 yards, and rushed for about 20 yards.

The game should be more than 14-0, but Colt appears to be adapting to the cold, and he gets the ball back first after intermission, so everything should return to normal.

I enjoyed seeing Colt and buddy Jordan Shipley discussing strategy right before half. Expect those two to connect a bunch more in the second half, hopefully for a TD or two.

This Saturday morning at 11:30 is when the Longhorns will show the world (or at least the part of it that receives Fox Sports Southwest) what they're made of.

By his own admission Colt McCoy took some time in the first half of the Baylor game to get the taste of defeat out of his mouth and start playing like the Heisman contender he is.

But still, that was Baylor, and this is Kansas - on the road - with flying footballs and houses and a quarterback named Todd Reesing from Lake Travis in Austin who has gotten the short end of the stick when pundits talk about all the great signal callers in the Big 12.

Reesing isn't as big and strong as Colt, but he has impressive numbers so far with 240-of-359 completions for 2,942 yards and 23 TDs. You don't think he's jazzed to show what he can do against a team that "ignored" him?

The Jayhawks will play a very good, inspired game, and UT's impressive victory in such a spirited contest will go a long way in proving that they still are worthy of National Championship consideration.

I see Colt and company taking the starch out of the Jayhawks like flying monkeys taking the stuffing out of a scarecrow.

Sorry 'bout that visual. Here's the game capsule:

Line: Texas by 14.

Series Record: Texas leads 6-2.

Last meeting: 2004, Texas 27-23.

What's at Stake

Texas must avoid an upset to stay in contention for the Big 12 South title and the national championship hunt. Kansas, which finishes the regular season next week against No. 12 Missouri, needs to win at least one of these last two to secure a decent bowl bid and avoid falling too much further from last year's 12-1 campaign.

Key Matchup

Texas DE Brian Orakpo and Kansas' freshmen tackles Jeremiah Hatch and Jeff Spikes. Hatch and Spikes have switched sides since conference play began but both have had their troubles. Orakpo did not play last week after hurting his knee against Texas Tech. But he was expected to return.

Players to Watch

Texas: QB Colt McCoy and WR/KR Jordan Shipley. McCoy bounced right back from the Texas Tech loss by throwing five touchdown passes in the victory over Baylor. Shipley has two returns for touchdowns and Kansas has been hurting in kick coverage.

Kansas: QB Todd Reesing. A native of Austin who was ignored by the Longhorns, Reesing will be as motivated as he's been in any game of his career. But the undersized junior also had the worst game of his life last week in Kansas' loss at Nebraska.

Facts & Figures

Kansas has started the same 22 players on both offense and defense the past two games. ... The game is a sellout and the Jayhawks are on pace to set a stadium attendance record for the fourth consecutive year. ... The last time Texas visited Kansas, in 2004, the Longhorns rallied for a 27-23 win, and Kansas coach Mark Mangino had to apologize for remarks he made about officiating in a heated postgame news conference.

Guess who said that? No, not Colt McCoy ... although since the Tech loss, I have a feeling that's what he's thinking.

Everyone's made a big deal out of the "gauntlet" of four tough games that Texas came within one second of navigating sucessfully.

But upcoming is a two-game gauntlet that takes on even more importance than that previous stretch.

Kansas is not going to go quietly into that good night. At home, pride wounded, the Jayhawks could salvage a bit of their season by beating UT.

And the Aggies, of course, would gladly lose every other game if they could just beat the Longhorns. Injuries and bad luck have prevented Colt from experiencing the sweet smell of success over those malodorous farmers, but third time is the charm.

And just in case the stars align so that Texas is in the Big 12 Championship game, guess who's going to be there waiting for them? An improved Missouri team that is now much better than the 56-31 whipping they got from Colt and company. And no surprise that the Tigers would have revenge on their minds if that meeting takes place.

So the gauntlet is not over, and judging by what Colt said earlier in the week, he knows that and he's ready:

"We have to put the whole game together. I feel like we were up and down in the first half (against Baylor). We had some things go wrong. We didn't execute like we should have. I felt like we played really well the second half, across the board, offensively and defensively. We are going to come out strong and play both halves like we did the second half last Saturday."

Oh ... and who said the quote at the top of this entry? That was Michael Crabtree, probably one of the most despised players by Burnt Orange Nation right now. He continued that train of thought with, "Week after week, they seem to come up with something about us not having a this or a that."

Sounds like what Texas has been through most of the season - they don't have a running back, secondary is too young, etc., etc.

The best news for Texas fans this week is that Colt will indeed play like he has something to prove even though by this point he really doesn't.

My wife, who is still seriously smarting over the Tech win over Texas, wants another crack at the Red Raiders.

She thinks Tech and Texas can finish as the top two teams in the BCS standings after the regular season finishes on Dec. 6.

I say no way, but here's her scenario (in order of team's current BCS ranking), and it doesn't include Tech losing anymore games until the national championship:

1. Alabama loses to either Mississippi State or Auburn and then to Florida on Dec. 6. Two losses.

2. Tech wins out, including the Big 12 championship game. No losses.

3. Texas beats Kansas and A&M convincingly. One loss.

4. Florida loses to Florida State the week before beating Alabama. Two losses.

5. Oklahoma loses to Tech. Two losses.

6. USC - make that whiny USC - loses to Stanford, Notre Dame or UCLA. Two losses.

7. Utah loses to San Diego State or BYU. One loss.

8. Penn State loses to Michigan State. Two losses.

9. Boise State loses to Idaho, Nevada or Fresno State. One loss.

10. Georgia already has two losses.

See her thinking? Texas with one loss trumps everyone else with two losses, plus no way will the BCS dare rank Utah or Boise State ahead of the Longhorns.

There you have it on January 8, 2009, in Miami, Florida - No. 1-ranked Texas Tech against No. 2-ranked Texas for all the marbles.

Technically, I guess it could happen, but the odds have to be astronomical.

Conventional wisdom has Texas and Oklahoma winning out, meaning Tech falls to OU. There's that horrible three-way tie in the Big 12 South, and who knows what the BCS would do with the rankings. Texas beat OU by 10 points when it was ranked No. 1, and Tech beat Texas by six points when it was No. 1. But if OU beats Tech, they will probably still be ranked No. 2.

I don't know, but I will just puke if somehow Oklahoma and USC are in the title game.

BTW: Great game against Baylor, Colt!