AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Led by its defense Saturday, No. 16 Texas buried ninth-ranked Nebraska, 31-7, throwing the race in the Big 12 Conference North Division up for grabs.
Texas (7-2, 4-1 Big 12 South), coming off a 56-0 rout of hapless Baylor, came within a quarter of posting back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1982 against Texas Tech and Houston.
Nebraska (7-2, 3-2 Big 12 North), which has not been shutout since a 19-0 loss at Arizona State on Sept. 21, 1996, got its only score on Jammal Lord's 48-yard touchdown pass to Matt Herian with 11:58 remaining.
Cedric Benson, who sat out last week's game after being arrested on a charge of misdemeanor trespassing, rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries.
Vince Young, starting his third straight game at quarterback, rushed for 162 yards on 14 carries, including a 65-yard touchdown that gave Texas a 14-0 lead with 4:42 remaining in the first half.
