COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Colt McCoy accounted for 479 yards and five touchdowns Thursday, carrying No. 2 Texas to a 49-39 shootout victory over century-old rival Texas A&M.
Texas posted a regular-season 12-0 record for the first time in school history and a win in the Big 12 title game next week against Nebraska will almost certainly vault the Longhorns into the national championship contest.
The teams combined for an astounding 1,155 yards of offense -- 623 of it produced by Texas.
Despite the spectacular performance by McCoy, the Aggies stayed in the game thanks to a tremendous showing by quarterback Jerrod Johnson. He threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns, the last of which brought Texas A&M within three points with 7:10 remaining in the game.
Marquise Goodwin then took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 94 yards for the score that finally gave the Longhorns some breathing room.
McCoy, the winningest college quarterback in history with 44 victories as a starter, threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a career-high 175 yards and a score.
His 65-yard run up the middle for a touchdown early in the second quarter gave Texas the momentum after the Longhorns had fallen behind in the game's opening moments. The Longhorns, however, had to continually produce on offense to fight off the Aggies and McCoy came through with two touchdown passes each to Jordan Shipley and James Kirkendoll.
McCoy's 5-yard scoring pass to Kirkendoll with 4 seconds left in the first half put Texas in front for good at 28-21.
Texas A&M is eligible to compete in a bowl game with a 6-6 record.
