Texas FB: Longhorns Could Do Worse Than Holiday Bowl

They lost to Kansas State—again.

They lost to Texas A&M—again.

They even lost to a top 10 team—again.

It may look like 2006 all over again for the Texas Longhorns, but at least they can take solace in improving on last year's Alamo Bowl invitation.

Even if it's more or less by technicality.

Whoever wins Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Game—either Missouri or Oklahoma—will get the conference's automatic BCS bid. The loser will probably earn one of the four BCS at-large bids.

That would leave Kansas as the next best team in the Big 12, sending them to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. With the Jayhawks occupied, the logical choice for the Holiday Bowl is Texas—not necessarily because the Longhorns are anything special—did you watch them against Baylor?—but because you can’t pick Texas Tech or Oklahoma State over them without feeling a tad uneasy.

The Longhorns beat both Tech and OK state. They were ugly wins—but wins nonetheless.

So despite a three-loss season that has seen more struggles than the record would indicate, the 'Horns will escape both the Gator and Alamo Bowls—and instead make a nice trip west to San Diego.

In reality, anything other than a BCS bowl is thin consolation for a team that was ranked No. 4 in the country to start the season.

But considering that Texas only posted two convincing wins against a schedule filled with cupcakes, going to California in December sounds pretty good.

If the Longhorns win their bowl game, the record books will show 2007 as another 10-win season for head coach Mack Brown. But stats don’t always tell the full story.

Those who follow the Longhorns know that this was a rebuilding year. It’s why this season’s nonconference highlight came against TCU.

Last season’s nonconference highlight?

Then-No. 1 Ohio State.

For all intents and purposes, the season is already over for Texas. The 'Horns will likely face a Dennis Dixon-less Oregon team in the Holiday Bowl—and should notch their 10th win with relative ease.

On the bright side, next season does hold some promise.

The secondary still looks suspect, but at least it’s better than last year’s embarrassment. And Brown himself seems to have more confidence in the future.

Instead of scheduling a team like TCU as the marquee nonconference opponent, Texas will host Arkansas in 2008—a fairly big step up, as I see it.

Until then, Texas fans still have basketball. Did I misread that box score...or did the boys really beat Tennessee by 19?

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