Texas still hopeful of earning title shot

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- As Texas pulled away in the second half of its 35-16 victory over Missouri on Saturday, the Longhorns' focus was not entirely on the field.

"When we got the game in hand, people starting talking on the sidelines about some of the other scores, which made us excited," said quarterback Chris Simms. "It turned out to be a big game for us to win."

"We (have only) lost to the hottest team in the nation."

There's plenty that still needs to happen before Texas (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) can move into one of the top two spots in the Bowl Championship Series poll and get the chance to play for the national title. Nebraska and Miami are still undefeated, and newly No. 5 Texas is still behind that "hottest team" -- No. 3 Oklahoma -- in the AP's Top 25.

But Simms, who looked every bit as advertised by throwing four touchdown passes against Missouri and running for another, isn't giving up on a trip to the Rose Bowl.

"We're one of the best teams in the country, I think," Simms said. "I don't think we're out of it at all."

Simms on a roll

Since losing to then-undefeated Oklahoma earlier this month, Simms has thrown 12 touchdown passes with just a single interception. In those three games, Texas has won by an average score of 40-13.

And that loss to Oklahoma -- no longer undefeated after a 20-10 loss No. 2 Nebraska on Saturday -- could actually end up helping Texas. Next up for the Longhorns are dates with Baylor and Kansas, a combined 1-9 in Big 12 play this season, and a season-ending game at Texas A&M.

Assuming Texas wins out, and Oklahoma does as well, both will finish with a single loss, but the Sooners would represent the Big 12 South in the league's championship game.

It's an extra game that comes with the extra risk of adding to a team's loss total.

It's also a long way away, said Texas coach Mack Brown.

"They were talking about that score and this score," Brown said. "I told them just worry about our score. We had a job to do."

Along with Simms' effort throwing the ball -- he has 10 touchdown passes in his last 10 quarters and was 24-for-30 for 229 yards against the Tigers -- Texas overwhelmed Missouri (3-4, 2-3) on the ground. Freshman Cedric Benson ran for 157 yards on 31 carries for his third straight 100-yard game.

"That makes me feel good because it lets me know they have confidence in me," Benson said. "I love to carry the ball. I love to wear down the defense."

Defense does its part

It wasn't just an offensive show, either. Texas cornerback Quentin Jammer shut down Missouri's best offensive player, wideout Justin Gage, holding him to just two catches for 14 yards. Gage also dropped a number of passes, an issue for the Tigers' entire receiving unit on Saturday.

"I was expecting him to play his best game against me," Jammer said. "All week he said he was looking forward to playing what I think is the best secondary in the country."

"I thought he would show up with his best game, but he didn't."

Neither did Missouri quarterbacks Kirk Farmer and Darius Outlaw, a combined 9-of-28 passing with one score, Farmer's 8-yard pass to Ben Fredrickson in the second quarter, and an interception, also Farmer's.

The only bright spot for Missouri, running back Zack Abron, wasn't in the mood to celebrate his 109 rushing yards against Texas' 12th ranked rushing defense. It was Abron's third-straight game running for at least 100 yards and his fourth of the season.

"There is always room to do better," Abron said. "I just have to go out there and work harder."