On this day (10/23) 20 years ago, the Texas Longhorns defeated the third-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in Austin by a score of 24-20. This marked Nebraska’s first and only loss of the entire season.
The game started out with a Texas field goal by kicker Kris Stockton, putting the Longhorns up 3-0 after the first quarter. Then Nebraska scored 13 unanswered points in the second quarter with two field goals from kicker Josh Brown and a rushing touchdown by running back Correll Buckhalter.
After halftime, the Longhorns came out in the third quarter and scored two straight touchdowns, giving them a 17-13 lead. The first touchdown came on a one-yard run by RB Chris Robertson. The second TD came through the air with a 13-yard pass from quarterback Major Applewhite to wide receiver Kwame Cavil.
23 Oct 1999: Kwame Cavil #9 of the Texas Longhorns leaps to catch the ball during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Cornhuskers 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
In the fourth quarter, Nebraska was able to retake the lead with 7:52 left in the game as quarterback Eric Crouch ran it in from nine yards out. But the Longhorns ultimately got the last laugh, scoring the final points of the game and retaking the lead on a 17-yard pass from Applewhite to Mike Jones.
Major Applewhite was a big reason Texas was able to pull off this upset. On the game, Applewhite went 17/30 through the air for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Lee Jackson led the team in tackles with 14, eight of which were solo. Defensive tackle Shaun Rogers was a big help for Texas as well. He was unstoppable up front against the Cornhusker’s offensive line, putting up five tackles for loss.
The two teams met again later on in the season for the Big 12 Championship. Nebraska won this matchup, 22-6. The Longhorns went on to face the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl on the first day of 2000. Texas ended up falling by a score of 27-6. Nebraska ended up winning the Fiesta Bowl over the Tennessee Volunteers with a final score of 31-21.
