Live dispatches from the press box in Pasadena

                    

For those who can't get enough Rose Bowl coverage, SI.com's Pete McEntegart will be sharing a running commentary from his view in the press box ...

	Naturally, the USC Song Girls were stationed on the far end of the field from the press box. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
	Texas 41, USC 38 Run to Glory By Stewart Mandel Texas' national-championship night in Pasadena belonged solely to the amazing, unstoppable Vince Young. Destined to End By John Walters The Trojans were chasing a historic three-peat, but the Law of Entropy finally caught up with them. The Bowl Blog By Arash Markazi While USC's players and coaches may have been in shock, the way their streak ended was far from surprising. Running Diary By Pete McEntegart Scoping out celebrities, the USC Song Girls, and a blow-by-blow account from the press box in Pasadena. More from SI.com Photo Gallery: The Best of the Rose Bowl Stewart Mandel's Final AP Top 25 ballot Game Box Score | Full Play-by-Play * SI pushed its magazine deadline back this week to include coverage of the Rose Bowl; some subscription delivery will be affected. Complete SI.com Bowls Coverage
	MAILBAG Have a question or opinion for Pete? He might answer/address it in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

3:57 p.m. PT-- Greetings from the Rose Bowl, which in case you've stumbled onto this site by accident through a misguided Google search, is the site of the national championship game between USC and Texas. I'll be with you from now until the end of the game. Hope you'll be joining me.

I just came back from a trip to the field. Despite heavy rains in the area over the weekend through Monday (raining on the Rose Bowl parade for the first time in 51 years), the turf seems dry and fast. It's also cut very low, unlike the virtual hedges that Notre Dame planted for the USC game. Then again, that didn't seem to slow Reggie Bush very much.

4:08 p.m. -- Kickoff is theoretically scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, but a clock in the stadium seems to be counting down to roughly 5:22 p.m., which is a more realistic figure. That should give you a bit more time for the last food and beverage re-stocking run.

4:11 p.m. -- Apparently the post-9/11 rules closing down airspace above major sporting events have been relaxed, at least before the game. A number of small planes trailed advertising banners over the stadium and its environs. The most clever one, evidently from an enterprising Trojans fan, read "Alamo 2 -- Texas Loses Again." Does that refer to the battle or the flop movie? And if fans here weren't aware before, they now know that Beauty and the Geek 2 is soon on its way.

4:14 p.m. -- SI.com's Stewart Mandel just returned from the concourse level and reports two celebrity sightings, Magic Johnson and Dr. Drew of Loveline fame. Too bad Dr. Drew couldn't have counseled Magic two decades ago about staying safe.

4:20 p.m. -- Interesting trip to the stadium. For some reason, the media busses from the hotel (the Beverly Hills Hilton) to the Rose Bowl left at 11 a.m. and noon, either five or six hours before kickoff. L.A. traffic is infamous, of course, but with a helpful CHiP escort the trip took less than an hour, still leaving plenty of time to twiddle our thumbs. On the plus side, our bus did have an informal tour guide who pointed out some sights. The most interesting was the exit off the 405 that O.J. Simpson took during the infamous Bronco chase. Speaking of O.J., the former USC superstar has been noticeably absent this week. He showed up at one of USC's practices for last year's Orange Bowl, but it seems that the football program has been backing away from him ever since.

4:27 p.m. -- So far, the Texas fans are winning the battle for best crowd. Judging by the colors, it appears that USC fans might have a very slight edge in numbers by the time the game starts. But with about an hour to go before kickoff, more Longhorns fans are in their seats and are making much more noise. At the very least, this certainly won't have the feel of a road game in a hostile environment for Texas despite the fact that USC is playing in its hometown.

4:35 p.m. -- The big question, of course, if how much Texas fans will have to cheer for. I would estimate that at least 80 percent of the national media assembled here thinks that USC just has too much offensive firepower and will eventually leave the Longhorns in the dust. Last year at this precise time, I remember writing that I really thought that USC and Oklahoma would be a close game. We all know how that turned out, so I will spare you my "expertise." This time I'll just hope for a close game rather than predict the outcome.

4:44 p.m. -- OK, I have been goaded by my editor to climb off the fence and make a pick. I'm going to play a hunch and take Texas 38-34. USC has been receiving so many hosannas out here over the past week that it's hard to believe that it hasn't gone to the players' heads a bit. Plus, the Trojans have as many as six juniors that might turn pro after the game. The Texas players have done a good job of not rising to the bait all week about being overlooked or disrespected, but you know that the "Nobody believes in us!" card is being played with abandon in the Longhorns locker room. Of course, it remains to be seen if that chip on the shoulder will help the Longhorns tackle Reggie Bush, but it can't hurt. The key might be the first quarter. If Texas can jump on USC early, or at least avoid taking a few early haymakers, it should be in it to the end.

4:53 p.m. -- This year I finally made good on a promise that I failed to fulfill at last year's Orange Bowl, namely to say hi to Trojans All-American offensive guard Taitusi (Deuce) Lutusi on behalf of my cousin, James Farrelly. James, who will be playing guard next year at New Mexico State, roomed with Deuce two years ago at Snow College, a junior college in Utah. Lutui mentioned that while at Snow, he actually tried to get Hawaii interested in him so, at the very least, he could make an official visit there. Strangely, the Hawaii staff showed next to no interest in a guy that has now started every game since he arrived at USC and, at 6-6 and a shockingly nimble 365 pounds, is a top NFL prospect next season. Recruiting can be a very funny business.

4:57 p.m. -- The Texas band is now on the field belting out Deep in the Heart of Texas. Where's Pee Wee Herman when you need him? The Longhorns dance team, in the end zone, seem to be wearing chaps. That's not a look one sees very much these days. (Except, perhaps, on Pee Wee Herman.)

4:59 p.m. -- The UT band is now playing The Eyes of Texas, which strangely has the same exact melody as I've Been Working on the Railroad. I'm waiting for The Itsy-Bitsy Spider next from the catalog of grammar school sing-alongs.

5:05 p.m. -- Now it's the USC band. Sadly, the Song Girls are on the far end of the field from the press box. Still, Stew's eagle-eye somehow has picked up that the Song Girls have a large rose on the front of their white sweaters for the occasion. How he can tell this when they're turned away from us is beyond me. He's like a superhero.

5:10 p.m. -- You know a big game is near when a stadium starts cranking Europe's Final Countdown. The Rose Bowl clock shows 12:30 and is, yes, counting down.

5:13 p.m. -- Wow, those parachutists from the Air Force Academy were very cool. When they were all hovering over the stadium, for a moment it looked like the beginning of Red Dawn.

5:14 p.m. -- Here comes Texas!

5:15 p.m. -- And here comes USC! Yes, they might actually play this game finally.

5:19 p.m. -- LeeAnn Rimes finishes the national anthem. Unfortunately, unlike Dr. Z, I didn't think to time it.

5:24 p.m. -- Sandra Day O'Connor conducts the coin toss, which goes to Texas. (The Longhorns defer.) It was hard to tell from here if Vince Young referred to the retired Supreme Court justice as "Sandy Baby," like John Riggins once did.

5:26 p.m. -- Reggie Bush catches the ball a few yards deep in the end zone but comes out anyway; he's swarmed at the 12. My prediction is brilliant!

5:29 p.m. -- FUMBLE!! UT's Aaron Ross coughed up the ball seconds after catching it ... USC offense back on the field on the Texas 46. And here I was crowing about my Texas prediction after forcing the early three-and-out. Now Reggie Bush nearly leveled a Texas defender. Game on.

LenDale White (left) got the Trojans on the board early with a four-yard touchdown run. AP

5:34 p.m. -- Touchdown, USC. LenDale White from four yards out.

5:37 p.m. -- What was that about Texas trying to avoid early USC haymakers? The Longhorns are hurting themselves, too, first with the fumbled punt return then the late hit on Matt Leinart out of bounds on first-and-goal. Still, great catch by FB David Kirtman to get them down to the 6 on a beautifully lofted ball by Leinart. He held on despite taking a wallop from UT cornerback Cedric Griffin.

5:38 p.m. -- First and 10 for Texas on the 20. Think this is an important drive?

5:43 p.m. -- Huge defensive stop on 4th-and-1 for USC. A tad strange, perhaps, that the Longhorns called on tailback Selvin Young rather than star QB Vince Young and that they went wide against the speedy Trojans. Selvin was swamped around left end and actually lost yards. Thus ends what had the makings of a nice drive after two solid completions by Young.

5:47 p.m. -- Some razzle-dazzle doesn't work. WR Andre Jarrett had Steve Smith open on the double pass (first backward to Jarrett in the flat) but overthrew him. Presumably, that's why Jarrett is a wide receiver.

5:49 p.m. -- This is no way to spring an upset. Texas stops Bush short of the first on third down, but a face mask on Michael Huff allows USC to keep the ball.

5:51 p.m. -- Groan in the press box as Tarrell Brown nearly picks off Leinart. Texas better start making some of these plays if it wants to stay in this game.

5:54 p.m. -- Leinart sneak on fourth down. Very close. He didn't make it! Texas ball! Perhaps Bush should have stayed in the backfield to give him a push rather than go in motion.

5:58 p.m. -- It never ceases to amaze me how officials pretend that spotting the ball is such an exact science. With so many bodies in the fray, how can they possibly tell with certainty? Yet, you have to respect the way that once an official picks a spot, he sticks with it as it came down from the mountaintop with Moses. Then they bring out the chains and act like everything is precise down to the millimeter. Well done.

5:58 p.m. -- First sweet Vince Young run, for 15 yards. Great moves. Hard to believe he's as big as he is when you see him in person.

6:00 p.m. -- FUMBLE! Fortunately for the Longhorns, they fall on this one but now it's third-and-long. Selvin Young catches a screen pass in the flat but when his knee touches the ground, he's down and it's time to punt. By the way, why do they keep that rule in the college game? There was nobody around him; why shouldn't he be allowed to get up and run? Would it interfere with his schoolwork?

6:04 p.m. -- Nine yards for LenDale White. The scuttlebutt in L.A. this week is that White is definitely headed to the NFL. Why not stay around for a year if Bush goes pro, as is likely, to finally be the man and a Heisman candidate?

6:10 p.m. -- End of the first quarter, USC 7-0. The Trojans capped the quarter with TE Dominique Byrd barely reaching the first-down marker on a third-down grab to keep a drive alive. That enabled me to make a quick chili run here in the press box. Is this Texas chili? From the first taste, I hope not.

6:14 p.m. -- FUMBLE! TEXAS ball! Wow, big play. Bush gets loose on a pass over the middle and dukes numerous defenders for a long gain. Then, inexplicably, he tries to lateral the ball as he goes down and Texas recovers the loose ball. Perhaps Stewart Mandel is right that Bush could be a tad distracted and have an off game. And to think how the other writers laughed at Stew when he said that!

6:18 p.m. -- Texas marching deep in USC territory. Young scrambles away from trouble and finds a wide-open Brian Carter for 26 down to the 27, then runs for 12 down to the 15 on the next play. Longhorns might finally be over jitters.

6:19 p.m. -- Spoke too soon. Ramonce Taylor fumbles; while UT recovers, it loses 13 yards. This is no way to topple a dynasty, fellas.

6:20 p.m. -- David Pino drills a 46-yard field goal for Texas to make it 7-3 USC with 10:38 left in the second quarter.

6:23 p.m. -- How should the Longhorns feel right now? On the one hand, with all the mistakes they have made, they're lucky to only be down 7-3. On the other hand, UT has shown that it has the athletes to play with USC if they wouldn't keep self-destructing. Vince Young is 9-for-10 passing for 72 yards and has run four times for 42 more. That's pretty salty.

6:26 p.m. -- First replay review of the night, on whether or not USC's Steve Smith caught the ball or not. These are always fun. Do I have time to run for more chili? It's pretty hard to tell on the replay (on the catch, not the chili). Play stands as ruled on the field (as complete), which sounds fair enough.

6:31 p.m. -- White with another nice run up the gut. The conventional wisdom in Sportswriterland this week has been that this game might set up better for the powerful 235-pound White than Bush because the Texas defense is so fast. So far that's been the case. UT has held Bush to 31 yards on seven carries -- make that 32 on eight.

6:35 p.m. -- UT fans now love the replay rule. Michael Griffin's INT in the end zone was initially ruled incomplete, but the replay showed that Griffin's right foot did indeed come down. The replay was shown on the jumbo screen here at the Rose Bowl just before USC lined up to run another play, sending a huge roar through the Texas cheering section that probably helped stop play for the review. UT is hanging around.

6:40 p.m. -- Touchdown, Texas!

6:42 p.m. -- Wow, UT fans must like replay, or the lack thereof, even more now. Vince Young rolled out on option and, after gaining 10 yards to the 12, managed to pitch it to Selvin Young, who went the rest of the way for the TD. Yet the replay shows that Vince Young's knee was down before he made the pitch. However, the play was not reviewed before Pino attempted (and missed) the extra point. So it's 9-7 Texas, though this is a score (and non-call) we may be hearing about for years.

6:45 p.m. -- Still, no denying that it was an impressive 80-yard drive by Texas. Vince Young has been terrific, and he completed three more passes on the drive. We definitely have a ballgame.

6:47 p.m. -- Texas forces a three-and-out. They're really Working on The Railroad now.

6:51 p.m. -- Young takes a shot deep on first down from midfield (with under four minutes left) that falls incomplete, but good call. Go for the jugular.

Ramonce Taylor looked more like Reggie Bush than Reggie Bush in the first half. Donald Miralle/Getty Images

6:52 p.m. -- Touchdown, Texas!

6:55 p.m. -- Ramonce Taylor goes 30 yards around left end for the TD. No controversy this time. The score came one play after Young found tight end David Thomas, who seems to be open on every snap, for a key third-down conversion. Extra point good this time, 16-7 Texas with 2:34 to play in the half. Let's see if USC can answer.

6:57 p.m. -- Vince Young is 13-of-15 for 113 yards passing and has run for 60 yards on six carries. Maybe he's still upset about not winning the Heisman.

6:59 p.m. -- Huge play by the guy who did win the Heisman this year, as Bush picks up 17 yards off left tackle on third-and-12. It must be nice to call a running play with confidence on third-and-12. USC up near midfield with 2:02 left in the half.

7:03 p.m. -- Ooohh! Leinart scrambles for a first down down to the Texas 25, but he was met there by a big hit from defensive back Aaron Ross. Leinart seemed to get up a little woozy, but now he's back after a timeout. Nice completion to Bush on the next play, USC is at the 13.

7:05 p.m. -- Big sack by UT's Frank Okum to push USC back to the 20 and force a timeout, the Trojans' second, with 32 seconds left in the half. It's second and 17.

7:07 p.m. -- Another sack credited to Okum, though Leinart actually slipped while trying to evade heavy pressure from several Longhorns. The Trojans seem discombobulated before finally calling their final timeout with eights seconds left for a FG attempt. Yes, that will be the last use of the word "discombobulated."

7:08 p.m. -- Field goal up and ... GOOD! 16-10 Texas. Mario Danelo hits a 43-yard field goal with two seconds left, which is actually his career long. His dad, former Giants kicker Joe Danelo, must be proud. No word yet on how Ali Haji-Sheikh feels about it.

7:10 p.m. -- Halftime, 16-10 Texas. Yes, folks, we have ourselves a ballgame, if a tad lower-scoring than expected. I recommend you forage around for some food, which is what I plan to do.

7:32 p.m. -- Interesting nugget: This is actually the fifth time this year that USC has trailed at halftime, including by as many as 18 points. Do they have the Longhorns right where they want them?

7:35 p.m. -- The halftime stats are pretty even. USC has 244 total yards, Texas 234. Vince Young has 173 total yards, Reggie Bush 122. Two turnovers for USC to one for Texas, which might be the difference.

7:36 p.m. -- Texas will receive the second-half kickoff after winning the toss and deferring. Penalty on the kickoff, naturally, so Texas starts on its own 19.

7:38 p.m. -- Young throws incomplete on third-and-six and the 'Horns have to punt it away. Here's another nugget -- Young completed his first nine passes of the game and his last six of the Big 12 championship game, giving him a school record of 15 consecutive completions, albeit over five weeks.

7:41 p.m. -- USC picks up a first down out past midfield on an 8-yard pass to fullback Brandon Hancock on third-and-2. Next play, Leinart finds Jarrett for a nice gain. Now it's first-and-10 at the Texas 22.

7:44 p.m. -- USC timeout. It's 16-10 Texas with 11:09 to play in the third quarter. The Trojans face a second down and five at the Longhorns' 17. In a side note, the press box chili is fairly disappointing. Nothing like the Hormel turkey chili I cook up at home.

7:46 p.m. -- White rumbles down to the Texas 3, running over Thorpe winner Michael Huff in the process

7:47 p.m. -- Touchdown!! White goes in from the 3 over the left side. Danelo's kick is good, 17-16 USC with 10:36 to play in the third. Well, that halftime deficit didn't last long.

7:50 p.m. -- Touchback. Texas starts at the 20.

7:53 p.m. -- Texas driving. Young sandwiches two completions to Limas Sweed around an 18-yard run. Jamaal Charles then gains six yards, Texas is at the USC 14.

7:54 p.m. -- Touchdown Texas!! Vince Young goes 14 yards around right end.

7:56 p.m. -- Pino extra point is good, 23-17 Texas. Young is over 100 yards rushing with 103 on 10 carries. Texas holds serve, now it's USC's turn.

Vince Young became the first player in Div. I history to rush for 1,000 yards and throw for 2,500 yards in the same season. AP

7:59 p.m. -- Here's a stat that the PA announcer is so excited about that I feel I would be letting him down if I didn't bring it to a wider audience. LenDale White and Reggie Bush now have a combined 97 touchdowns, tying Army's Glenn (Mr. Outside) Davis and Doc (Mr. Inside) Blanchard for the most by teammates.

8:00 p.m. -- Oooh, nice stick by Aaron Ross on Dwayne Jarrett to drop him for a two-yard loss on a pass in the flat. Now it's third-and-five and ... Leinart complete to TE Fred Davis over the middle for 12. First down at the Texas 45.

8:01 p.m. -- Leinart complete to Jarrett on deep slant for 24 yards, down to the UT 21.

8:02 p.m. -- Leinart complete to Byrd, brings up big third-and-one at the 12. Leinert appears to have Davis for the first but he's out of bounds. They'll go for it on fourth. Big play!!

8:04 p.m. -- Touchdown USC! White once more, busting over right tackle for 12 yards and the score, his third of the game. He can hear the dollar signs now. Extra point is good, 24-23 USC, 4:07 left in the third. This is starting to look like the shootout that some (including B.J. Schecter) predicted.

8:09 p.m. -- That TD also moves White and Bush past Army's famed duo for most combined TD's by teammates, a stat that has SI's Mark Beech, a West Point grad, somewhat up in arms. His point is that Army only played nine games a year then and did not go to bowl games. Others, however, wonder how much of a fight the Iowa Pre-Flight team of 1944 put up. The press-box debate is ruled a draw for now because the current game is too good to argue about it anymore.

8:10 p.m. -- Wow, great scramble by Young, rumbling 45 yards all the way down to the USC 20. That came after Young completed a third-down pass to TE Thomas, who still hasn't been covered all night. Young is definitely making his mark tonight.

8:12 p.m. -- Third and four from the 16 ... throwback to Thomas, who this time is tackled quickly for no gain. Field goal attempt upcoming.

8:17 p.m. -- Longhorns ice themselves by failing to get the kick off before the end of the THIRD QUARTER. Pino, he of the missed extra point, faces a 33-yard attempt to retake the lead when we come back. Here we are ... it's up and ... NO GOOD! Pushed to the right. If he's not careful, Pino might mean "Pariah" in Texas.

8:18 p.m. -- So it's still 24-23 USC with 14:55 to play. USC now gets the ball for the third time this half; it's scored on both previous possessions.

8:21 p.m. -- Leinart complete to Jarrett for 8 yards on first down. He's now 23 of 33 for 255 yards, so Young certainly hasn't been the only standout quarterback on the field. But the Trojans lose four yards on a reverse -- that Texas defense is awful fast -- and call their second timeout facing third-and-6 on their own 24.

8:23 p.m. -- Leinert hits Jarrett on the slant for 12 yards and a first down at the USC 36. Big play.

8:26 p.m. -- White for 8 yards, first down at the Texas 49. Then Bush gets strung out for no gain going wide right; it's not easy to get that edge against Texas.

8:29 p.m. -- Thunder is taking over, bulling his way for runs of six and 15 yards down to the 26. He has been a man.

8:30 p.m. -- Lightning strikes! Bush goes around the right side for 26 yards and a TOUCHDOWN!

8:30 p.m. -- Hold on, folks. The play is under review. Did Bush step out of bounds? The refs say no. Touchdown, USC! 30-23.

8:31 p.m. -- Danelo's extra point is good, 31-23 with 11:19 left. Wow, that missed extra point (and missed field goal) for Texas are looming large.

8:34 p.m. -- Texas starts from its 31. USC has scored touchdowns every time it has touched the ball this half. Can the Longhorns keep up? Near disaster averted by the 'Horns. Charles originally appeared to fumble after making a reception and the Trojans recovered, but it was finally ruled incomplete. Now, of course, it's under review.

8:37 p.m. -- Play stands as ruled on the field, Texas keeps ball. Second and 10 from the 31. Young flings it out to Billy Pittman for 12 yards and a first down with 11:05 left.

8:38 p.m. -- Young throws a dart deep over the middle to Pittman for 23 yards down to the USC 34. Now Selvin Young picks up eight. It's second-and-two at the USC 26.

8:40 p.m. -- Selvin Young picks up the first down before an incomplete pass. Second-and-10 from the 22. QB draw, V. Young bulls for about five, call it third-and-five from the 17. Four-down territory?

8:42 p.m. -- Vince Young stopped for no gain ... he actually fumbled the ball but it was recovered by UT. Now Pino attempts a field goal from 34 yards. Up and ... GOOD! Big sigh of relief from the Texas fans. 31-26 USC with 8:46 left. But can the Texas D stop the USC offense, which it hasn't done in the second half?

8:45 p.m. -- Long completion to FB David Kirtman, with a roughing-the-passer penalty tacked on. The pass was 33 yards, then 15 for the penalty, so it's already first-and-10 at the Texas 31. Next, White runs up middle for 9 yards down to the 22.

8:49 p.m. -- Touchdown, Trojans! Leinart zips it to Jarrett over the middle, who catches it amidst double coverage at the 3 and lunges in for the score ... 37-26 pending the extra point. USC's offensive stars have certainly answered the bell in the second half.

It certainly looked like USC was in command when Reggie Bush flipped into the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Harry How/Getty Images

8:54 p.m. -- Danelo's extra point is is good ... 38-26 USC with 6:42 left. This is a familiar storyline for USC this season, of course; meander for the first half before letting the offense fly in the second half. That's four possessions and four touchdowns since intermission, and against an excellent defense to boot. Does Vince Young have any magic left? (Statistical nugget: Young just became the first player ever to run for 1,000 and throw for 2,500 yards in the same season. Still, let's see him do it against Iowa Pre-Flight.)

8:57 p.m. -- Three straight completions for Young, first down on the USC 37.

8:58 p.m. -- Oooh, Young floated that pass up there and was fortunate it wasn't picked. Second-and-10 with 5:31 left. He scrambles for eight yards, now third-and-two. Another clutch grab by Thomas for the first down at the 23. Texas breathes still.

9:00 p.m. -- Touchdown, Texas! Young on a great scramble, heading left, reversing field to his right and going 17 yards for the score. The extra point is up and good ... 38-33 USC with 4:03 left. Young now has rushed for 180 yards on 16 carries and completed 26 of 33 passes for 236 yards. That's 416 total yards. But can Texas stop USC?

9:03 p.m. -- Here we go. USC starts from its 34 with 3:58 left. Two first downs and this one is likely done. White up the middle for three on first down. Play-action on second down, great sideline tiptoe catch by Jarrett for the first down. Wow.

9:06 p.m. -- USC throws again on second down, but this time it's incomplete. Now it's third-and-seven at midfield with the clock stopped at 2:22. White rumbles up the middle and is stopped two yards short. Texas timeout. It's fourth-and-two with 2:13 left at the Texas 45. Decision time for the Trojans. Go for it or punt?

9:08 p.m. -- USC brings its offense on the field. White goes off left tackle. It's very close! It will depend, once again, on the highly precise science of spotting the football. He's short! Texas ball!! First and 10 on their own 44 with 2:09 left, trailing 38-33! What a game!

9:09 p.m. -- Taylor loses two on first-down screen, then Young throws incomplete on second down. Third-and-12 from the Texas 42. It's very loud. Complete to Quan Cosby a little short of the first down, but hold on. A late flag. Five-yard facemask on USC to provide the first down. First and 10 at the USC 46, 1:22 left.

9:12 p.m. -- Carter catches a short pass over the middle. Does he fumble? Nobody seems to know, including the refs. They'll pass this hot potato to the replay officials. (While we have a moment, is Lost coming back next week?) Call stands, a catch and then down, Texas keeps ball with 1:04 left at the USC 37.

9:14 p.m. -- Young scrambles for a first and gets out of bounds at the 30 to stop the clock. Tacklers just seem to fall off this guy.

9:15 p.m. -- Young to Carter for 17 yards over middle, out of bounds. First down at 13, 45 seconds left. Sweed on fade in back of end zone ... he catches it, but out of bounds. Second down. Phew.

9:17 p.m. -- Young on QB draw. USC seems to have him cornered for a loss, but he gets free. Gain of five, third-and-five at the 8. Texas takes a timeout, one left. Thirty seconds left.

9:18 p.m. -- Young to Sweed over middle. Oooh! Looked like he had him, but no grab. 1,095 combined yards tonight.

9:19 p.m. -- Touchdown, Texas!!! Young scrambles eight yards around the right side for the score with 19 seconds left. Texas leads 39-38, will go for two. Wow!

9:20 p.m. -- USC calls timeout before the two-point play to allow us to catch our breath. That run gave Young 200 yards rushing on 10 carries. Ladies and gentlemen, there's your MVP unless USC has some real magic saved up.

9:21 p.m. -- Fittingly, Young makes the two-point conversion by bulling his way over several defenders on the QB draw. After all, he is 6-5 and 233 pounds. What a performance. Now it's 41-38 with 19 seconds left. Do you squib the kickoff?

9:23 p.m. -- Texas does squib. USC takes over on its own 31 with 16 seconds left, but no timeouts. Figure two plays, three at most.

9:24 p.m. -- Shovel pass to Bush, gets down to the UT 42 before going out of bounds with eight seconds left.

9:25 p.m. -- Incomplete to Jarrett. Time has run out! Texas wins!!! 41-38!! The streak (34 games) is over! Long live the streak (20 and counting for UT)!

9:27 p.m. -- What a great game. Thanks for sticking with me. I'm heading down to the field now. Please catch the 10 Spot tomorrow, and remember to send your reader submissions for Friday's edition. Also, remember who called this Texas victory. (That's right, me.)