Texas will be the favorite... if Vince Young comes back

	If Vince Young returns next year, Texas will be favored to repeat and he'll be favored to snatch the trophy resembling this pose. 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

Amidst the postgame celebration on the field following Texas' Rose Bowl victory late Wednesday, Austin resident Lance Armstrong -- a guy who knows a little something about following up a championship -- summed up the state of Texas football: "The good news is, we're national champions," said Armstrong. "The bad news is, I don't think Vince [Young] is coming back -- and I don't blame him."

As anyone who watched Young's epic performance against USC can attest, the 'Horns would not be national champions today if not for their awe-inspiring junior quarterback. So naturally, any talk of a potential repeat in 2006 begins and ends with Young as well.

For months, the Houston native swore he'd be back for his senior season just like all of Mack Brown's previous junior stars (Nathan Vasher, Derrick Johnson, Roy Williams, Cedric Benson). His stance started to soften in the week leading up to the Rose Bowl, however, and was clearly on the fence during his postgame news conference on Wednesday night.

"It's all about sitting down with my family and making the right decision," he said. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft is Jan. 15.

The 'Horns lose a few key seniors -- most notably All-Americas Jonathan Scott, Rodrique Wright and Michael Huff -- but return a solid nucleus of tailbacks Selvin Young, Jamaal Charles and Ramonce Taylor, key receivers Limas Sweed, Billy Pittman and Quan Cosby, three starting offensive linemen and most of the defense. Young is the key to it all, however. Without him, Texas may be forced to hand the keys to the offense to a first-year player -- either redshirt freshman Colt McCoy or incoming frosh Jevan Snead. Not exactly the recipe for a repeat.

But it's also not like the wheels will come tumbling off if Young bolts. The fact is, Mack Brown's program has been among the elite nationally for several years now, but needed Wednesday's victory to gain that last strand of credibility. The 'Horns have been recruiting juggernauts for years -- their current class is ranked at or near the top by most services -- and they only figure to get stronger from here. Brown isn't going anywhere, and while his staff is full of highly respected assistants, most of them are not the type who will be jumping at the first big offer.

Without Young, Texas will be hard-pressed to win another title next season. But don't count on the 'Horns going another 35 years without one, either.