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LINCOLN, Nebraska (Ticker) -- Quarterback Eric Crouch ran for a career-high 137 yards and a touchdown and the defense did the rest for No. 9 Nebraska, which handed 18th-ranked Texas A&M its first shutout in 11 years in a 37-0 Big 12 Conference wipeout. Cornerback Mike Brown made two of Nebraska's four interceptions as the unit nicknamed the "Blackshirts" held Texas A&M to 118 total yards and just two on the ground. "I think it's one of those days where you get a few things going for you and the other team doesn't," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said. "And before you know it, you're steamrolling. They stopped them on the ground and it really hurt A&M in terms of finding an offensive rhythm. Without question, our defense controlled the game." Including bowls, it was the first time the Aggies have been shut out in a school-record 142 games since a 27-0 loss at Louisiana State in the second game of the 1988 season. "We played horrible offense," Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. "We were very inept. We couldn't run the ball. When we tried to pass the ball, basically we couldn't protect long enough to get the ball off. We had a very disappointing day offensively. I have a lot of respect for their defense. At the same time, we should be able to perform better offensively than that." Crouch completed 9-of-20 passes, Dan Alexander ran for 135 yards and a score and Josh Brown booted a career-best three field goals for the Cornhuskers, who turned a 6-0 halftime lead into a blowout with 17 points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth. Nebraska (8-1, 5-1 Big 12 North) controls its own destiny to win the North, but the road is tough. The Cornhuskers can win the division by beating unbeaten Kansas State next weekend and Colorado thereafter. Texas A&M (6-3, 3-3 South) saw its chances for the South title snuffed in falling to 2-7 all-time against Nebraska. In losses to Oklahoma and Nebraska, the Aggies have been outscored 87-6. Randy McCown was 11-of-30 for 116 yards and four interceptions for Texas A&M. He was sacked eight times and finished with minus-67 yards rushing. "There was too much pressure on Randy, so he couldn't get the ball out to the receivers," Texas A&M guard Chris Valletta said. "That's what happens. Any time you can't put any points on the board against any team, it hurts your pride. It got bent today, but we're not going to let it affect us." On the first play from scrimmage, Nebraska wingback Bobby Newcombe fumbled away the ball at his own 11. But McCown recovered his own fumble for a six-yard loss, threw an incompletion a play later and watched Kyle Vanden Bosch block Terrence Kitchens' 28-yard field goal attempt. On the ensuing drive, Josh Brown hit the left upright on his 21-yard attempt, but Mike Brown intercepted McCown to give the Cornhuskers the ball at the Texas A&M 20. Willie Miller fumbled it back to the Aggies two plays later. With 9:28 left in the second quarter, Vanden Bosch blocked a 31-yard attempt by Kitchens to preserve the shutout. Kitchens is 15-of-23 on field goals this season, with seven -- including the last three -- getting blocked. "It's something we've worked on; the trajectory of the ball was too low," Slocum said. "We worked hard on it this week in practice with the kickers. I thought we had it worked out, but we didn't." Nebraska went three-and-out but Mike Brown stripped the ball from Ja'Mar Toombs and Jason Lohr recovered at the Texas A&M 12, leading to Josh Brown's 20-yard field goal that gave the Huskers the lead for good with 5:29 left in the first half. Mike Brown's interception of McCown gave Nebraska the ball at the 18 and Josh Brown converted from 31 yards to make it 6-0 with 46 seconds left in the half. "We had one of the best defensive performances that I've seen since I've been here," Mike Brown said. "We were able to get pressure on the quarterback and everyone was in good position all day. Texas A&M had a lot of big backs, but we did a good job of rallying to the ball and stayed fired up all game." "He was like a heat-seeking missile and played unbelievable," Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said of Mike Brown. Josh Brown's 36-yard field goal pushed the lead to 9-0 with 8:06 left in the third quarter and Alexander capped a three-play, 45-yard march with a six-yard scoring run to make it 16-0 with 5:50 left. Ralph Brown picked off McCown a play after Alexander fumbled out of the end zone and brought the ball down to the 2, from where Crouch scored on the next snap for a 23-0 bulge with 1:13 left in the third. "We couldn't match up with their momentum," said Aggies linebacker Jason Glenn. Correll Buckhalter's two-yard TD run with 11:06 left in the game capped Nebraska's longest drive of the season, a 98-yarder. Crouch carried three times for 89 yards on the seven-play drive, running a career-best 62 yards on one play. "In the first half, we had long drives, but couldn't finish them off," Crouch said. "However, we made adjustments in the second half and we came at them harder and harder. I think they just wore down as the game progressed." Freshman Dahrran Diedrick ran three yards for the final Nebraska touchdown with 3:02 left.
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