2001 Texas Longhorns football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 football 2001 Texas Longhorns Texas Longhorns logo.svg Big 12 Conference South Division Big 12 5 5 11–2 7–1 Mack Brown 4th Greg Davis 4th Pro-style Carl Reese 4th 4–3 Major Applewhite Ahmad Brooks D.D. Lewis Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Big 12 South championHoliday Bowl champion Holiday Bowl W 47–43 vs. Washington Big 12 Championship Game L 37–39 vs. Colorado The 2001 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin as a member of the South Division of the Big 12 Conference during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by head coach Mack Brown and played their home games at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Horns compiled an overall record of 11–2, 7–1 in conference play, enough to win the South Division and a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game where they lost to Colorado 37–39. They were invited to the Holiday Bowl where they came back to beat Washington 47–43. The Longhorns began the season ranked No. 5, their highest preseason ranking since 1983, with lopsided victories over New Mexico State, North Carolina, Houston, and Texas Tech before their showdown with defending national champions Oklahoma in Dallas. The game was a defensive battle, and untimately hinged on a crucial play in the 4th quarter.'The Superman Play' at 20: Roy Williams' amazing leap still resonates in Red River Showdown https://www.espn.co.uk/college-football/story/_/id/32327037/the-superman-play-20-roy-williams-amazing-leap-resonates-red-river-showdown ESPN January 9, 2026 Down 3–7, Chris Simms and the Longhorns took over on their own three yard line. Oklahoma safety Roy Williams literally leapt over the offensive line to make contact with Simms the moment he released the ball, which fell into the arms of Sooner linebacker Teddy Lehman for a game sealing pick-six. The loss dropped the Longhorns to No. 11 but they rattled off six straight conference victories to finish 7–1 in conference play. Oklahoma State's upset of Oklahoma secured Texas' South Division title and a rematch against Colorado in the Big 12 Championship game. The Longhorns entered the Big 12 Championship game ranked #3. An upset loss by #2 Florida earlier in the game meant that Texas was almost certainly playing for a spot in the Rose Bowl for the BCS Championship. The game was the worst of Simms career, committing four turnovers including a 64-yard pick six in the first half. Simms exited the game with a fractured finger and backup Major Applewhite was able to cut the lead to 30-36 late but fell short after a roughing the punter penalty allowed the Buffaloes to take a 9-point lead.No. 3 Texas – Big 12 Championship Game – Buffs Claim Big 12 Title https://www.cuatthegame.com/2001/3-texas-big-12-championship-game/ cuatthegame.com January 9, 2026 The loss cost Texas an appearance in any of the four major BCS Bowls. Instead the Longhorns were invited to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego to play Washington. Applewhite started and, despite a sluggish start, led a dramaticCulligan Holiday Bowl: Texas vs. Washington https://www.espn.com/ncf/bowls01/holiday.html ESPN January 9, 2026 19-point comeback in the fourth quarter to win the game 47–43. Schedule 2001 AP Central September 1 6:00 p.m. w y 5 New Mexico State Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX FSN 41–7 82,856Cumulative Season Statistics http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/stats/01/teamcume.htm University of Texas–Austin Department of Athletics July 25, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120508075257/http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/stats/01/teamcume.htm 2012-05-08 dead September 8 11:00 a.m. w y 4 North Carolina Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX ABC 44–14 83,106 September 22 8:00 p.m. w y y 5 Houston Robertson Stadium Houston, TX ESPN2 53–26 31,784 September 29 6:00 p.m. w 5 Texas Tech Battle for the Chancellor's Spurs Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX FSN 42–7 83,081 October 6 2:30 p.m. l y 5 Oklahoma 3 Red River Shootout) (College GameDay Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX ABC 3–14 75,587 October 13 11:30 a.m. w y 11 Oklahoma State Lewis Field Stillwater, OK FSN 45–17 47,390 October 20 2:30 p.m. w 9 Colorado 14 Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX ABC 41–7 83,156 October 27 1:00 p.m. w y 7 Missouri Faurot Field Columbia, MO 35–16 51,123 November 3 11:30 a.m. w y 5 Baylor rivalry Floyd Casey Stadium Waco, TX FSN 49–10 40,451 November 10 11:30 a.m. w 5 Kansas Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX 59–0 83,111 November 23 11:00 a.m. w y 5 Texas A&M rivalry Kyle Field College Station, TX ABC 21–7 87,555 December 1 7:00 p.m l y 3 Colorado 9 Big 12 Championship Game Texas Stadium Irving, TX ABC 37–39 65,675 December 28 7:30 p.m w y y 9 Washington 21 Holiday Bowl Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, CA ESPN 47–43 60,548All Time Results https://web.archive.org/web/20101101042752/http://mackbrown-texasfootball.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/all-time-results.html November 1, 2010 Rankings 2001 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 16 5 (5) 5 (4) 4 (4) 5 (4) 5 (4) 5 (4) 11 9 7 5 5 5 5 3 10 9 5 Coaches Poll 0 16 6 (2) 6 (2) 6 (1) 6 5 5 11 8 7 5 5 5 5 3 10 9 5 BCS 8 15 6 5 5 6 6 3 7 7 Roster 2001 Texas Longhorns f 2 Jr Chris Simms QB y 4 So Roy Williams Roy Williams (wide receiver) WR y 5 RsFr Chance Mock QB y 32 Fr Cedric Benson Cedric Benson RB y 11 Sr Major Applewhite QB y 40 Jr Cory Redding DE y *Mack Brown References Texas Category:Texas Longhorns football seasons Category:Holiday Bowl champion seasons Texas Longhorns football Category:Long stubs with short prose