We've heard whispers of the concern, but this is the first time I've seen in print that Texas may have some worries about going to the MNC even with a win against Nebraska.  We need a BCS math nerd to break down the concern developing.  College Football News has a new article addressing the issue, and here is the quote and link:

Could Florida still play for the national title if it loses to Alabama, no matter what Texas does?

At the moment, Texas is ranked No. 2 by the humans and aren't likely to be ranked No. 1 no matter how big the win over Nebraska. If Florida beats Alabama, then it's a done deal with the Gators playing the Longhorns in the BCS Championship. But if Alabama wins the SEC Championship game it'll almost certainly go from No. 3 to No. 1 in both human polls, Texas will stay at No. 2, and Florida, assuming it's a close loss to the Tide, would likely fall no further than No. 3. The computers would be the X factor, but the final results might turn out to be very, very, very close. The Gators, with a loss, might still play for the national title if they fall no further than third in the human polls; they might have to be dropped to No. 4 unless the computers give Texas a big boost, and that likely won't happen unless Cincinnati loses to Pitt. In other words, this might not be as cut and dry as you think, and if you're a Texas fan, get the Florida pom-poms out just to make sure.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/924401.html

I listented to the press conference this morning and there were some good tidbits:

On the injury front, Aaron Williams will be returning this week.  And Muckelroy briefly left the game with a stinger, but is fine and will play this week.  Other than that.....no new injuries.

James Kirkendoll will replace Goodwin at the other WR starting spot

Cody Johnson is officially the starter at running back this week (He was co-starter last week, but Fozzy started the game).  Mack mentioned that Newton will finally get some touches this week, which will cut into Fozzy's recent workload.

The Big 12 and networks have claimed the 6 day wait on announcing the Kansas-Texas kickoff.......which will now be determined next Sunday or Monday.  Seems as though the likely times will be 2:30 or 6:00.........outside shot at 7:00.

Update from Statesman: 

The Texas Longhorns’ game against Kansas on Nov. 21 has been scheduled for either 2:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. on ABC.

If the Longhorns beat Baylor on Saturday, quarterback Colt McCoy will be trying to set the NCAA record for wins.

http://twitter.com/bevobeat

The game will be broadcast either on ABC or ESPN2, to be decided next week. 

Well, there goes my halloween plans with my kiddo's!  I think it's safe to say this will be our Texas Tech test of a road game for this year.  What a raucous scene this will be in Stillwater on Halloween Night, and this will make for a potentially stressful Halloween for Horn fans for sure.

link to espn article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4557113

From what I am reading, there appears to be a timeframe for Dez Bryant to get reinstated by the NCAA in the article:

Bryant's apology accompanies Oklahoma State's formal reinstatement request to the NCAA, in which associate athletic director for compliance Scott Williams asks the NCAA to consider "unique circumstances" and hand down a lighter punishment for Bryant.

Williams notes that "the threshold penalty for a violation of this nature is 50 percent withholding," apparently referring to a standard punishment that Bryant would be forced to miss half of the No. 15 Cowboys' games for his rules violation.

Based upon the last statement, it appears Oklahoma State is hoping to have Dez eligible for at least half of the 12 games they play during the regular season.  He played the first 3 games, but sat out  the last 2 games......which means he could be forced to sit out at least the next 4 games (yes, this includes missing the Texas game) and perhaps could become eligible once again on November 14 against Texas Tech.

Then again when it comes to the NCAA......who knows.

Yikes!  Here are the mock standings from Brad Edwards at ESPN if the BCS came out this week:

MOCK BCS STANDINGS

But Brad says to relax if you're Texas.......if they win out, they'll be fine.  So Texas just needs to focus on the task at hand that is O-WHO.  The real BCS standings come out next week.......and I had forgotten how much I hate this BCS stuff.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?page=roadtobcs/0901

per the statesman:

Jared Norton out for year

By Richard Tijerina | Monday, September 21, 2009, 11:29 AM

Middle linebacker Jared Norton, who was injured in the season-opening win over Louisiana-Monroe, will undergo surgery on his knee and is out for the season, Mack Brown said Monday.

Roddrick Muckelroy has been starting in the middle the past two games. He’s leading the Longhorns in total tackles (23) and also has four tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and four quarterback pressures.

He was Texas’ defensive player of the game against Texas Tech, Brown said.

Norton, a senior, will apply to the NCAA for a medical hardship, which would allow him to return next season. Players are allowed to play in as many as three of the first five games and still be eligible for medical hardships.

“Most of the time, the NCAA approves that. But it has to be approved by the NCAA,” Brown said.

I heard on 1530 AM this morning from Chip Brown that Mack said he had a long talk with Colt on Sunday about his play through the first 2 games.  Basically Mack wants Colt to settle down and start having fun again.  It's good to know that Mack realizes that his most valuable player has been pressing through the first 2 games.  Also Colt indicated he wanted to run much more as he feels it gets him into the flow of the game more, and Mack acknowledged from here on out that Colt will be doing just that.  I'm all for it.......whatever gets Colt to be like he was last year.  Not to say that his play has been awful, but I think we all realize he's been trying to do to much.  Chip further said it seemed like Colt had a huge weight lifted off his shoulders when he talked to him on Monday, and was much more relaxed like he was last year.  So, run Colt run..........and have fun! 

This was posted yesterday on the Statesman online, anybody got an update on the MRI results??:

Damion James has knee checked out

By Mark Rosner | Monday, February 2, 2009, 04:56 PM

Longhorn junior Damion James injured his knee against Kansas State on Saturday and was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday afternoon, Texas coach Rick Barnes said.

But Barnes he didn’t know how the injury occurred, when it happened during the game or James’ status for Wednesday’s game against Missouri.

James leads the team in rebounds with 8.6 rebounds per game and is second on the team at 15.7 points.

New article out today by The Sporting News about Bomar's situation.  The third column, top paragraph has some interesting quotes from Bomar's Dad about his incident while at Oklahoma.

"He and I both know that Oklahoma got off light and he didn't," Jerry Bomar said Wednesday.  "They're not innocent in this deal.....Bob Stoops comes across as 'Mr. I Did the Right Thing' and there's stuff about Bob Stoops that if right now I told people, everybody would be saying 'What?'"

link to the full page article below:

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20090122/?pg=5

Courtesy of the Statesman:

Shipley appeals for sixth year, plans to return

Thursday, December 18, 2008, 02:05 PM

Fifth-year senior receiver Jordan Shipley has filed the necessary paperwork with the NCAA to apply for a sixth year of eligibility.

Because of a series of knee and hamstring problems, Shipley missed two full seasons with the Longhorns, finally coming into his own this year, when he was named a third-team Associated Press All-American.

Shipley said he has no intention of entering the NFL draft if the NCAA grants him the medical hardship extra year.

Texas coach Mack Brown sounded optimistic that the request would be granted. “He lost two years,” Brown said. “There’s no gray area here now.”