Colt proves he's the real McCoy

 GLENDALE - The Texas Longhorns didn't even crack the Associated Press' top 10 in the preseason ranking.

 In the Big 12 preseason media poll, they were thought of as the fourth-best team in the conference.

 This was supposed to be a "rebuilding" year. Their two-deep charts for offense and defense featured just nine seniors.

 And Colt McCoy? He was just another quarterback in the Big 12 factory of playcallers, no higher than third on anyone's list, all of which said Missouri's Chase Daniel was the lead gunslinger.

 Getting to a BCS bowl would be considered exceeding expectations.

 Now, provided McCoy dodges the NFL for one more year, those season outlooks will be significantly different next year in Austin, Texas, co-national championship or no co-championship.

 "I'm not sure. I hope so," Texas receiver Quan Cosby said of their national title chances when next week's polls are released. "We've taken care of business all year. Ohio State is very underrated. Their defense and offense are one of the best in the country and they gave us a huge battle. We were just fortunate to have Colt leading the way."

 Texas players and coaches weren't talking about next year following Monday's 24-21 Fiesta Bowl win against No. 10 Ohio State on Monday at University of Phoenix Stadium. But everything the No. 3 Longhorns did on the field spoke loud and clear of what kind of team they have coming back.

 And most importantly, what kind of quarterback they have running the show.

 Forget the gaudy statistics (3,445 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 77.6 percent completion percentage) if its possible. Forget that he was the team's leading rusher this year. Don't even bring up the 41 completions in 58 pass attempts and 414 yards Monday night.

 One 2-minute drill says it all.

 "I told the guys, 'Look me right in the eye. Look me in the eye,'" he said. "'You don't have to do anything special. Each one of you keep doing what you've been doing all night long. Do what you can do to win and we'll make it work.'"

 McCoy ran once and threw 10 times in the final 1:56 on the Longhorns' 11-play scoring drive to beat the Buckeyes. He used three different receivers - two who are also expected to return next year - and found them in spots that got first downs or provided space to get out of bounds. And when Cosby crossed the goal line, there were 16 seconds remaining and a time out in the Longhorns' pocket.

 An eternity for the Longhorns' offense.

 "A lot of people see it on Saturday, but I see it every day," Cosby said of McCoy. "I see him talking football and his preparation and his character. To have a guy like that is special. He's a baller and a gamer and the best in the country by far."

 Texas head coach Mack Brown's thoughts on his quarterback's final drive came down to one word: Heisman.

 "There are very few records left at our school that he can break, but I thought tonight under a tremendous amount of pressure he played as well as any quarterback can possibly play," he said. "He is very strong. He is strong-willed and he is a guy that's very confident and he never thinks he is going to lose."

 A 2009 season in Austin may mean never having to lose, whether its a conference championship, a national championship, or that coveted stiff-arming statue.