Texas not only football team with something to prove

Texas has something to prove this week – and the Longhorns are not alone.

Georgia, California, Texas Tech, Penn State and Nebraska all head into today with unbeaten records but questions about just how good they are.

There’s no question the Longhorns are good. Texas has been ranked No. 2 since the preseason and validated that with a 25-22 victory at Ohio State the second week of the season. But Mack Brown’s crew enters the Red River Shootout with a five-game losing streak to Oklahoma.

The difference this season is the Longhorns are the clear favorite. The Sooners (2-2), the winningest team in the country since 2000, are in a rebuilding year.

But let’s not forget, this is Oklahoma. It’s not like the Sooners don’t have talent, and all the pressure is on Texas (4-0).

The Big 12’s other big game is in Lincoln, where Texas Tech visits Nebraska.

The Red Raiders handed the Cornhuskers the most lopsided loss in the 115-year history of Nebraska football last season, a 70-10 defeat in Lubbock.

“I think every year is different,” said Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan, echoing Brown.

Tech (4-0) has moved up the rankings to No. 15 without facing much competition, and Nebraska’s 4-0 record wasn’t good enough to break into the AP Top 25 this week. Maybe a win over Texas Tech will convince the voters that the Huskers are back.

While Texas Tech has taken a fair share of criticism for a nonconference schedule that included Florida International and two Division I-AA schools, it should be noted that No. 10 California’s five opponents have a combined record of 4-19.

The Golden Bears face their first real threat against No. 20 UCLA.

No. 16 Penn State is 5-0 for the first time since 1999, coming off an impressive win over Minnesota.

The picks: