In-Vince-ible!

PASADENA, Calif. – Vince Young and Texas are second no more to Reggie Bush and Southern California.

With the national championship down to a final play, Young scrambled for an 8-yard touchdown on fourth down with 19 seconds left and the No. 2 Longhorns stunned the top-ranked Trojans 41-38 in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday night.

The high-scoring game everyone expected to see broke out in the second half – yet it was a defensive stop that was the key to Texas ending USC’s 34-game winning streak and Matt Leinart’s college career.

When USC coach Pete Carroll gambled, the Longhorns stuffed LenDale White on a fourth-and-2 at midfield with 2:09 left.

Young, bitterly disappointed at losing the Heisman to Bush, then wound up with the ultimate revenge. On a night when he ran for 200 yards and passed for 267 more, he capped a performance that Texas fans will remember forever by scoring the final TD and running for a two-point conversion

“It’s so beautiful,” Young said as he received the MVP crystal. “Don’t you think that’s beautiful? It’s coming home all the way to Austin, Texas.”

With the two highest-scoring teams in the country, many figured it would come down to which team had the ball last. It basically did, and USC was denied its unprecedented third straight title.

Texas players streamed onto the field with the Longhorns’ first outright national title since 1969. Young stood on the sideline in a sea of falling confetti, arms raised toward the crowd, and senior tackle William Winston unfurled a big, white Longhorns flag.

The Longhorns (13-0) won their 20th in a row, overcoming the 38-26 lead USC (12-1) held with 4 1/2 minutes left.

While the Longhorns’ band blared “The Eyes of Texas” in front of a sea of burnt orange, the USC players looked startled. Some put their hands to their heads, others took off their helmets.

“Well, we couldn’t stop them when we had to,” Carroll said. “The quarterback ran all over the place. … This is their night. It’s wonderful doing what we’ve been doing. We didn’t get it done.”

Said Leinart: “I still think we’re a better football team, they just made the plays in the end.”

They sure did.

Leinart, who won the Heisman in 2004, did his part in his final college game while Bush was less than his best. Leinart passed for 365 yards, and his 22-yard TD strike to Dwyane Jarrett put USC ahead 38-26 with 6:42 left.

Earlier, Bush soared into the end zone on a 26-yard run, part of his 82 yards rushing. He also had 95 yards on six catches – and a boneheaded lateral that was turned into a lost fumble that swung momentum Texas’ way in the first half.

“It’s been a great run. We’ve done some special things,” Bush said. “I don’t think we should be ashamed about anything.”

In a game that produced more than 1,100 yards, amazingly, Texas’ final TD came after its defensive stand.

USC decided to try to seal the game with its vaunted offense, dubbed by many the best to play college football, and keep the ball out of Young’s hands. But it came up inches short from converting on the fourth-and-short, and the Texas defense charged off the field as Young trotted on.

“If you make that first down, you’re squatting on the football to win the game,” Carroll said. “We just missed it. By what – 2 inches?”

Young stood in the pocket and passed the Longhorns to a first-and-10 at the 13. After a 5-yard scramble, he misfired on two passes to set up a fourth-and-5 at the 8.

The Trojans brought pressure, as they did all night, but Young broke free, found a lane and raced to the right pylon.

The Longhorns erupted, one pounded the turf as he lay face down on the turf, while the shocked Trojans futilely looked toward officials, hoping they’d say Young stepped out of bounds.

USC had one last chance, and it wasn’t a good one.

On the last play of the game from just beyond midfield, Leinart’s pass sailed high over Jarrett’s head.

Texas 41, USC 38

USC—White 4 run (Danelo kick)

Tex—FG Pino 46

Tex—S.Young 10 run (kick failed)

Tex—R.Taylor 30 run (Pino kick)

USC—FG Danelo 43

USC—White 3 run (Danelo kick)

Tex—V.Young 14 run (Pino kick)

USC—White 12 run (Danelo kick)

USC—Bush 26 run (Danelo kick)

Tex—FG Pino 34

USC—Jarrett 22 pass from Leinart (Danelo kick)

Tex—V.Young 17 run (Pino kick)

Tex—V.Young 8 run (V.Young run)

A—93,986.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Texas, V.Young 19-200, S.Young 7-45, Charles 5-34, R.Taylor 4-12, team 1-(minus 2). Southern Cal, White 20-124, Bush 13-82, Leinart 6-2, Jarrett 1-5, McFoy 1-(minus 4).

PASSING—Texas, V.Young 30-40-0-267. Southern Cal, Leinart 29-40-1-365, Jarrett 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING—Texas, D.Thomas 10-88, Sweed 8-65, Pittman 4-53, Carter 3-52, Cosby 2-16, Taylor 2-(minus 3), S.Young 1-(minus 4). Southern Cal, Jarrett 10-121, Bush 6-95, Byrd 4-32, Kirtman 3-61, S.Smith 3-29, Davis 2-19, Hancock 1-8.