COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Colt McCoy and Jerrod Johnson embraced at midfield after their Texas shootout last night.

McCoy still has his eyes on a national title and the Heisman Trophy. And if Johnson's dazzling display was any sign of things to come, the Texas A&M quarterback could be a leading contender next year for college football's most prestigious award.

McCoy threw four touchdown passes and dashed 65 yards for another score, and No. 3 Texas overcame a huge game by Johnson to wrap up an undefeated regular season with a wild 49-39 win over the Aggies.

"What a treat to watch two quarterbacks like that," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "Fans around the country on Thanksgiving got a treat to see two quarterbacks play that well, two offenses play that well."

The Longhorns (12-0, 8-0 Big 12) have only next week's conference championship game against Nebraska standing between them and the BCS title game.

For a while, it seemed as though Johnson just might rally the Aggies (6-6, 3-5) to a gigantic upset, opening the door for TCU and Cincinnati to vault into the national championship picture.

"I can't say enough about Jerrod Johnson," Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman said. "He's probably under the radar for what he has been able to do. He managed the game very well."

Jeff Fuller caught three of Johnson's four touchdown passes, the last with 7:10 left to cut Texas' lead to 42-39. But Marquise Goodwin returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, and the Longhorns could finally breathe easy when Randy Bullock missed a 23-yard field goal with 3:05 left.

"I'm proud of the guys and proud of the way they continue to find a way to win," Brown said. "I'm proud that they're 12-0."

McCoy completed 24 of 40 passes for 304 yards and ran for a career-high 175 yards, a splendid all-around performance that could boost his Heisman chances.

Johnson passed for 342 yards and rushed for 97.

McCoy went 18 for 26 for 222 yards with three TD passes in the first half, and his career-best 65-yard run up the middle early in the second quarter was the third-longest rush by a Texas quarterback. McCoy had 111 yards rushing by that point, already a career high.

The Longhorns piled up 398 yards by halftime against the nation's 100th-ranked defense, but only led 28-21.

The Aggies took a surprising 7-0 lead on the third offensive play, a 70-yard pass from Johnson down the sideline to Fuller. It was the second-longest play from scrimmage against the Longhorns this season.

Early on, though, the Aggies' defense couldn't get close to McCoy even when they blitzed, and he tied it with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Shipley with 3:42 left in the first quarter.

The Longhorns' defense, meanwhile, had just as much trouble controlling the quick-footed Johnson, ranked 10th in the nation in total offense (293.9 yards per game) coming into the game.

Johnson's 14-yard TD pass to Howard Morrow with 1:11 left in the half tied it 21-all. The Longhorns hadn't given up 21 points in a game since a 34-24 win over Texas Tech on Sept. 19.

"We feel we can match up with anyone in the country," Johnson said.

The Aggies left just enough time for McCoy to answer. He threw two passes to Shipley for big gains, then found James Kirkendoll for a TD with 5 seconds left before the break.

Tre Newton had a 7-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for Texas before a scary collision hushed the crowd of 84,671 at Kyle Field.

Aggies defensive back Anthony Lewis and Texas defensive back Deon Beasley collided on the ensuing kickoff, and both players initially lay motionless. Lewis was helped off the field, but Beasley was put on a stretcher. He rejoined his teammates after the win and was given the game ball.

Johnson broke a 43-yard run but then was picked off in the end zone by Texas safety Earl Thomas, his school-record eighth interception this season.

Bullock's 31-yard field goal cut the deficit to 35-24, and the Aggies took over again at midfield after McCoy started to misfire. Michael spun off a Texas defender for a 16-yard touchdown, and Johnson completed a pass to Tannehill for the 2-point conversion to make it 35-32.

TEXAS 7 21 7 14—49

TEXAS A&M 7 14 3 15—39

First Quarter

TAM—Fuller 70 pass from J.Johnson (Bullock kick), 13:44.

Tex—Shipley 14 pass from McCoy (Lawrence kick), 3:42.

Second Quarter

Tex—McCoy 65 run (Lawrence kick), 14:10.

TAM—Fuller 14 pass from J.Johnson (Bullock kick), 7:34.

Tex—Shipley 14 pass from McCoy (Lawrence kick), 4:59.

TAM—Morrow 14 pass from J.Johnson (Bullock kick), 1:11.

Tex—Kirkendoll 5 pass from McCoy (Lawrence kick), :05.

Third Quarter

Tex—Newton 7 run (Lawrence kick), 8:26.

TAM—FG Bullock 31, 1:24.

Fourth Quarter

TAM—Michael 16 run (Tannehill pass from J.Johnson), 13:38.

Tex—Kirkendoll 47 pass from McCoy (Lawrence kick), 12:04.

TAM—Fuller 20 pass from J.Johnson (Bullock kick), 7:10.

Tex—Goodwin 95 kickoff return (Lawrence kick), 6:57.

A—84,671.

        Tex   TAM

First downs 26 27

Rushes-yards 39-293 40-190

Passing 304 342

Comp-Att-Int 24-40-0 26-33-1

Return Yards 0 12

Punts-Avg. 3-40.0 4-32.8

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1

Penalties-Yards 6-52 5-45

Time of Possession 28:27 31:33

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Texas, McCoy 18-175, Newton 16-107, Whittaker 2-10, Tucker 1-4, C.Johnson 1-0, Team 1-(minus 3). Texas A&M, J.Johnson 14-97, Michael 19-83, Gray 5-11, Nwachukwu 1-0, J.McCoy 1-(minus 1).

PASSING—Texas, McCoy 24-40-0-304. Texas A&M, J.Johnson 26-33-1-342.

RECEIVING—Texas, M.Williams 9-132, Shipley 8-88, Kirkendoll 4-63, Buckner 2-19, Whittaker 1-2. Texas A&M, Fuller 6-132, Tannehill 4-54, Nwachukwu 4-42, Gray 3-21, J.McCoy 3-20, Swope 2-25, Morrow 2-24, T.McCoy 1-17, Michael 1-7.

NOTES

COLORADO EXTENDS HAWKINS' CONTRACT

Colorado coach Dan Hawkins will get a fifth season instead of a pink slip and a $3.1 million buyout.

Athletic director Mike Bohn announced yesterday that he's sticking with his coach despite a 16-32 record, including 2-20 on the road.

The Buffs have endured four consecutive losing seasons under Hawkins, who has cleaned up a program tarnished by scandal under his predecessor, Gary Barnett, but has been unable to find success on the field.

"Dan represents the university's values on and off the field, and his team has been competitive this year," Chancellor Philip DiStefano said. "He has done all that we have asked him to do, and although we all desire more victories, we also recognize starting over with a new coach right now takes us away from, not closer to, our goals for CU football."

Of the Buffs' eight losses this season, three have been by a touchdown or less and two others, at West Virginia and Texas, were competitive before fourth-quarter flameouts.

The Buffaloes (3-8, 2-5) wrap up their season today against Nebraska (8-3, 5-2).