Brown has Texas back on track

? Well, look at the Texas Longhorns now.

A month ago, they were written off after a 65-13 loss to Oklahoma that raised questions about Mack Brown’s future and prompted the usual taunts that Texas is soft.

But the Longhorns (8-2, 5-1 Big 12) ripped off four straight blowout victories — two over Top 25 teams — to climb back to No. 6 in the rankings.

The streak has prompted talk among Texas fans that these Longhorns, the same team Brown said two weeks ago hadn’t established its identity, are on the verge of a possible at-large bid to a Bowl Championship Series game.

Not that Brown wants to listen to any of it just yet. The Longhorns’ postseason fate lies in the next two games against Texas Tech (7-3, 4-2) and Texas A&M (4-6, 2-4) and in the delicate balance of the BCS rankings. The Longhorns are No. 5 in the BCS standings.

“I told the staff that we went from being fired four weeks ago to being back in the mix, so let’s not get fired again,” Brown said.

If all of this sounds familiar, that’s because it is.

In each of the last three year, Texas has clawed its way back from early losses to the brink of BCS contention only to get shut out. In 2001 and 2002, late-season losses to Colorado and Texas Tech doomed the Longhorns.

While national and Big 12 titles are all but out of the picture, UT has resurrected its season behind quarterback Vince Young and an improved defense. Against Nebraska, the defense dominated in a 31-7 win. Last week against Oklahoma State, UT fought back from an early 16-7 deficit to pull away 55-16.

Texas coach Mack Brown and his players sing to their fans after defeating Oklahoma State. UT has won its last six games against OSU.