San Antonio ? Colt McCoy was supposed be a placeholder for Texas at quarterback this season. Now, he’s a record holder.

The redshirt freshman who replaced Vince Young turned in another gritty performance with two touchdown passes to rally the No. 18 Longhorns to a 26-24 victory Saturday over Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.

McCoy had been cleared to play just a week earlier after suffering a severely pinched nerve in his neck in each of Texas’ last two games – both losses. He also ran eight yards on fourth down to set up a two-yard touchdown run by Selvin Young early in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game winner.

Vince Young left Texas a year early after leading the Longhorns to the national title last season, and McCoy became the starter before he had ever played a down in college.

“He stepped in a position replacing one of the best quarterbacks to ever play,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “To do that, and fight back and regain his confidence tonight, shows just how tough Colt is.”

McCoy finished 26-for-40 for 308 yards. His 29 touchdown passes this season tied the NCAA freshman record set by Nevada’s David Neill in 1998.

“Coming into this season all you want to do is win,” McCoy said. “That’s what Vince taught me. You’ve got to make people believe.”

Texas (10-3), the 2005 national champion, won at least 10 games for the sixth straight season and avoided its first three-game losing streak since 1999.

Texas quarterback colt mccoy (12) passes as Iowa defender Adam Shada (19) looks on. McCoy tied the NCAA freshman record with his 29th touchdown pass of the season in the Longhorns' 26-24 victory Saturday in San Antonio.

Drew Tate passed for 274 yards and two touchdowns, both to Andy Brodell, for the Hawkeyes (6-7), who lost six of their last seven games.

The Longhorns were heavy favorites in front of an Alamo Bowl-record crowd of 65,875 that was mostly a sea of burnt-orange. Texas fans had an easy 70-mile drive from Austin.

But Iowa stunned them by taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and retaking the lead at 21-20 with 1:08 left in the third when Brodell scored his second touchdown on a 23-yard reception.

Brodell had six catches for 159 yards.

McCoy, who looked shaky early, had given Texas its first lead – 20-14 – with a 72-yard sideline strike to tailback Jamaal Charles in the third.

“I knew I just had to put the injury behind me,” McCoy said.

Longhorns fans were just starting to crank up their “Texas Fight!” chant when the Hawkeyes scored on their first two possessions. Albert Young set up the first with a 26-yard run, then scored on the next play on the opening drive.

The Hawkeyes needed one play to strike again. Brodell took a short pass, faked out Texas cornerback Aaron Ross, the Thorpe Award winner, and outraced the Longhorns down the sideline for a 63-yard score.

“It felt like they were picking on me the whole game,” Ross said.

He made up for it with an interception in the end zone.

“Ross is a playmaker. He can change a game at any given time,” said Texas free safety Michael Griffin.

Texas followed with its first touchdown. McCoy floated a perfect pass to Limas Sweed for a 20-yard score just before halftime to make it 14-10.

“That was huge, It turned things around for us,” McCoy said of Ross’ pick. “Nobody gave up.”