Texas running back Chris Ogbonnaya (3) is knocked out of bounds by Oklahoma linebacker Keenan Clayton. Ogbonnaya has worked his way as UT's lead back after displaying effective running, pass-catching and blocking abilities.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy (12) celebrates converting a two-point conversion with offensive tackle Adam Ulatoski (74) in UT's 45-35 victory over Oklahoma last Saturday. After flying under the radar for much of the season, Texas has grabbed the national spotlight in a big way: The Longhorns are the new No. 1 team in the land.

Texas running back Chris Ogbonnaya (3) is knocked out of bounds by Oklahoma linebacker Keenan Clayton. Ogbonnaya has worked his way as UT's lead back after displaying effective running, pass-catching and blocking abilities.

No more than a few weeks ago, the University of Texas football program wasn’t even ranked in the top 10. The Longhorns were:

¢ Too young and inexperienced.

¢ The third-best team in the Big 12 on a good day. Maybe fourth best if Texas Tech lived up to expectations.

¢ Unable to punish teams with a power running attack like classic Texas teams of the past.

Coach Mack Brown even called the Longhorns “under the radar” at No. 11 before the season. He said it was a positive for his young team.

Oh, what a victory over a top-ranked Oklahoma team can do in the national title picture. As the new No. 1 in the latest Associated Press poll, Texas should notice a red bull’s-eye shining bright on every jersey, just like it shined on the other two teams (USC, Oklahoma) that have already lost their top spots in the poll. Sorry, coach: Your Longhorns aren’t even close to under the radar anymore. Even if Brown would like it better that way.

“I don’t like the way we’re No. 1 right now,” Brown said on Monday’s Big 12 teleconference. “I think Alabama should have been No. 1. Maybe if a team plays poorly, you should bring them down. It’s insignificant.”

After beating OU, Texas leapfrogged five teams, including an idle No. 2 Alabama, to become the second Big 12 school this season to hold down the top poll spot.

But how did this happen? The Longhorns haven’t been ranked No. 1 in the regular season since 1984 and were supposed to be (don’t repeat the following word if you’re visiting Austin in the next few days, months or years) rebuilding.

Essentially, Texas has answered all of its critics’ questions on the field in great detail.

First, the youth and inexperience hasn’t crushed UT. The Longhorns start two freshman safeties: Blake Gideon and Earl Thomas. They haven’t missed a beat. Thomas twice picked off Heisman candidate Sam Bradford last week and produced a forced fumble, while Gideon had eight tackles.

Second, the Longhorns have proved they’re the best team – for now – in the Big 12. They’ve beaten Oklahoma. UT’s next two games (Missouri, Oklahoma State) are arguably Texas’ toughest the rest of the way, but they both will take place in Austin. The Longhorns’ toughest road games will be Nov. 1 at Texas Tech and Nov. 15 at Kansas.

Third and finally, Texas doesn’t have to answer questions anymore about who should or should not be UT’s featured running back. No more concerns about quarterback Colt McCoy being the leading rusher and taking extra hits. The Longhorns have found their guy to complement a potent passing attack in senior Chris Ogbonnaya, who rushed for 127 yards against Oklahoma. Ogbonnaya only had 16 carries all season before his 15 carries against the Sooners.

Ogbonnaya is a coach’s dream. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Houston native has enough power to earn additional yards and enough speed to break away from opposing secondaries. He’s also a proficient receiver. In five games, Ogbonnaya has averaged nearly four catches and 54 yards per game.

Lastly, the guy can block. In the Oklahoma game, for example, Ogbonnaya busted a run down the right sideline for 62 yards to the OU two yard line. Out of breath? Hardly. On the very next play, Brown used Ogbonnaya as one of his blocking backs on a goal line situation when Cody Johnson plowed ahead for one of his three touchdown runs.

These critical components gelling at the right time have led Texas to No. 1. With four of their next five games against opponents ranked in the top 16, the Longhorns know the slightest hiccup could make the ranking worthless in a few weeks.

“Coach Brown tells us all the time, we’re No. 1, but you can’t remember who’s No. 1 at this time of year anyway,” senior defensive end Brian Orakpo said. “We’re a blue-collar team and we’ll continue to work, go back and put our pads on and try to get better.”

So far, so good.