# 1970 Texas Longhorns football team

The 1970 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. The Longhorns shared the national championship with Nebraska, their third national championship overall. Texas had previously won consensus national titles in 1963 and 1969.
Utilizing a wishbone option offense, the defending national champion Longhorns won all ten regular season games to extend their winning streak to thirty games. They were again awarded the UPI (coaches) national title, released prior to the bowl games in early December.
On New Year's Day 1971, Texas had a rematch with Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park in Dallas. This time, the sixth-ranked Fighting Irish won 24–11, denying top-ranked Texas a third straight Cotton Bowl victory and consecutive consensus national championship.
Later that day, second-ranked Ohio State lost 27–17 to #12 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. That night, third-ranked Nebraska defeated #5 LSU 17–12 in the Orange Bowl to give the unbeaten Huskers (11–0–1) the post-bowl AP national championship. Through the 1973 season, the final UPI coaches poll was released prior to the bowl games. (In December 1973, UPI champion Alabama also lost their bowl game.)

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 19 | 4:00 p.m. | California* | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumAustin, TX | | W 56–15 | 61,000 |
| September 26 | 7:30 p.m. | at Texas Tech | No. 2 | Jones StadiumLubbock, TX (rivalry) | | W 35–13 | 53,124 |
| October 3 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 13 UCLA* | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumAustin, TX | | W 20–17 | 65,500 |
| October 10 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. Oklahoma* | No. 2 | Cotton BowlDallas, TX (rivalry) | ABC | W 41–9 | 71,938 |
| October 24 | 7:30 p.m. | at Rice | No. 2 | Rice StadiumHouston, TX (rivalry) | | W 45–21 | 70,500 |
| October 31 | 2:00 p.m. | SMU | No. 1 | Memorial StadiumAustin, TX | | W 42–15 | 61,170 |
| November 7 | 2:00 p.m. | at Baylor | No. 1 | Baylor StadiumWaco, TX (rivalry) | | W 21–14 | 35,000 |
| November 14 | 2:00 p.m. | at TCU | No. 2 | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX (rivalry) | | W 58–0 | 40,179 |
| November 26 | 2:00 p.m. | Texas A&M | No. 1 | Memorial StadiumAustin, TX (rivalry) | | W 52–14 | 66,400 |
| December 5 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 4 Arkansas | No. 1 | Memorial StadiumAustin, TX (rivalry) | ABC | W 42–7 | 68,510 |
| January 1, 1971 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. No. 6 Notre Dame* | No. 1 | Cotton BowlDallas, TX (Cotton Bowl Classic) | CBS | L 11–24 | 73,000 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
| AP | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| UPI Coaches | Not released | Not released | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Not released |

## Game summaries
### Vs. California

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| California | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| No. 2 Texas | 21 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 56 |
at Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX
* Date: Saturday, September 19, 1970
* Game time: 4:00 PM CDT
* Game weather: Chance of Rain, 89 °F (32 °C)
* Game attendance: 61,000
* Box Score
| Statistics | CAL | TEX |
| First downs | 21 | 29 |
| Total yards | 356 | 556 |
| Rushes/yards | 41/116 | 62/443 |
| Passing yards | 240 | 113 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–30–3 | 7–18–0 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| California | Passing | TEAM | 16–30, 240 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs |
| California | Rushing | TEAM | 41 car, 116 yards, 1 TD |
| California | Receiving | TEAM | 16 rec, 240 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 3–10, 44 yards |
| Texas | Rushing | Eddie Phillips | 9 car, 129 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas | Receiving | Dan Steakley | 2 rec, 43 yards |

### At Texas Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Texas | 14 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Texas Tech | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Jones Stadium • Lubbock, TX
* Date: Saturday, September 26, 1970
* Game time: 7:30 PM CDT
* Game attendance: 50,000
* Box Score
| Statistics | TEX | TTU |
| First downs | 29 | 13 |
| Total yards | 522 | 241 |
| Rushes/yards | 76/432 | 49/190 |
| Passing yards | 90 | 51 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 6–15–2 | 4–14–1 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 6–15, 90 yards, 2 INTs |
| Texas | Rushing | Eddie Phillips | 18 car, 127 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas | Receiving | Charles Spreyer | 3 rec, 56 yards |
| Texas Tech | Passing | TEAM | 4–14, 51 yards, 1 INT |
| Texas Tech | Rushing | TEAM | 49 car, 190 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas Tech | Receiving | TEAM | 4 rec, 51 yards |

### Vs. UCLA

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 13 UCLA | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| No. 2 Texas | 0 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
at Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX
* Date: Saturday, October 3, 1970
* Game time: 4:00 PM CDT
* Game weather: 87 °F (31 °C)
* Game attendance: 65,500
* Box Score
| Statistics | UCLA | TEX |
| First downs | 21 | 23 |
| Total yards | 407 | 337 |
| Rushes/yards | 40/67 | 65/235 |
| Passing yards | 340 | 102 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–30–1 | 6–15–0 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UCLA | Passing | TEAM | 19–30, 340 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| UCLA | Rushing | TEAM | 40 car, 67 yards |
| UCLA | Receiving | TEAM | 19 rec, 340 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 6–15, 102 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas | Rushing | Steve Worster | 19 car, 106 yards |
| Texas | Receiving | Charles Spreyer | 4 rec, 77 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Oklahoma

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Texas | 0 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 41 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
at Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TX
* Date: Saturday, October 10, 1970
* Game time: 3:00 PM CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 67 °F (19 °C)
* Game attendance: 71,938
* TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson
* Box Score
| Statistics | TEX | OU |
| First downs | 18 | 16 |
| Total yards | 335 | 222 |
| Rushes/yards | 66/310 | 63/212 |
| Passing yards | 25 | 10 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 3–7–0 | 3–11–2 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 3–6, 25 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas | Rushing | Steve Worster | 17 car, 81 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas | Receiving | Charles Spreyer | 1 rec, 10 yards |
| Oklahoma | Passing | TEAM | 3–11, 10 yards, 2 INTs |
| Oklahoma | Rushing | TEAM | 63 car, 218 yards, 1 TD |
| Oklahoma | Receiving | TEAM | 3 rec, 10 yards |

### At Rice

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Texas | 3 | 7 | 21 | 14 | 45 |
| Rice | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Rice Stadium • Houston, TX
* Date: Saturday, October 24, 1970
* Game time: 7:30 PM CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 62 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 70,500
* Box Score
| Statistics | TEX | RICE |
| First downs | 31 | 10 |
| Total yards | 562 | 130 |
| Rushes/yards | 85/500 | 34/52 |
| Passing yards | 62 | 78 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 4–10–1 | 7–14–1 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 2–5, 30 yards |
| Texas | Rushing | Steve Worster | 23 car, 170 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas | Receiving | Deryl Comer | 3 rec, 38 yards |
| Rice | Passing | TEAM | 7–14, 78 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rice | Rushing | TEAM | 34 car, 52 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | TEAM | 7 rec, 78 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. SMU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| SMU | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 15 |
| No. 1 Texas | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 42 |
at Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX
* Date: Saturday, October 31, 1970
* Game time: 2:00 PM CDT
* Game attendance: 61,170
* Box Score
| Statistics | SMU | TEX |
| First downs | 22 | 27 |
| Total yards | 456 | 532 |
| Rushes/yards | 28/44 | 70/430 |
| Passing yards | 412 | 102 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 32–49–2 | 6–9–1 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SMU | Passing | TEAM | 32–49, 412 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| SMU | Rushing | TEAM | 28 car, 44 yards |
| SMU | Receiving | TEAM | 32 rec, 412 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 5–5, 87 yards |
| Texas | Rushing | Steve Worster | 25 car, 144 yards, 4 TDs |
| Texas | Receiving | Danny Lester | 5 rec, 87 yards |

### At Baylor

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 1 Texas | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Baylor | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Baylor Stadium • Waco, TX
* Date: Saturday, November 7, 1970
* Game time: 2:00 PM CDT
* Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 78 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 35,000
* Box Score
| Statistics | TEX | BAY |
| First downs | 17 | 15 |
| Total yards | 309 | 262 |
| Rushes/yards | 66/244 | 50/148 |
| Passing yards | 65 | 114 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 3–9–0 | 6–18–1 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 3–9, 65 yards |
| Texas | Rushing | Steve Worster | 23 car, 97 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas | Receiving | Danny Lester | 2 rec, 53 yards |
| Baylor | Passing | TEAM | 6–18, 114 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Baylor | Rushing | TEAM | 50 car, 148 yards |
| Baylor | Receiving | TEAM | 6 rec, 114 yards, 1 TD |

### At TCU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Texas | 20 | 7 | 17 | 14 | 58 |
| TCU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
* Date: Saturday, November 14, 1970
* Game time: 2:00 PM CDT
* Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C)
* Game attendance: 40,179
* Box Score
| Statistics | TEX | TCU |
| First downs | 20 | 13 |
| Total yards | 408 | 220 |
| Rushes/yards | 61/301 | 47/140 |
| Passing yards | 107 | 80 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 7–16–0 | 9–24–2 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 4–12, 58 yards |
| Texas | Rushing | Jim Bertelsen | 14 car, 92 yards, 3 TDs |
| Texas | Receiving | Danny Lester | 4 rec, 58 yards |
| TCU | Passing | TEAM | 9–24, 80 yards, 2 INTs |
| TCU | Rushing | TEAM | 47 car, 140 yards |
| TCU | Receiving | TEAM | 9 rec, 80 yards |

### Vs. Texas A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Texas A&M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| No. 1 Texas | 21 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 52 |
at Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX
* Date: Thursday, November 26, 1970
* Game time: 2:00 PM CDT
* Game weather: Windy, 73 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 66,400
* Box Score
| Statistics | TAMU | TEX |
| First downs | 15 | 27 |
| Total yards | 358 | 603 |
| Rushes/yards | 43/186 | 74/386 |
| Passing yards | 172 | 217 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 10–22–1 | 8–21–2 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M | Passing | TEAM | 10–22, 172 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Texas A&M | Rushing | TEAM | 43 car, 186 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas A&M | Receiving | TEAM | 10 rec, 172 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 5–16, 148 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Texas | Rushing | Steve Fleming | 8 car, 84 yards |
| Texas | Receiving | Danny Lester | 5 rec, 148 yards, 2 TDs |

### Vs. Arkansas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Arkansas | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| No. 1 Texas | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
at Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX
* Date: Saturday, December 5, 1970
* Game time: 2:00 PM CDT
* Game weather: Coldfront Expected, 74 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 68,510
* TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson
* Box Score
| Statistics | ARK | TEX |
| First downs | 13 | 29 |
| Total yards | 165 | 517 |
| Rushes/yards | 24/20 | 90/464 |
| Passing yards | 145 | 53 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–27–3 | 3–5–0 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas | Passing | TEAM | 11–27, 145 yards, 3 INTs |
| Arkansas | Rushing | TEAM | 24 car, 20 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas | Receiving | TEAM | 11 rec, 145 yards |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 2–3, 46 yards |
| Texas | Rushing | Jim Bertelsen | 30 car, 189 yards, 3 TDs |
| Texas | Receiving | Jim Bertelsen | 1 rec, 27 yards |

### Vs. Notre Dame (Cotton Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Notre Dame | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| No. 1 Texas | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
at Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TX
* Date: Friday, January 1, 1971
* Game time: 1:00 PM CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 52 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 73,000
* Referee: Gene Calhoun (Big Ten)
* TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson, Tom Brookshier
* Box Score
| Statistics | ND | TEX |
| First downs | 16 | 20 |
| Total yards | 359 | 426 |
| Rushes/yards | 52/146 | 55/216 |
| Passing yards | 213 | 240 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 10–19–1 | 10–27–1 |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Notre Dame | Passing | Joe Theismann | 9–16, 176 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Notre Dame | Rushing | Cieszkowski | 13 car, 52 yards |
| Notre Dame | Receiving | Yoder | 2 rec, 96 yards |
| Texas | Passing | Eddie Phillips | 9–17, 199 yards |
| Texas | Rushing | Eddie Phillips | 23 car, 164 yards |
| Texas | Receiving | Deryl Comer | 4 rec, 67 yards |

## Awards and honors

* Bobby Wuensch, tackle, Consensus All-American
* Steve Worster, back, Consensus All-American
* Bill Atessis, defensive end, Consensus All-American

## NFL Draft

Nine seniors from the 1970 Longhorns were selected in the 1971 NFL draft:
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Cotton Speyrer | WR | 2 | 38 | Washington Redskins |
| Bill Atessis | DE | 2 | 52 | Baltimore Colts |
| Happy Feller | K | 4 | 83 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Bill Zapalac | LB | 4 | 84 | New York Jets |
| Steve Worster | RB | 4 | 90 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Scott Palmer | DT | 7 | 162 | New York Jets |
| Bobby Wuensch | T | 12 | 294 | Baltimore Colts |
| Danny Lester | DB | 13 | 317 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Deryl Comer | TE | 14 | 345 | Atlanta Falcons |
Two juniors from the 1970 Longhorns were selected in the 1972 NFL draft:
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Jim Bertelsen | RB | 2 | 30 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Eddie Phillips | QB | 4 | 95 | Los Angeles Rams |
One sophomore from the 1970 Longhorns was selected in the 1973 NFL draft:
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Jerry Sisemore | OT | 1 | 3 | Philadelphia Eagles |