page_title: 2007 Texas Longhorns football team
section_title: UCF
hierarchical_section_title: 2007 Texas Longhorns football team / Game summaries / UCF
caption_attribution_description: UCF Knights at the Texas goal-line at a UCF home game played at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida
context_page_description: The 2007 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Mack Brown. The Longhorns played their home games in Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.
  The Longhorns entered the 2007 season ranked third on all-time college football lists in both total wins and winning percentage. A pre-season ranking by ESPN writer Mark Schlabach had the Longhorns ranked eighth, while College Football News ranked Texas third. The Longhorns came into the season ranked fourth in both the Coaches Poll and AP Poll. During the preceding summer five players had been disciplined for legal infractions, another suspended for NCAA rule violations, and a coach had undergone surgery for cancer. Additional players were suspended during the season.
  The Longhorns played games against two opponents they had never faced previously: Arkansas State University and the University of Central Florida. The Longhorns narrowly achieved a victory in their home opener with Arkansas State, and in their first road game of the season, Texas was the inaugural opponent for the UCF Knights in their new stadium.
context_section_description: The third game of the season was the first-ever meeting between the Longhorns and the UCF Knights. Texas was the first opponent in the Knights' new stadium, Bright House Networks Stadium, and the game was the first of three scheduled meetings between the schools.  The Knights opened their season with an upset of North Carolina State; the victory was their second victory over a BCS opponent and the first time for the Knights to beat a BCS school since 2000.  They followed the win with a week off, giving them two weeks to prepare for Texas.  It was just the sixth time Texas had played in Florida and was the team's first appearance in the state since 1965.  The number six-ranked Longhorns were the highest rank team the Knights had ever played.  UCF coach George O'Leary said prior to the game, "When you talk about elite teams, Texas is an elite team from an athletics, traditions and overall standpoint."
  Several Longhorn players missed the game due to injuries or suspensions.  Starting defensive end Brian Orakpo missed his second straight game as a result of suffering a knee sprain against Arkansas State. Starting offensive tackle Adam Ulatoski was listed as doubtful.  Backup quarterback Sherrod Harris was also injured and had not seen action since spraining his knee on August 12.  Wide receiver Jordan Shipley participated in his first game since a preseason injury.  Defensive end Henry Melton, linebacker Sergio Kindle and receiver Billy Pittman were serving the last game of their three-game suspensions.  On September 13, Tyrell Gatewood joined Andre Jones and Robert Joseph in receiving an indefinite suspension due to alleged illegal activities. The day prior to the game, sports books in Las Vegas picked Texas to win by 18 points.
  A sell-out crowd greeted the Longhorns in Florida.  UCF received the opening kickoff in their end-zone and took a touchback. UCF was not able to get a first down and before punting the ball to Texas.  The Horns drove inside the UCF 20-yard line before being stopped on fourth-and-short and settling for a field goal.  On their second possession, the Knights drove the ball down the field for a touchdown and a four-point lead.  Shortly thereafter, lightning was spotted near the stadium and both teams were sent into their locker rooms for approximately 15 minutes before play resumed. Texas' first drive after the delay culminated in a six-yard touchdown pass to Nate Jones.  When the first quarter ended, the Longhorns had a three-point lead and the Knights had the ball.  In the second quarter, the Longhorns and the Knights each fumbled inside the UCF ten-yard line.  Texas scored ten points in the quarter to UCF's three.  The score at halftime was 20–10, Texas.
  Texas began the scoring in the third quarter with a 49-yard field goal.  UCF needed just five plays to reply with a touchdown and cut Texas' lead to 23–17.  After two punts by the Horns and one by the Knights, UCF turned the ball over on downs.  On the next play, McCoy threw an interception and UCF's resulting drive culminated in a touchdown to give the Knights a 24–23 lead with 13:38 left in the game.  The Longhorns regained the lead with two field goals and a touchdown.  A Longhorn attempt at a two-point conversion failed, making the score 35–24.  This decision was later criticized by commentators who said that the decision allowed UCF a chance to tie the game.
  With 2:14 remaining, Longhorn Jamaal Charles committed his second fumble of the game.  UCF recovered the ball and completed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to cut Texas' lead to 35–32 with 35 seconds remaining.  When the Knights were unable to recover their onside kick attempt, Texas was able to run out the clock and preserve a three-point victory.
  Jamaal Charles of Texas rushed 22 times for 157 yards and Kevin Smith of UCF rushed 27 times for 150 yards for UCF. McCoy completed 68% of his passes for a total of 227 yards; UCF's Kyle Israel completed 35% of his passes for a total of 133 yards. McCoy's 47 passing attempts tied a UT single-game record.  His 32 completions set a new school
caption: UCF Knights at the Texas goal-line
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