Mack Brown’s national championship victory with Texas over USC in 2006 was named the greatest game that decided a college football championship in a new series by ESPN.

After departing North Carolina in 1998, Brown spent 16 years with the Longhorns and compiled a 158-48 record in Austin to go along with the national title.

During the 2005-06 season, superstar quarterback Vince Young led the No. 2 Longhorns to a 12-0 regular season record to set up a meeting with 11-0 No. 1 USC in the Rose Bowl. This is what ESPN’s Ivan Maisel wrote about the game:

“Few games generate as much hype, and fewer still exceed it. The No. 1 Trojans played for their 35th consecutive victory; the No. 2 Longhorns for respect and the validation of quarterback Vince Young, Heisman runner-up to USC tailback Reggie Bush. The Rose Bowl featured five lead changes, a manic fourth quarter that included four touchdowns and a field goal, and Young, giving the greatest championship game performance ever (267 passing yards, 200 rushing yards). The Trojan Dynasty ended with :19 to play, when Young scored from the 9 on fourth-and-5. “He’s got it!” crowed ABC broadcaster Keith Jackson, the last touchdown call of his brilliant career.”

The 41-38 victory for Texas is widely considered to be one of the greatest games in college football history and cemented the Longhorns’ place among the college football elite.

With Brown back at North Carolina, Tar Heels fans are hoping that the legendary head coach can bring this kind of excitement to Chapel Hill.

Featured image via Getty Images

Related Stories
‹
Art's Angle: 'Perfect' Season
Okay, what we expected to happen Saturday in college football. The Tar Heels played a practice game against Western Carolina, leading 42-3 at halftime on the way to a 7-3 record and matching last season’s victory total. On Senior Day, Michael Carter and Dazz Newsome combined for 155 yards of rushing and receiving for four […]
"Carolina Firsters"?
This notion of “Football First” or “Basketball First” fans at Carolina amuses me. Having graduated from UNC and been around for four decades, I am hard-pressed to think of a Carolina alumnus or rabid fan who roots passionately for one of the sports and disses the other. If you’re a Tar Heel fan, your pull […]
Supreme Court Allows Trump To Deport Venezuelans Under Wartime Law, but Only After Judges’ Review
The Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration can use a wartime law to deport Venezuelan migrants, but they must get a court hearing first.
As Measles Cases Mount in the US, What’s the Situation Worldwide?
The U.S. registered its first death from measles since 2015 this week. While more common globally, the virus' numbers are up in recent years.
Mack Brown Back in Texas and At Peace After the Hall of Fame Coach's North Carolina Departure
Mack Brown is back to living in Austin, Texas, and spoke with the Associated Press about his departure from UNC and new chapter of life.
A Texas Town Was Helpless to Watch as the Largest Wildfire in State History Engulfed It
Written by SEAN MURPHY and JIM VERTUNO As the largest wildfire in Texas history engulfed his town, Danny Phillips was left helpless. “We had to watch from a few miles away as our neighborhood burned,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. In his hard-hit town of Stinnett, population roughly 1,600, families like his who […]
Uvalde Families Want Criminal Charges Filed After the Justice Department Issued a Scathing Report
Written by ACACIA CORONADO and JAKE BLEIBERG Families of the children and teachers killed in the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre are renewing demands for criminal charges after a scathing Justice Department report again laid bare numerous failures by police during one of the deadliest classroom shootings in U.S. history. “I’m very surprised that no one […]
Mexican Officials Clear Border Camp as US Pressure Mounts To Limit Migrant Crossings
Written by VALERIE GONZALEZ A ragged migrant tent camp next to the Rio Grande is a long way from Mexico’s National Palace, where a U.S. delegation met this week with Mexico’s president seeking more action to curb the surge of migrants reaching the U.S. border. But as Mexican officials in Matamoros worked at the camp […]
Mondays With Mack: 'Be the Extra Person'
UNC football head coach Mack Brown joined 97.9 The Hill this morning for “Mondays with Mack,” presented by Chapel Hill Tire. Brown and the Tar Heels are coming off their bye week a perfect 4-0 after a 41-24 win at Pittsburgh on September 23. It’s Carolina’s best start to a season since 1997, which was […]
North Carolina Legislature Cracks Down on Pornography Sites with New Age Verification Requirements
Written by HANNAH SCHOENBAUM North Carolina’s legislature has passed a bill requiring age verification on websites that publish material considered harmful to minors as lawmakers worked long hours this week to approve a state budget and other proposals. The legislation, which passed the Senate and House Thursday with overwhelming bipartisan support, would require any company that intentionally distributes […]
›