LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Garrett Gilbert ran for two touchdowns and Texas’ defense shut down Taylor Martinez to lead the Longhorns to a 20-13 upset of No. 5 Nebraska on Saturday, a crushing first defeat for a Cornhusker team that was out to avenge last year’s loss in the Big 12 championship game.
Texas (4-2, 2-1 Big 12), which came in as a 912-point underdog, surprised Nebraska (5-1, 1-1) by turning Gilbert loose in the run game for the first time this season. The quarterback ran for a 71 yards on 11 carries, scoring from 3 yards and 1 yard, and Cody Johnson had 58 of his 73 yards in the second half.
The Longhorns stymied a Nebraska offense that had been averaging 494 yards a game, holding the Huskers to just 202 yards. But the Huskers were still within a touchdown late in the game thanks to Eric Hagg’s school-record 95-yard punt return.
Martinez, who came in averaging 147 yards a game and almost 11 yards a carry, was held to a season-low 21 yards on 13 carries before being pulled for Zac Lee in the third quarter.
Texas certainly wasn’t prolific offensively, gaining 271 yards. But the defense held the Huskers’ ground game in a check, and Nebraska receivers dropped what would have been three touchdown passes.
