'Horns trying to stay 'BCS relevant '

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — He's a proud kid, an undersized quarterback who grew up in Texas and loved his home state Longhorns — only to be spurned by them.

Todd Reesing's also a straightforward kid. He won't deny that getting ready to lead Kansas against fourth-ranked Texas on Saturday is causing his competitive heart to beat a bit faster.

"I grew up in Austin, obviously watching the 'Horns," Reesing said. "My dad went to UT. So I would be lying if I told you (the game) wasn't a little bit bigger for me."

Rejected by the school he always dreamed of playing for, Reesing wound up at Kansas, and the Jayhawks couldn't be happier. In less than two full seasons, he already holds 32 school passing records. Through the first 10 games this year for the Jayhawks (6-4, 3-3 Big 12), he ranks in the top 10 nationally in completions, yards and total offense.

Texas coach Mack Brown graciously agreed last year, while Reesing was leading the Jayhawks to a 12-1 record, that "anyone who did not recruit him made a mistake."

It's not that Reesing's making it any sort of vendetta game, or grimly setting out to show Texans everywhere what they missed. But Kansas' first game against Texas since 2004 may be like none other for the junior quarterback.

"You got to try to not make it as big to yourself, but it is going to be fun," he said. "I grew up watching Texas and cheering for them, so now that I am playing them, it will be a lot of fun."

As proud as Kansas fans are of Reesing, however, it would be hard to mount a credible argument that he would be starting for Texas this season. The Longhorns (9-1, 5-1) have a guy named Colt McCoy who's pretty good, too.

After throwing five touchdown passes last week in a rout of Baylor, McCoy's passer rating in 36 games is 158.2, No. 1 alltime among Texas quarterbacks. He's hit a shade under 70 percent of his passes for 8,752 yards and 79 touchdowns.

"He is a quality player," said Kansas coach Mark Mangino. "He is one of the most improved quarterbacks from last year to this year. Whoever works with him in the offseason has done a magnificent job. He is way ahead of where he was at this time last year. He has a lot more poise, he is throwing the ball better and he is running the ball better."

The Longhorns' lone loss this year was to Big 12 South rival Texas Tech, ranked No. 2 in the country this week behind No. 1 Alabama. But Texas has a victory over Oklahoma, and if the Sooners should beat Tech in their upcoming game while Texas wins out, the Longhorns could slip out of the crowded South into the Big 12 championship game next month.

A win there, and they might get a chance at another national championship.

"It is what it is," said Texas cornerback Ryan Palmer. "The main thing is winning, and we didn't win against Tech, so we're here now. We can't go back and 'what if 's' and this and that. We just have to finish strong... and see where we go after that."

Kansas, a 13-point underdog, needs to win its last two games, against Texas and Missouri, or face an embarrassing drop-off from its historic 12-1 season of 2007. Texas expects Kansas to be at the top of its game.

"They're going to be really ready to play," said Palmer. "They need to get back on the winning side and we're going down there. The last time we went there they almost beat us so it's going to be hostile. Their fans are going to be loud and ready to go. We've just got to go down there and take care of our business."