updated 10:10 p.m. ET Oct. 11, 2005

Texas finally won a big one against Oklahoma.

Now coach Mack Brown has to make sure his second-ranked Longhorns (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) are focused on the next one, a Big 12 showdown with No. 24 Colorado (4-1, 2-0) on Saturday.

After five years of frustration at the Cotton Bowl, the Longhorns routed Oklahoma 45-12 last week, ending their longest losing streak in the 100-game history of the Red River rivalry and keeping themselves in position for a run at the national title game.

“We’ve had a tough time in this series,” Brown said. “I’m not proud of that and I feel responsible for that. To see the kids out on the field with the fans, the interaction after the game, is something you feel really good about.”

Heisman Trophy candidate Vince Young threw three touchdown passes and freshman Jamaal Charles ran for 116 yards on nine carries, helping Texas win its 12th in a row since an embarrassing shutout loss to Oklahoma last year.

Though the Longhorns felt happy and relieved to get past the Sooners, they still have a difficult road to their first national championship since 1969, beginning with the Buffaloes, who are off to their best start since opening 5-1 in 2001.

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“I’m excited about where we are and where I think we’re going,” Brown said. “I don’t think we’ve played near our best game. We’re 5-0 but we have improvement to make in many areas. We have a chance to be special.”

Joel Klatt threw for 398 yards and three touchdowns Saturday as Colorado rolled over Texas A&M 41-20, setting up this weekend’s big game in Austin.

The win pushed the Buffaloes into the Top 25 for the first time since September 2003.

“I’d say about the middle of the third quarter, a lot of our guys started thinking about Texas,” Colorado coach Gary Barnett said.

The Longhorns got some good news Monday as Charles, who left the win over Oklahoma with an ankle injury in the third quarter, was cleared to play Saturday. Charles leads Texas with 563 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.

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“We think he’s fine,” Brown said. “We don’t know what his pain threshold is yet, so that’s another thing we’ll learn about Jamaal this week.”

Colorado’s ground game is keyed by sophomore Hugh Charles, who leads the Buffs with 487 rushing yards and six TDs.

Texas rolled to a 31-7 win over Colorado in Boulder last season and have won three straight in the series, which is tied 7-7.

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