Texas quarterback Colt McCoy entered Thursday's BCS title game with the national record for wins (45) by a starting quarterback. He didn't get much of a chance for victory No. 46.

McCoy injured his right shoulder on Texas' opening offensive series of the game. He was taken to the locker room with 9:14 left in the first quarter and did not return. As he walked off the field, the Longhorns' chances of winning their fifth national title seemed to drift out of the Rose Bowl Stadium like the lingering smoke from the pregame pyrotechnics.

Texas trailed 24-6 at halftime and 11:57 remained in the third quarter when it was announced that McCoy would not return. He emerged from the locker room with 10:30 left in the third quarter and his arm was not in a sling.

McCoy was injured on the Longhorns' fifth offensive play of the game when he attempted an option run but was hit hard by Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus. Texas called a timeout after the injury, and redshirt freshman quarterback Garrett Gilbert sprinted onto the field. Meanwhile, McCoy fell to a knee on the Texas sideline in obvious pain. Texas had 5 passing yards in the first half and 91 yards of total offense.

TEXAS' RISING STAR

Will Muschamp has brought Southeastern Conference defense to the Big 12. Now how long will Muschamp remain at Texas?

A 38-year-old defensive coordinator, Muschamp is one of the hottest names in college coaching entering 2010. Last season he was named Texas' designated "coach in waiting.'' Ever since, speculation about coach Mack Brown's retirement has been rampant.

Brown, 58, said this week that he has no plans of walking away from football while he is on top.

"I've talked to people who have retired, and they tell me when the time comes I'll know it, and the time is not right now,'' Brown said. "Some people have said, `Would you quit right after you win the national championship?' I said, `Absolutely not. I want to enjoy it.' ''

Brown indicated earlier this week in news conferences that Muschamp's new title of coach-in-waiting was more about retaining him as a defensive coordinator than making him a head coach anytime soon. Muschamp's defenses at Texas entering Thursday's game held 25 of 26 opponents under their season scoring averages and limited 16 teams to 14 points or fewer.

If there is in fact no timetable on Brown's retirement, it begs the question: How long will Muschamp remain at Texas before accepting an offer to be a head coach at another school? Muschamp, who coached with Nick Saban at Louisiana State, was the defensive coordinator at Auburn before leaving for Texas.

Muschamp said this week he has no plans of leaving Texas to "just . . . to say I'm the head coach.''

"I want to be head coach at a place where you can win it all and have the best job in the country, and I think that's Texas,'' Muschamp said. "I really like being the defensive coordinator at Texas. I'm 38 years old. Everybody seems to have a hard time with somebody liking where they are. I'm not a grass is always greener on the other side kind of guy.''

SPECIAL-TEAMS GAFFES

Alabama's special teams didn't have the best start in national championship game history. In fact, it might have been the worst.

The Crimson Tide went for a fake punt from its own 20-yard line on its opening possession only to have punter P.J. Fitzgerald's pass intercepted 6 yards shy of the first-down marker. Alabama's kickoff-return unit then turned the ball over to Texas after a Longhorns field goal.

Texas tried a pooch kick and Alabama acted like it had never seen such a play. Return man Julio Jones seemed to think it was a punt. He was blocked out of the play, allowing the ball to hit the ground. Texas' Curtis Brown recovered at the Alabama 30. Texas settled for a field goal.