One freshman defensive back let a potential game-clinching interception fall through his mitts. One play later, the other couldn’t put his mitts on Mike Crabtree as the Texas Tech receiver caught a pass near the sideline and then pranced into the end zone with the game-winning touchdown.

Texas safeties Earl Thomas (12), top photo, and Blake Gideon (21), left, were on the wrong end of critical plays in last year's loss at Texas Tech. But they've had a year to mature along with the rest of UT's secondary. (Matt Hempel Ut Athletics)

That was last year, when Texas safeties Blake Gideon and Earl Thomas couldn’t make the right play at the right time, and the Longhorns suffered their only loss of the season.

Whether they can capitalize on similar opportunities today, when No. 2 Texas (2-0) hosts Tech (2-0) for a Big 12 Conference opener, remains to be seen. But UT coach Mack Brown is sure of two things: “That night in Lubbock had to be a good experience,” he said. And Gideon, Thomas and the Longhorns’ other defensive backs have since “come a million miles.”

“Those guys have grown a lot, and they’re playing much better,” Brown said earlier this week. “… We’re by far better in the secondary than we were at this point last year.”

Texas’ defensive backfield is still young and relatively inexperienced. There’s not a senior in the two-deep, and the only juniors are cornerbacks Chykie Brown and Curtis Brown, who unsuccessfully tried to cover Crabtree on his last-second TD reception.

But the Longhorns’ secondary has been a strength so far this season, except for surrendering a 75-yard touchdown pass in a season-opening win against Louisiana-Monroe. That’s the only TD Texas has allowed through the air, and its opponents have completed less than 50 percent of their passes and thrown for only 192.5 yards per game.

Gideon ranks second on the team with 12 tackles, Thomas and Curtis Brown both have four pass breakups, Chykie Brown and Aaron Williams have forced fumbles, and backup safety Nolan Brewster has the Longhorns’ only interception.

Mack Brown said the group’s man-to-man coverage has improved, and that overall it’s “much more coordinated and much more experienced.”

“We’ve been playing lights out for the last two games,” Thomas said. “… Everybody grew up, and it’s paying off.”

Facing Louisiana-Monroe and Wyoming, however, is nothing like trying to slow down Tech’s aerial attack. Quarterback Taylor Potts is the nation’s leading passer with 861 yards and nine touchdowns, and seven different Red Raiders have TD receptions.

“The test against Tech (today) will determine how far we’ve come,” Mack Brown said.

Gideon said he and the other Longhorns’ defensive backs are looking forward to the challenge.

“We need to be ready for this game,” he said. “Last year is last year, and there’s no revenge factor in it. It’s about getting a win, and obviously that’s something we couldn’t do last year. That held us back from our ultimate goal.”

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