By Jim Vertuno | ASSOCIATED PRESS

Texas senior quarterback Colt McCoy has led 11 second-half comebacks, seven in the fourth quarter, in his 39 career victories. Of his second-half rallies, perhaps the most impressive part is that 10 have come away from Austin. (TONY GUTIERREZ / Ap)

AUSTIN – Colt McCoy has made a career out of the comeback.

The senior quarterback for No. 3 Texas has led 11 second-half rallies in his 39 career victories, seven of them in the fourth quarter. He has twice pulled Texas back from 21 points down to win, including a 38-35 win at Oklahoma State in 2007 after Texas started the fourth quarter down 35-14.

“I think it says something about really strong character,” Texas center Chris Hall said.

The Longhorns (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) and No. 13 Cowboys (6-1, 3-0) clash again in Stillwater on Saturday night. Knowing McCoy’s history – and the history of Texas comebacks in general in this lopsided rivalry – maybe the Cowboys should avoid getting a big lead. Texas has won 11 in a row over the Cowboys and had to rally in several with startling comebacks.

In 2004, Vince Young rallied Texas from a 35-7 deficit in the first half to a 56-35 win in Austin. The next year, Texas trailed the Cowboys 28-9 before Young again rallied the Longhorns to a 47-28 victory.

McCoy starting building his record as a comeback king as a freshman in 2006. That season included late road wins at Nebraska and Texas Tech, and against Oklahoma in Dallas and Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.

All three of McCoy’s wins over Oklahoma came after the Longhorns trailed at halftime. Against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl last season, Texas was down 21-17 with 1:58 to play before McCoy completed seven passes in the game-winning drive, hitting the final touchdown pass with 16 seconds left.

Of his 11 second-half rallies, perhaps the most impressive part is that 10 have come away from Austin. McCoy says the key is staying loose when the Longhorns fall behind and not trying to get it all back at once.

Against Oklahoma State in 2007, McCoy relaxed the offense when he gave a shoulder shake dance move in the huddle. That was something out of Young’s playbook and McCoy got a few laughs.

“You don’t have to do things special,” McCoy said. “You don’t have to make it happen right away. You just have to be under control, and something’s going to work out for you in the end.”

What Texas doesn’t want is to expect the rally will come every time.

“Our kids feel like they can win each week. The only negative is you do not want them in a position where they are complacent and feel like it’s just going to work out. That’s the danger,” Texas coach Mack Brown said.