PASADENA, Calif. — Texas quarterback Colt McCoy hurt his right shoulder on the Longhorns’ first drive of the BCS championship game Thursday night, knocking him out of the biggest — and final — game of his record-setting college career.
School officials never specified the seriousness of his injury but declared him out with Texas trailing Alabama 24-6 early in the third quarter.
Minutes later, McCoy returned to the sideline in full gear except for his helmet and went straight into an offensive huddle as the Longhorns were on the sideline, preparing to start a possession.
McCoy appeared animated as he spoke, walking around the center of the group. He touched the helmet and shoulder pads of his replacement, freshman Garrett Gilbert. McCoy then stood alone on the sideline as the offense took the field. He later put on a headset.
McCoy was injured on his fifth snap. He kept the ball on an option to his left and was hit square by lineman Marcell Dareus for no gain. McCoy got up and appeared to be OK, but went to the sideline as Gilbert ran in and called a timeout.
McCoy remained crumpled on the ground throughout the break, then was helped to the bench and later taken away for X-rays. He didn’t return to the sideline until after he was ruled out.
“They would be a lot better team because he’s a great player,” Alabama coach Nick Saban told ABC at halftime. “So it’s unfortunate for them.”
McCoy is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history, with 45 victories in his 52 starts. He had been durable, too, never missing a game with an injury despite weighing only 180 pounds when he first took over as a redshirt freshman. He has filled out to 215 pounds.
