By Jeff SheldonDaily Nebraskan
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS--Zac Taylor's nightmarish second half made his last-second redemption all the sweeter.
On a day when he would become Nebraska's all-time leading passer, Taylor rallied the Cornhuskers to a 28-27 win over Texas A&M in front of 83,336 at Kyle Field.
The win clinched the Big 12 Conference's North Division title for Nebraska (8-3, 5-2 Big 12) and a spot in the league's title game for the first time since 1999.
After watching a 21-7 lead evaporate, the Huskers took over possession at their own 24-yard line after Barry Turner blocked Layne Neumann's 41-yard field goal that would have iced the game for the Aggies (8-3, 4-3).
Taylor drove Nebraska 76-yards in 1 minute, 37 seconds, ending the game-winning drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Purify on a fade route with 21 seconds left.
"We work on the two-minute drill every Thursday in practice against our defense," Taylor said. "We are always confident we can go in there and drive and score to win."
The score came one play after NU ran a fade to Purify on the same side of the field on a third-and-10 from the 18. Purify battled with Aggie cornerback Jordan Peterson and the ball fell incomplete, but Aggie defensive lineman Marques Thornton was called for roughing the passer giving the Huskers a first down.
Earlier in the drive, Taylor hooked up with Todd Peterson for 22 yards on a fourth-and-3 play. Taylor, who was sacked four times in the second half, scrambled away from the rush and lofted a pass between a pair of Aggies to keep NU's drive alive.
Taylor finished 21-of-35 for 267 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 22 scoring tosses on the year-a new Nebraska record. Taylor's four-yard score to Peterson in the second quarter moved him past David Humm as the school's all-time passing leader.
A&M out-gained Nebraska 443-390 and held the Huskers to just 72 yards in the second half before the final drive.
Pick up Monday's Daily Nebraskan for full coverage of Saturday's game.