LINCOLN, Neb. — Texas coach Mack Brown had some encouraging words for Ryan Bailey before the backup kicker took the field in the final seconds.

"You're the luckiest guy in the world," Brown told the sophomore walk-on. "You've got a chance to be Dusty Magnum on your first kick."

Time will tell whether Bailey's 22-yard field goal with 23 seconds left to beat 17th-ranked Nebraska, 22-20, ranks alongside Magnum's 37-yarder to beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl two years ago.

For Bailey's part, he was just happy to be on the travel roster for the fifth-ranked Longhorns.

The eyes of Texas, Nebraska and a national television audience were on Bailey after regular kicker Greg Johnson told Brown late in the game that his leg was tightening up. By then Johnson already had missed two field goals and had an extra point blocked.

"I had no idea something like this would happen," Bailey said. "I was here along for the ride."

What a ride it was for both the Longhorns (7-1, 4-0 Big 12) and Cornhuskers (6-2, 3-1).

The Huskers led 20-19 with 4:54 left. But Terrence Nunn fumbled and Marcus Griffin recovered at the Nebraska 44 with 2:17 left.

The Longhorns drove to the Nebraska 5, setting up Bailey.