AUSTIN, Texas — Texas quarterback Colt McCoy’s Heisman Trophy moment has arrived.

Put up big numbers and beat No. 20 Oklahoma on Saturday and McCoy stays right in the thick of the chase for the Heisman. Toss a few more interceptions or lose, and it could be slipping out of the senior’s grasp for good.
McCoy was the runner-up for the trophy last season — behind Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford — but sputtering starts, a rash of turnovers and a dropoff in his running after five games have prompted more than a few “What’s wrong with Colt?” questions.
It’s not like he’s playing bad.
Third-ranked Texas is undefeated, McCoy has thrown for 1,410 yards and 10 touchdowns, and his completion percentage, while down from last season’s NCAA-record 77 percent, is still 73 percent.
“We’ve done a lot of good things, especially in the throwing game,” McCoy said. “I want to play the best I can every time. It’s not like I go out there and try to play bad one game and good the next.”
It’s just that something doesn’t seem quite right.
Texas (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) has struggled to start games. The Longhorns managed just one offensive touchdown in the first half against overmatched Wyoming and Colorado, and a single field goal against Texas Tech. McCoy had the flu the week of the Texas Tech game and didn’t start feeling better until the second half.
Early in the season, coach Mack Brown told McCoy not to try to be perfect.
“We’ve all gotten too used to Colt,” Brown said. “I think some of us go cold on him because he is just so good.”
Heisman voters demand a lot. For quarterbacks, they require big wins, chart-busting stats and a signature play (or two) on national television.
Some are now thinking McCoy’s best friend and roommate, wide receiver Jordan Shipley, is the one who should be getting Heisman consideration. Shipley has caught 47 passes, three for touchdowns, returned two punts for scores and produced Texas’ biggest plays.
On Monday, a Heisman voter asked McCoy if it would bother him if she voted for Shipley in a midseason poll.
“He’s playing great,” McCoy said. “If you don’t think I’m playing good, that’s fine.”
McCoy knows he could swing a lot of votes either way on Saturday.
“If I go out and play well and we win, those things are going to come in the end,” McCoy said this week. “The national championship means the most. The Big 12 championship means the most. Those are things we haven’t played for in the last couple of years.”
The Sooners (3-2, 1-0) say they don’t see anything amiss with in McCoy’s game.
“I think he’s throwing the ball great,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “He looks every bit as good as what you saw a year ago.”
McCoy has not been the running threat he win in 2008. That’s partly by design.
McCoy had a team-high 561 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis has called fewer running plays for him as Texas has forced its ground game through tailbacks Vondrell McGee, Tre’ Newton, Cody Johnson and Fozzy Whittaker.
McCoy has just 58 yards and one touchdown rushing this season and the running game overall is sputtering without his scrambling. He could be called on to run more Saturday with McGee and Newton both listed as “day to day” after injuries last week against Colorado.
McCoy also has thrown six interceptions after totaling eight in 12 games last year. Brown said four came on dropped passes or tipped balls.
McCoy was at his best in Texas’ biggest games last season. Heisman voters will be watching to see if he is again on Saturday.
“Colt’s played well in this game every year,” Brown said. “He likes this game.”