AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -Two months ago, Texas would have avoided any direct talk of playing for a national title.

Back when the No. 2 Longhorns (8-0) were initially scheduled to play Central Florida (5-3), anything so bold would have been waved off as too much, too soon.

Now the Longhorns know what's in front of them if they keep winning, starting Saturday.

Texas is No. 2 in the Bowl Championship series standings with four regular-season games left before the conference championship game. A trip to the BCS title game in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7 is within reach if the Longhorns win out.