DALLAS -- Mack Brown stood with his players in front of the Texas band cherishing a victory over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry that few outside of Austin expected.

After the coach accepted the Golden Hat trophy that came with their 36-20 win Saturday over the 12th-ranked Sooners, Case McCoy and these Texas seniors especially enjoyed passing around the prize and taking turns putting it atop their heads for the first time.

"I didn't think I was very emotional at all. I thought I did a great, great job," Brown said. "Besides that, you all wanted me to be more emotional than I was in the past. I had 97 cameras in my face. ... I thought I was appropriately really happy."

McCoy threw two touchdowns, 295-pound defensive tackle Chris Whaley returned an interception 31 yards for a score and the Longhorns (4-2, 3-0 Big 12) ended Oklahoma's three-game winning streak in the rivalry to give Brown at least a temporary reprieve from all the gloomy talk about his future with the Longhorns.

Brown insisted this victory was special for what it was -- finally a win for this senior group over Oklahoma, a 3-0 start in Big 12 play and the possibility of a league title and BCS game still in their future.

"You shouldn't leave this school without beating Oklahoma. You need to do that," Brown said. "This thing goes in streaks. And I guess we've won five of the last nine now. For you that's counting."

As for those speculating about his future, Brown insists that he does his best to ignore that. So do his players.

"It's wasn't something we talked about," said Jackson Jeffcoat, the senior defensive end who had two sacks. "We know every game is important for coach Brown."

The 154 victories for Brown in his 16 seasons at Texas are second most in school history behind Darrell Royal. They also match coach Bob Stoops' win total in 15 seasons with the Sooners. The head-to-head record for the only active Big 12 coaches who have won national championships is now Stoops 9, Brown 6.

Texas, a two-touchdown underdog, never trailed after the impressive rumble late in the first quarter by converted running back Whaley and went on to a double-digit win of its own. There was also an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Daje Johnson in the third quarter after Oklahoma had gotten within 23-13.