Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was injured early in the first quarter of Thursday's BCS title game loss to Alabama and Longhorns fans still wonder what might have happened had McCoy played the entire game.

PASADENA, Calif. — The college football season rarely ends without unanswered questions.

Yes, Alabama's championship is undisputed. Not even unbeaten Boise State is arguing about which team is No. 1. But it's hard not to wonder how the BCS title game would have played out if Colt McCoy had not gotten hurt.

As for those Broncos, they must already be pondering the possibility of becoming the ultimate BCS busters in 2010.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban had the last word on the 2009 season Friday at a news conference in Newport Beach. About 12 hours after Alabama beat Texas 37-21 at the Rose Bowl, he was still harping on the fact that his team came out flat in the third quarter. That the Tide players were acting as if they had already won the national championship when they bounded into the locker room at halftime up 24-6.

"I had to stand up on a chair and say this is a 60-minute game," he said.

No doubt there are Texas fans — maybe even some players and coach Mack Brown — who are thinking it was actually about a 4-minute game.

That's how long McCoy played in the final college game of his spectacular career. The overwhelming consensus going into the BCS championship game was that the Longhorns' chances rested on the shoulders of McCoy, the All-American quarterback with a record 45 victories as a starter.

When Tide defensive end Marcell Dareus injured McCoy's right shoulder with a solid hit on Texas' fifth offensive play, everything changed. The Longhorns' offense went dark for the rest of the half.

Two great scoring opportunities Alabama gave Texas with special teams miscues resulted in only six points for the Longhorns. What if McCoy had been in to finish off those drives?

"After Colt got hurt, obviously we were limited in some of the things we could do," Texas coach Mack Brown said.

Freshman backup Garrett Gilbert settled in after an awful first half, threw two touchdowns to Jordan Shipley and gave the Tide a scare.

Not until Alabama's lead was down to 24-21 did the Tide rev its engines again and put away Texas.

Alabama played like the best team in the country for most of the season, even when the Tide was ranked behind Florida and Texas it seemed that Saban's squad had the most depth and versatility, the most ways it could win a game.

With a virtually nonexistent passing game — Greg McElroy completed six passes for 58 yards against Texas — Alabama scored 37 points. The Tide ran over the top-ranked run defense in the nation with Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and freshman Trent Richardson. The Alabama defense, powered by three All-Americans, got the biggest plays from less-heralded players, such as Dareus and Eryk Anders.

There's a good chance Alabama beats Texas even if McCoy doesn't get hurt. But what if?