Jamaal Charles ran for a career-high 290 yards, 216 and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, carrying Texas to a 28-25 win over Nebraska Saturday in Austin.

The Huskers have now lost four in a row for the first time since 1961.

The Longhorns spent three quarters trying to pass against one of the worst rush defenses in the country and Nebraska (4-5, 1-4) led 17-9 to start the fourth behind two touchdown passes from Sam Keller to Nate Swift.

Then Texas started using the zone-read option and the running game quickly started piling up yards and points. Three running plays covered 75 yards on Texas' first touchdown drive and Charles' second TD gave Texas its first lead since the first quarter.

"It was my time to show everyone what I can do," said Charles, who now has 1,012 and 11 TDs this season. "When I saw a hole, I blasted through it."

Charles broke free for touchdown runs of 25, 86 and 40 yards in the fourth quarter. His last touchdown gave Texas a 28-17 lead.

"It was a huge relief to see a running back breaking away down the field," said Texas guard Chris Hall. "In the fourth quarter we popped a few."

Charles passed Oklahoma's Billy Simms' 247 yards in 1979 as the most yards gained against the Cornhuskers. His rushing total was the fourth highest in Texas history and the 'Horns finished with 364 yards rushing.

Texas went to its running game almost by chance and a hard hit on quarterback Colt McCoy.

McCoy was shaken up when he scrambled outside the pocket and the Longhorns were forced to use freshman John Chiles. His one play, a zone-read handoff to Charles, produced 24 yards and suddenly Texas had figured out how to beat a Huskers' team that had been steamrolled on the ground in recent weeks.

"When I got back in the huddle I could see the fire in the linemen's eyes," McCoy said. "I could tell there was something different. It seemed like we had the momentum from that point on. It was big for us." Texas only threw three passes in the fourth quarter.

Keller connected with Swift for scores from 24 and 23 yards out while the defense dogged McCoy most of the afternoon with a fierce pass rush that delivered several hard hits.

Keller himself was shaken up in the fourth quarter after being hit and had to leave the game with a shoulder injury, replaced by Joe Ganz.

Nebraska had a final chance when Ganz fired a four-yard TD pass to Maurice Purify with 1:55 to play. A two-point conversion pass cut the Texas lead to three, but the Longhorns' Brandon Foster recovered the onside kick.

NU showed some fight after being outscored 122-34 in their last three games. "It was real heartfelt," said Nebraska coach Bill Callahan. "I thought they gave everything they had."

Purify ran for 111 yards for the Huskers.

"We've never been so sick of losing in our entire lives," Huskers defensive back Ben Eisenhart said. "We're so tired of losing and going to class and everybody asking you questions and it's just a real downer."

Texas seemed to have paid little attention to how teams have been battering the Nebraska defense on the ground this season. The Longhorns had more pass attempts (18) than rushes (17) in the first half and managed only one field goal.

Nebraska loaded up on its pass rush, sometimes sending as many as eight to pressure McCoy who was beaten up and knocked around all afternoon. He finished with 181 yards on 12-of-28 passing and didn't throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season.

"It took a whole half to figure out what was going to work," McCoy said. "I've never been in a game where they blitzed every play."

Texas coach Mack Brown won his 100th game with the Longhorns. "A hundred is nice," Brown said. "I knew the game was going to come down like it did. It didn't surprise me. They made sure that I'll remember it the rest of my life."