Texas quarterback Major Applewhite didn't start the game, but quickly led the Longhorns to two TDs.(AP)

But Simms' first two possessions ended in a missed field goal and an interception return for a touchdown that gave the Ragin' Cajuns a 10-0 lead. Applewhite took over and led the Longhorns to 31 points before halftime.

He made a strong statement to be the starter with 315 yards passing and four touchdowns in a little more than two quarters of play. Texas rolled up 490 yards of total offense against the overmatched Ragin' Cajuns (0-2).

Even so, Applewhite and the Texas coaches wouldn't say who should start next week at Stanford.

"You might as well not ask," coach Mack Brown said. "I'm not going to say anything about next week."

Applewhite's play may have said it all.

On his first possession, Applewhite shook off a badly underthrown ball and a near-interception to drive Texas 54 yards for Hodges Mitchell's 4-yard scoring run.

On Texas' next drive, Applewhite went 3-of-3 for 79 yards before Victor Ike gave Texas a 14-10 lead with a 1-yard TD run. The drive went 80 yards in 38 seconds.

After a punt pinned Texas at the 2, Applewhite connected again on three straight passes to move inside the Louisiana-Lafayette 20. Two plays later Applewhite found Brandon Healy from 18 yards out for a 21-10 lead.

After Kris Stockton kicked a 39-yard field goal, Applewhite stuck again with 2-yard TD pass to Artie Ellis.

He finally gave way to Simms in the third quarter with Texas leading 45-10.

Applewhite tried to downplay the significance of his performance and whether he'll start next week.

"It doesn't matter to me. Let's put that question to rest, OK?" Applewhite said. "It was exciting to be back out there, to be able to show spark, passion and to be able to take care of business."

Applewhite looked fully recovered from the torn left knee ligament sustained in last season's Cotton Bowl loss to Arkansas. The injury opened the door for Simms to challenge for the starting role as Applewhite sat out all of spring drills.

Brown had refused to say publicly, or even tell the team, who would start before the game. He had said both would play.

The crowd of 80,017 cheered when Simms took the field for the first time. The noise faded quickly.

Simms was 1-of-3 for 12 yards on Texas' first possession before Stockton missed a 52-yard field-goal attempt.

It got even worse from there for Simms.

On a third-and-7 from the Texas 36, the left-hander rolled to his right and fired a pass toward the sideline. Cornerback Terrence Hunter stepped in front of the receiver for the pickoff and scampered untouched 43 yards for the touchdown and a 10-0 lead. Simms laid on his stomach on the ground and watched Hunter's run to the end zone.

Enter Applewhite.

"The momentum changed when Major came in," Brown said. "But we also changed the offense going to four wideouts.

"Chris had bad luck in the beginning, Major had good luck and then Chris came in and had good luck also," Brown said. "So we're back to where we have two starting quarterbacks again."

When Simms finally returned after Applewhite's fourth TD pass, he completed three straight passes, including a scrambling 13-yard scoring toss to Mitchell.

Simms finished 7-of-14 for 88 yards.

"I just got off to a bad start," Simms said. "I would love to have been in there, but I made a few mistakes early and (the coaches) made the right call. After the interception I didn't feel that bad, I just made a bad throw.

"I thought he (Major) played great," Simms said.

Louisiana-Lafayette led 3-0 on Brent Bergeron's 21-yard field goal. The Ragin' Cajuns started the game with a 15-play, 77 yard drive that stopped just short of a touchdown when Derek Dyer's pass into the end zone was incomplete.

"We got a little rattled out there," Louisiana-Lafayette coach Jerry Baldwin said. "Just playing good during the first quarter and getting the lead is not what this game is all about."

Dyer completed 11 of 22 passes for 121 yards and a team-high 30 yards rushing for Louisiana-Lafayette.