Young played college football for the University of Texas. As a junior, he won the Davey O'Brien Award, awarded annually to the best college quarterback in the nation. He finished second behind Reggie Bush in Heisman Trophy voting. After the Heisman voting, Young led his team to a BCS National Championship against the defending BCS national champion USC Trojans in the 2006 Rose Bowl. It was one of the most-anticipated, greatest games in the history of college football. Texas retired Young's jersey on August 30, 2008.