Texas enters its first SEC game of the 2026 season with the No. 1 ranking, a 3-0 record and one of the most anticipated road games on the schedule. It also enters the matchup with Tennessee carrying a growing list of availability questions that could affect how Steve Sarkisian manages the Longhorns at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26. The initial SEC availability report released Wednesday night listed defensive end Colin Simmons as probable, running back Hollywood Smothers as questionable, and six Texas players overall on the report.
The biggest positive development is Simmons. The junior edge rusher left the Sept. 19 win over UTSA after the first half and was later seen wearing a protective boot. Sarkisian said after the game that removing Simmons was precautionary and that he did not believe the injury was serious. The latest availability report now lists him as probable for Tennessee.
The concern is that Texas will still be without several contributors. Sophomore defensive lineman Justus Terry, junior nickel Xavier Filsaime and sophomore offensive lineman Jordan Coleman are listed out, while tight end Nick Townsend is doubtful. Smothers, one of the team’s most important additions to the running game, remains questionable.
That makes the injury report more than a weekly administrative update. It could influence the defensive rotation, offensive personnel groupings, special teams and the way Texas approaches its first SEC road game.
Colin Simmons’ Status Changes The Defensive Picture
Simmons is the name that matters most because of what he means to Texas’ defensive front.
Before leaving the UTSA game, Simmons recorded a sack, and he had already accumulated 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hit and four quarterback hurries through the first two games of the season. He is also one of the most important edge players on a defense that has allowed just 13 points per game through three contests.
His probable designation is therefore significant.
Texas held UTSA to only 142 total yards in the 30-6 victory, allowing just 72 rushing yards and 70 passing yards. The Roadrunners converted only one of 11 third-down attempts and failed to score a touchdown. That defensive performance helped Texas remain unbeaten despite an offense that was not at its most efficient.
Simmons gives the Longhorns another way to create pressure without committing extra defenders.
That becomes particularly important against Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon, who has emerged as one of the most closely watched young quarterbacks in the SEC. Tennessee enters the matchup at 3-0, and its offense presents a much different challenge from the one Texas faced against UTSA.
If Simmons is able to play his normal workload, Texas can maintain more continuity along the defensive front. If his snaps are limited, the Longhorns will have to rely more heavily on their depth and on different pressure packages.
For the latest Texas roster and team information, the official Texas football program provides the program’s current news and statistics.
Hollywood Smothers Could Affect Texas’ Offensive Balance
The other major question is Smothers.
The senior transfer running back is listed questionable after becoming one of the central pieces of Texas’ revamped rushing attack. Through three games, Smothers has carried the ball 41 times for 198 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Longhorns a physical option in a backfield that also includes transfer Raleek Brown.
His importance became particularly clear during Texas’ comeback against Ohio State.
The Longhorns entered the fourth quarter trailing 23-3 before scoring 21 unanswered points to win 24-23. Smothers was part of the running-game approach that helped Texas establish more physicality late in the game.
His potential absence would not leave Texas without a running game. The Longhorns rushed for 228 yards against UTSA, and Brown has already shown that he can handle meaningful carries. But removing Smothers from the rotation could change how Sarkisian distributes touches and how aggressively he uses the running backs in the passing game.
That matters because Texas needs to keep Tennessee’s defense from focusing exclusively on Arch Manning.
Manning completed 16 of 32 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns against UTSA. Those numbers were overshadowed by Texas’ strong rushing performance, but the balance remains important as the schedule moves into conference play.
Smothers’ availability could therefore influence more than the number of carries Texas gives its backs. It could affect the entire structure of the offense.
Three Texas Players Are Already Listed Out
Texas will have to prepare for Tennessee knowing that three players are already listed out.
Justus Terry, Xavier Filsaime and Jordan Coleman are unavailable according to the initial SEC report.
Terry is particularly interesting because the five-star sophomore defensive lineman has already been part of a young defensive rotation that has dealt with injuries. His absence puts more responsibility on the remaining interior defensive linemen and increases the importance of keeping the front fresh.
Filsaime’s absence is significant for a different reason. The nickel position requires communication, coverage versatility and the ability to handle both receivers and running-game responsibilities. Tennessee’s offense can force defensive backs into difficult assignments, particularly in a game where communication could be affected by the Neyland environment.
Coleman’s absence also reduces offensive-line depth.
That is worth monitoring because Texas has already spent much of the season managing questions around its offensive front. The Longhorns need enough flexibility to protect Manning while maintaining a running game against a Tennessee defense that will have the home crowd behind it.
The official SEC availability reporting system is particularly relevant this season because conference teams must publicly report player availability for SEC football games.
Nick Townsend’s Status Adds Another Offensive Question
Townsend is listed doubtful, adding another question at tight end.
The tight end position is especially useful for an offense preparing for a hostile road environment because formations can help Texas create additional protection options without completely sacrificing its passing concepts.
If Townsend cannot play, Sarkisian can adjust with other tight ends and personnel groupings. But every missing player reduces the number of combinations available to an offensive coordinator.
That becomes more important against Tennessee because the Volunteers can create pressure with their front while using the crowd to increase the communication burden on the offense.
Texas does not need every player available to function effectively. It does need to make sure the players replacing unavailable contributors know exactly what their assignments are.
Texas’ Defensive Depth Is About To Be Tested
The injury report arrives at a time when Texas’ defense has already become one of the team’s defining strengths.
The Longhorns have allowed only 13 points per game through three games, and the defense has repeatedly created short fields through turnovers and pressure. Rasheem Biles intercepted UTSA quarterback Owen McCown on the opening play of the Sept. 19 game, immediately putting Texas in control.
But the Tennessee matchup will demand more from that unit.
The Volunteers have a different combination of quarterback mobility, running-game options and home-field conditions. The defense cannot assume that it will simply overwhelm Tennessee the way it controlled UTSA.
That is why Simmons’ probable status is so valuable.
If he plays close to his normal role, Texas can keep its defensive structure intact while rotating other players around him. If he is limited, the Longhorns may need to be more selective with pass-rush packages.
The distinction could become particularly important late in the game.
A defensive line that remains fresh in the fourth quarter can continue generating pressure. A unit forced to compensate for missing depth can become more vulnerable as the number of snaps increases.
The Tennessee Running Game Adds Another Layer
The injury situation is not limited to Texas.
Tennessee also released an availability report that includes several players. Running back Javin Gordon and defensive lineman Nathan Robinson are listed questionable, while tight end Ethan Davis, wide receiver Joakim Dodson, linebacker Jaedon Harmon, defensive backs Edrees Farooq and Dylan Lewis are among the players listed out.
The most important Tennessee development, however, is that DeSean Bishop is expected to play.
Josh Heupel indicated that Bishop would be available against Texas after dealing with an injury. Bishop has been one of Tennessee’s primary rushing threats, entering the matchup with 286 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
That makes Texas’ defensive depth even more important.
The Longhorns cannot afford to lose multiple contributors on the defensive front and then expect the remaining players to handle an extended workload against Tennessee’s running game.
Bishop’s availability means Texas must prepare for a Tennessee offense that can maintain balance instead of relying entirely on Brandon.
The Offensive Line Has Less Margin For Error
Jordan Coleman’s absence deserves attention because of what the offensive line represents for Texas’ season.
Manning is the centerpiece of the offense, but his effectiveness depends on the protection in front of him. Tennessee’s crowd can already make pre-snap communication more difficult, and the Volunteers will have every incentive to test Texas’ protection schemes.
Coleman’s absence means the Longhorns have one fewer option for adjusting their personnel during the game.
That makes the work of the starting five even more important.
Texas has already had to manage Trevor Goosby’s knee situation, competition at guard and the general challenge of building continuity along the line. The team cannot afford repeated communication errors against Tennessee.
That is especially relevant after Texas committed eight penalties for 88 yards against UTSA.
The Longhorns have now reached the point in the season where penalties and injuries intersect. A backup player entering a difficult road environment must be able to execute without creating additional problems.
Neyland Makes Communication Even More Important
The first Texas-Tennessee game in Knoxville will create a different environment from anything the Longhorns have experienced this season.
Texas played Ohio State at home in front of a massive crowd, but Saturday will be the program’s first game at Neyland Stadium. The venue seats more than 100,000 fans, and Tennessee is building the matchup around the atmosphere as much as the football itself.
That environment increases the value of depth.
Players have to communicate before the snap. Offensive linemen have to recognize protections. Defensive backs have to make coverage adjustments. Substitutions have to happen cleanly.
An injury does not simply remove one player.
It can also require another player to take on a new communication responsibility.
For Texas, that could be one of the most important consequences of the current availability report.
Steve Sarkisian Has To Prepare For Multiple Scenarios
The positive part of the report is that Texas is not entering Tennessee without its core pieces.
Simmons is probable. Smothers is questionable rather than ruled out. Several other starters remain available. The Longhorns also have a deep roster that was specifically built through recruiting and the transfer portal to withstand situations like this.
But Sarkisian now has to prepare for several possible combinations.
If Simmons is fully available, the defensive game plan can be built around his normal role.
If he is limited, Texas needs a secondary plan.
If Smothers plays, the Longhorns can maintain their preferred two-back rotation.
If he does not, Brown and the other available backs will need to absorb more responsibility.
That is the practical value of an injury report. It does not determine the game. It tells coaches which versions of their game plan they may need to have ready.
Texas’ No. 1 Ranking Makes The Depth Question Bigger
Texas would have injury concerns regardless of its ranking.
The difference is that the Longhorns are now the No. 1 team in the country.
Every opponent is preparing specifically for Texas. Every weakness receives more attention. Every unavailable player becomes a potential part of the opponent’s preparation.
That does not mean Texas is suddenly vulnerable because several players are on the report. It means the margin for poor preparation becomes smaller.
The Longhorns already survived their biggest early-season test when they rallied from a 20-point deficit against Ohio State. They then defeated UTSA 30-6 and moved into the top spot.
Now they have to demonstrate that the roster can withstand the physical and tactical demands of SEC play.
The injury report is one part of that test.
Saturday Will Reveal How Deep Texas Really Is
The most important thing to watch Saturday will not simply be which players are wearing uniforms.
It will be how Texas adjusts around the players who are unavailable or limited.
Simmons’ probable status gives the defense an important boost. Smothers’ questionable designation leaves the offense with a decision that could affect its preferred balance. Terry, Filsaime and Coleman being out means other players will have to absorb meaningful snaps, while Townsend’s doubtful status adds another layer to the offensive personnel plan.
That is why the injury report is becoming more important before Tennessee.
Texas has already shown it has enough talent to win without playing a perfect game. The 24-23 comeback against Ohio State proved that. The 30-6 victory over UTSA demonstrated the defense’s ability to control a game.
Tennessee will ask a different question.
Can Texas maintain that level of execution when several contributors are unavailable, the opponent is ranked No. 14, the game is being played in front of a massive SEC crowd and the Longhorns are carrying the pressure of being No. 1?
The answer will depend less on the length of the injury list than on the players Texas uses to replace those missing snaps.
That is where the depth of Sarkisian’s roster finally gets a real SEC examination.
For broader Texas football coverage, the Longhorns’ injury situation should be viewed alongside the team’s defensive development, offensive-line depth and the way Sarkisian has managed the roster through the opening three games.
The Tennessee game is therefore about more than whether Colin Simmons can play or whether Hollywood Smothers receives clearance.
It is the first opportunity to see whether Texas’ roster was built deeply enough to handle the inevitable injuries that arrive during an SEC season.
