Texas is still likely to be without Colin Simmons when it lines up against Mississippi State, and the latest availability update made that reality look even firmer.
Simmons was initially tagged as questionable, but the Texas star edge rusher got bumped to doubtful for the Week 9 SEC matchup. That leaves the Longhorns thin again off the edge, with Simmons and fellow edge Richard Wesley both expected to miss a second straight game after sitting out against Ole Miss with ankle sprains.
Texas did survive last week without either defender in the rotation, and the defense looked strong in the win over then-No. 7 Ole Miss under coordinator Will Muschamp. The matchup ahead also gives the Longhorns a softer landing spot, with Mississippi State presenting a lesser offense than the Rebels.
The Bulldogs will also be missing starting quarterback "Super" Kamario Taylor, which shifts Texas’ pass-rush attention to backup Parker Puckett. He has played in only four college games and has thrown fewer touchdown passes than interceptions.
There was better news elsewhere on the Texas injury front. Running back Hollywood Smothers and wide receiver Cam Coleman were removed from the report entirely, a sign both should be ready to go against Mississippi State.
Smothers had already missed two games this season, including Texas’ wins over Tennessee and Ole Miss, but he is expected back this weekend.
Coleman, who has frustrated some Texas fans after dropping what looked like a couple of sure touchdown passes, left last week’s game against Ole Miss after landing hard on his shoulder. After one day on the injury list, he was off the Horns’ second availability report for Week 9.
Kaliq Lockett could also be part of the receiving mix. He has yet to make his first real impact for Texas and has spent plenty of time on the injury report this season, but he was listed as probable Thursday night, putting him in line to be another option for Arch Manning.
The most serious injury news for Texas remains at left tackle. Trevor Goosby, who suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee against Ole Miss, has already undergone successful reparative surgery and will miss the rest of the season.
Mississippi State’s report did not change over the 24-hour span.
OUT: Kamario Taylor (QB), Jalen Smith (LB), Ayden Williams (WR), Trevion Williams (DL), Diesel Moye (DL)
QUESTIONABLE: Isaac Smith (S), DJ Chester (OL)
Taylor’s absence is the biggest headline there, but the Bulldogs’ offense will also be down veteran receiver Ayden Williams and may also be without offensive lineman DJ Chester. On the other side of the ball, Mississippi State is set to be without linebacker Jalen Smith and defensive linemen Trevion Williams and Diesel Moye, while safety Isaac Smith remains questionable.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Just Landed A Massive Recruiting Win For Its Future Wing Core
Mississippi State kept building early momentum for its 2027 basketball class with the addition of four-star small forward Jalen White, a promising wing prospect who made his pledge after an official visit to Starkville. White gives the Bulldogs another high-level piece to pair with point guard Jacques Mitchell, making him the second four-star commit in the class and signaling that the staff is not wasting time laying the foundation for the future.
The commitment also says plenty about how Mississippi State is selling its program on the trail. Whites decision underscores the appeal of the Bulldogs environment and the way the coaching staff has connected with him during the process, a combination that helped the school separate itself in a race that had drawn national attention. For a class still in its early stages, landing a wing with that kind of profile gives Mississippi State some real direction as it keeps assembling its next core. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Evans III Suddenly Faces A Painful Mississippi State Decision
Anthony Evans III has already had to navigate an uneven 2026 season, one interrupted by injury and reshaped by the loss of quarterback Kamario Taylor, and the ripple effects have reached beyond the weekly stat sheet. Even so, Evans has remained one of Mississippi States most important offensive pieces, the kind of player whose presence matters not just for this fall, but for whatever comes next in Starkville.
Now the larger question is whether this season becomes his last college run or merely a pause before one more year. Evans is weighing a possible return for a fifth collegiate season in 2027, though his path there is not simple, with his eligibility situation unresolved and his NFL plans still part of the equation. For Mississippi State, the answer could shape the offense again next year, and for Evans it adds a personal decision that is suddenly harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Offense Faces A Brutal Test After Major QB Blow
Mississippi States offense heads into a daunting matchup with Texas carrying more than just the usual SEC pressure. The numbers have not been kind to the Bulldogs, with multiple analytics models slotting Texas well ahead of them and projecting a clear edge for the Longhorns as the game approaches. Add in the loss of quarterback Kamario Taylor, who underwent season-ending surgery, and the challenge only gets steeper for a Mississippi State team trying to steady itself on offense.
Jeff Lebby confirmed the surgery and framed it as a team decision, leaving the Bulldogs to sort through the fallout while preparing for one of their toughest tests of the season. Texas is dealing with injuries of its own, but Steve Sarkisian pointed to his teams recent win in spite of those issues, a reminder of how much depth the Longhorns can still bring to the table. For Mississippi State, the task is now less about matching the outside projections and more about finding a way to keep the game competitive under difficult circumstances. [Read more 🡒]