Texas’ first injury report for Saturday’s trip to Missouri brought a few familiar names and a couple of big questions.
The Longhorns listed nine players on Wednesday night’s availability report, and the headline item is running back Hollywood Smothers being ruled out for the matchup with the Tigers. Wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo are both questionable, and edge defender Colin Simmons is also questionable after dealing with a high ankle sprain.
Wingo has been one of Texas’ most productive targets this season, leading the team with 36 catches and 470 receiving yards. Coleman sits atop the roster with seven touchdown receptions. If either one can’t go, Arch Manning’s passing game would lean more heavily on Emmett Mosley V and Jermaine Bishop Jr.
Smothers’ absence matters too. Working alongside Raleek Brown, he has the sixth-most receptions on the team with 10. Without him, Brown’s workload figures to rise, and Derrek Cooper and Michael Terry III could see more opportunities.
Texas enters the game at No. 7 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, and the Longhorns’ standing has already sparked plenty of outside talk about whether they could absorb another loss and still stay in the field. Their injury situation against Missouri may put that theory to the test quickly.
Both teams are 6-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Texas a 64.5% chance to make the CFP, while Missouri sits at 9.4%.
A Tigers win would improve that number. Texas and Missouri kick off at noon ET on Saturday on ESPN.
In Other News...
Missouri Opens Texas Week With One Early Advantage
Missouris first SEC availability report for its matchup with Texas brought a bit of clarity to the start of a big week, and the Tigers came out of it in decent shape. The league-required update listed no new injuries for Missouri beyond the players already ruled out, which at least gives the Tigers a clean initial read as they begin preparing for one of the conferences marquee games.
Texas, meanwhile, had a longer list to sort through, with several starters and key contributors showing up as questionable or out, including wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, running back Hollywood Smothers and defensive end Colin Simmons. The reports will be updated daily as kickoff gets closer, so Missouris early edge is only a snapshot, but it is the kind of snapshot a team would rather see on its side heading into a week like this. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzous Shot At A Statement Win May Depend On Texas Saturday
Missouri heads into Saturday with the same injury picture it has been carrying, as Malae Fonoti, Josh Atkins and Gavin Hoffman remain out. The bigger question, though, is what Texas will have available when the Tigers try to turn this into a statement game, because the Longhorns are dealing with a much longer list of concerns and several starters are still in question.
Among the names to watch are Colin Simmons, Ryan Wingo, Cam Coleman, Kade Phillips and Graceson Littleton, all listed as questionable. Texas is already without running back Hollywood Smothers and tight end Nick Townsend, while Trevor Goosby is out for the season, leaving the Longhorns with some real uncertainty on both sides of the ball as Missouri looks to capitalize on the opening. [Read more 🡒]
Ahmad Hardy Just Became Mizzous Biggest Question Against Texas
Ahmad Hardy finally got back on the field in Missouris win over Arkansas, and even in a limited return, the Tigers had to like simply having their returning All-American running back available again. Hardy played five snaps and carried twice for five yards, a modest first step after missing time, but it was enough to signal that Missouri can begin folding him back into the offense as the stakes rise late in the season.
Eliah Drinkwitz has already said Hardys workload should grow against Texas, which adds another layer to a matchup that already has plenty riding on it. Missouri has leaned on Jamal Roberts to lead the SEC in rushing yards, but the Tigers are now trying to balance that production with Hardys return while staring down a Texas defense that will make every carry count. [Read more 🡒]