In a busy Saturday on the College GameDay set in Knoxville, Pete Thamel laid out a cluster of injury updates that could ripple through several SEC matchups.
The biggest immediate swing came on Texas running back Hollywood Smothers, who is expected to dress and try to play through an injured ankle against Tennessee. Smothers hurt the ankle in Texas’ Sept. 19 game against UTSA and missed two days of practice this week. Still, Thamel said the expectation is that the NC State transfer will give it a go.
"The expectation is that he's going to dress and attempt to play today," Thamel said. "Smothers will be watched closely in pregame to see how that ankle responds."
Smothers has been a steady piece for Texas so far, putting up 271 total yards and three touchdowns through three games. If the ankle keeps him from handling a full load, Texas has options waiting behind him.
"If he is limited today by that ankle, a name to watch is true freshman Derrek Cooper," Thamel said. "He's the future at Texas."
Cooper came in as ESPN’s No. 1 running back in the 2026 class and already flashed against UTSA, rushing 11 times for 44 yards and a touchdown. Thamel also pointed to Raleek Brown as another back who should see plenty of work.
Brown ran for 1,141 yards at Arizona State last season. Texas at Tennessee kicks off at noon ET on ABC.
Across the SEC, Ole Miss is bracing for a different kind of absence. Kewan Lacy was downgraded to doubtful Friday after injuring his left shoulder in the Rebels’ Week 3 win over LSU, and the expectation now is that he won’t play at Florida.
"Pete Golding told me this morning they have one more chapel before kick, so he's going to pray to see if Lacy can get back," Thamel said. "But the reality is the expectation is Kewan Lacy will not go in the Swamp today."
Lacy has been productive this season with 191 yards and four touchdowns on 39 carries. Last year, he was one of the SEC’s most dangerous backs, piling up 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns.
If he sits, LSU transfer JT Lindsey is expected to take most of the carries. Ole Miss at Florida kicks off at 3:30 p.m.
ET on ABC.
Florida, meanwhile, has a little more optimism around wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. Thamel said head coach Jon Sumrall feels good enough about Singleton that he’s a true game-time decision.
"Jon Sumrall says he feels decent about Singleton playing today as a true game-time decision," Thamel said.
Singleton hurt his ankle on Florida’s first drive of the season against Florida Atlantic and has already missed wins over Campbell and Auburn. Sumrall said Monday, "He will have a shot," and added, "He was questionable, game-time decision last week. That's what he is at worst this week."
The Auburn transfer has 162 catches for 2,002 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career at Georgia Tech and Auburn. If he cannot play, sophomore Vernell Brown III will start again.
Thamel also updated Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy, and the news remains discouraging. Hardy still hasn’t practiced as he works back from being shot in the upper leg at a concert in Mississippi in May, a setback that required emergency surgery. Missouri already listed him out for Saturday’s game at Mississippi State.
Hardy was the SEC’s rushing leader last season with 1,649 yards and also ran for 300 yards and three touchdowns against Mississippi State. Thamel said the comeback remains a slow process.
"When he does practice, he's still going to have a multi-week ramp-up before he's ready to play," Thamel said. "It's been a really tough path back for Ahmad Hardy at Missouri."
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz had already outlined that kind of timeline in August.
"I need a two-week, fully invested, be-able-to-practice-at-full-speed, before we consider playing in the game," Drinkwitz said.
Missouri at Mississippi State kicks off at 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
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