Steve Sarkisian didn’t waste much time making the message clear after Texas’ 20-17 win over Tennessee: the celebrations that followed some of the Longhorns’ biggest plays went too far, and he doesn’t want to see that again.
Sarkisian met with Colin Simmons and Raleek Brown individually after the game to address what happened on the field, according to the reporting shared Monday. The head coach also made it plain to the rest of the locker room that this kind of behavior won’t be accepted going forward.
The focus fell hardest on Simmons, who had a huge night rushing the Tennessee offense and finished with five sacks of Faizon Brandon. But that production got overshadowed by a 15-yard penalty tied to a crude celebration that drew immediate attention. Kirk Herbstreit called it an “idiotic move,” and Sarkisian made sure the point landed with his team.
Brown also drew criticism for his own touchdown celebration, which was viewed the same way: over the line and unnecessary. The source described both actions as vulgar and said the pair were caught red-handed with celebrations that crossed a line.
For Simmons, the issue goes beyond one penalty. He’s being talked about as a future first-round pick, and the concern is that scenes like this can raise questions about maturity and character. That’s why the reaction to his sack celebration was so sharp, even with his dominant play against Tennessee’s offensive line, including former 5-star signee David Sanders Jr.
The celebration after the Hail Mary hit the turf didn’t help matters either. For Tennessee fans, it only added to the frustration of the loss, and for Texas, it created a different kind of conversation than the one Sarkisian wanted after a tight win.
Now it falls on Sarkisian to clean it up quickly. The game was a big one for Texas, but the behavior after the plays is what people are still talking about, and that’s exactly what the coach wants to shut down.
In Other News...
TCUs Locker Room Just Sent A Message After This 2-2 Start
TCUs rough stretch has already pushed the Horned Frogs into some self-assessment, and the response came from inside the locker room. After back-to-back losses, the teams captains called a players-only meeting to address the way the Frogs have been playing and to try to tighten the bond in a room that has been searching for a cleaner rhythm through the first four games.
Senior quarterback Jaden Craig was part of that conversation, along with other captains, as the group tried to reset confidence and reinforce unity. Sonny Dykes said he welcomed the initiative and noted that the coaching staff is looking at every part of the program in hopes of turning results around, a sign that the message in Fort Worth has shifted from frustration to accountability with the season still young. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Gets A Season Reset Shot In A Dangerous BYU Test
TCU gets its next chance to steady the season on Saturday night, when No. 10 BYU comes to Amon G. Carter Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff. It is the kind of test that can tell a lot about where the Horned Frogs really stand, with a ranked opponent arriving carrying both momentum and plenty of proven pieces on both sides of the ball.
BYU brings back senior running back LJ Martin, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who has taken a step forward this season. The Cougars also lean on a defense built around players such as Keanu Tanuvasa, Cade Uluave and Faletau Satuala, which makes this a demanding matchup for TCUs offense and a meaningful reset shot for a team trying to regroup. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Is Already In Position For A DFW Recruiting Fight
Ben Cornist is only a freshman at Lake Dallas High School, but the 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver is already drawing attention in the kind of way that can shape a future DFW recruiting battle. TCU and SMU have both extended early scholarship offers to the 2030 prospect, a sign that his size and production are turning heads long before most players in his class are even fully on the radar.
For Cornist, though, the process is still very much in its infancy. He remains open to opportunities while working to sharpen the parts of his game he knows matter most, especially route running and yards after catch. With both Metroplex programs involved this early, the Horned Frogs already have a foothold in a recruitment that could become more interesting as his development picks up. [Read more 🡒]