Colin Simmons has forced his way into a conversation that almost never makes room for a defensive player. And if the Heisman Trophy voters are ready to step outside their usual lane, Texas’ star edge rusher could do something no purely defensive player has ever done.
That possibility starts with history. Since the award began in 1935, only two defensive players have taken it home in 90 winners total: Colorado’s Travis Hunter in 2024 and Michigan’s Charles Woodson.
Everyone else on that list came from the offense - quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, or tight ends. Hunter’s case came with the added wrinkle of playing both ways, and Woodson also logged offensive snaps, with 16 carries for 237 rushing yards and 30 catches for 495 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Simmons would be different. If he were to win it, he would be the first player whose impact came entirely from the defensive side to claim the trophy.
His case got a major boost in Week 4, when he tied a Texas program record with five sacks against Tennessee. That performance pushed him into more Heisman conversations, including analyst rankings that now have him in the mix, even if most media polls still slot him just outside the top tier.
The betting market remains far less convinced. Simmons is tied for the 21st-best odds at +12,500 on FanDuel Sportsbook. Texas quarterback Arch Manning sits much higher, tied for eighth at +3,000.
The broader Texas angle is simple enough: either Simmons or Manning could give the Longhorns their third Heisman winner. Texas has had six finalists over the years, including Vince Young and Colt McCoy, but only two winners.
Earl Campbell won in 1977, and Ricky Williams followed in 1998. The program’s last finalist was McCoy, who reached New York in both 2008 and 2009.
The voting setup leaves room for a surprise, at least in theory. There are 931 voters on the Heisman ballot, made up of 870 media members, all living Heisman winners, and one collective fan vote. Voters rank their top three selections, with 3 points for first place, 2 for second, and 1 for third.
That means Simmons does not need every voter to break from tradition. He just needs enough of them to decide the award should go to the best player in college football, even if that player lines up on defense.
In Other News...
Texas Defensive Front Is Becoming A Problem For Road Opponents
Texas defensive front has been giving road opponents a different kind of problem, and the latest glimpse came against Tennessee when junior lineman Maraad Watson got to freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon for a notable sack. It was the kind of snap that fits what Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns have been saying about this group, with Hero Kanu and Lance Jackson also pointing to the overall strength and depth up front as a real edge for the defense.
What makes the line so difficult to deal with is not just the talent, but the way Texas keeps bodies moving and fresh. The Longhorns have leaned into rotation and mobility among their defensive linemen to preserve explosivity and physicality, a formula that becomes even more important away from home when the game can turn into a grind. For opponents trying to hold up against that kind of pressure, there does not seem to be much relief coming. [Read more 🡒]
Sarkisian Admits Texas Offense Has Not Met Early Expectations
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Through four games, the Longhorns have been solid without being sharp, sitting 57th nationally in points per game and 83rd in total offense. That is the backdrop as Texas keeps trying to find a higher gear on offense, especially with Florida showing what a fast start can look like after climbing near the top of the national rankings behind Jadan Baughs production in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Got A Warning About Floridas Ground Game
Florida has spent the opening stretch of Jon Sumralls first season making a point in the SEC, and the clearest reason why has been its ground game. The Gators are unbeaten, they have leaned into a physical style that travels, and their rushing attack has already shown it can overwhelm a quality opponent. Even with the defense still sorting itself out and tougher road tests still ahead, the early message has been hard to miss: this is not the same Florida team Texas has seen in recent years.
Rece Davis added to that buzz this week by singling out Floridas ability to run the ball and hold up physically against the leagues best, including Texas and Georgia. For the Longhorns, that is the kind of warning worth filing away now, because the matchup in Austin on Oct. 17 already has the look of a measuring-stick game. Floridas offense may be the headliner at the moment, but the deeper question is whether the Gators can keep that edge when the schedule tightens and the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]