The Texas Longhorns are heading into the Red River Rivalry with some encouraging health news and a few lingering concerns.
Texas comes out of its bye week at 4-0 and still sitting at No. 1 in the country. Now the Longhorns are headed to Dallas for Saturday’s matchup with Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, and both sides are managing injury issues as kickoff approaches.
The biggest boost for Texas is safety Xavier Filsaime, who is no longer on the injury report and is expected to make his season debut after sitting out the first four games. His return gives the Longhorns more depth and experience in the secondary as they move deeper into SEC play.
Tight end Nick Townsend is also trending in the right direction. He is listed as probable after dealing with a knee injury against Ohio State and has missed the last two games.
Running back Hollywood Smothers is completely off the injury report as well. He was active in the win over Tennessee after being listed as a game-time decision, though he did not play a snap in Knoxville.
Texas did get some tougher news elsewhere. Justus Terry is doubtful and appears headed toward missing a third straight game after getting hurt during warmups before the Ohio State game.
Jordan Coleman is also expected to sit again. He remains one of the team’s better depth options on the offensive line, making his absence worth watching as Texas prepares for Oklahoma.
This is a breaking news article that will be updated accordingly.
In Other News...
Texas Faces A Red River Pressure Test Bigger Than Oklahoma
Steve Sarkisian and Brent Venables both framed this weeks Red River matchup as more than a rivalry game, and from Texas perspective that makes sense. The Longhorns come in undefeated and ranked No. 1, carrying the kind of spotlight that turns every detail into a test, while Oklahoma arrives trying to steady an offense that has had trouble finding consistency and protecting the ball.
For Texas, the pressure is not just about beating Oklahoma, it is about looking like the team that can handle the moment when the stakes climb. Both coaches pointed to rushing success and turnover margin as the key indicators, which puts the Longhorns in a familiar but unforgiving spot: if they control the ground game and stay clean with the ball, they can keep their unbeaten run intact. If not, a rivalry that already carries its own chaos could become the kind of game that exposes a little more than Texas would like this early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Freshmen Could Change This Team Faster Than Fans Expected
Sean Miller did not wait long to reshape the Texas mens basketball roster, bringing in six freshmen for the current season and giving the Longhorns a younger look than many expected. Among the newcomers are highly regarded recruits Austin Goosby and Marcus Spears Jr., and early feedback from the program has been encouraging as the group settles into the demands of college basketball.
The interesting part is how naturally the freshmen have fit alongside Texas more experienced juniors and sophomores, who should help smooth the transition. Coaches and teammates have praised the newcomers for both talent and coachability, and that blend could make this group more impactful sooner rather than later if the chemistry keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Brent Venables Is Standing By Oklahoma's Embattled Play Caller
Ben Arbuckle has become the latest target of Oklahomas restless fan base after a rough stretch on offense, and the frustration has only grown louder as the Sooners have struggled to generate much consistency. Brent Venables, though, is not backing away from his offensive coordinator, choosing instead to frame the slump as something his staff can work through rather than a reason to make a quick change.
The noise around Arbuckle has been amplified by fan sentiment, including polls showing a sizable portion of the fan base would rather have Lincoln Riley back. For Texas observers, it is another reminder that Oklahoma is still searching for answers on that side of the ball, and Venables is betting that Arbuckle can absorb the heat long enough to find them. [Read more 🡒]