Concern is building around Texas running back Hollywood Smothers, and for now, nobody outside the program seems to know exactly where things stand.
The Longhorns’ first SEC-mandated availability report of the season on Wednesday night had Smothers listed as questionable, a surprise given that no injury concern had been publicly tied to him before then. Texas went back to the report on Thursday, and Smothers was still there, still questionable, as the No.
1 Horns prepared to face No. 14 Tennessee in their first conference game of the year.
Smothers has been the centerpiece of Texas’ backfield early on, working as the lead half of the one-two punch with Raleek Brown. Through three games, he has piled up 198 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns.
“There’s legitimate concern that Texas standout running back Hollywood Smothers could end up missing the Longhorns’ game against No. 14 Tennessee,” CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz wrote on X on Thursday evening. “No final determination made at this point, but the status of Smothers (lower leg) is very much in question.”
There’s legitimate concern that Texas standout running back Hollywood Smothers could end up missing the Longhorns’ game against No. 14 Tennessee, sources tell @CBSSports.
No final determination made at this point but the status of Smothers (lower leg) is very much in question. pic.twitter.com/esxerYgtqE
- Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) September 25, 2026
Head coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t offer anything additional on Smothers during Thursday’s press conference, keeping the situation tight-lipped as the game approached. That leaves Texas fans waiting for the final answer, and it may not come until right before kickoff.
Texas does have some insurance at running back if Smothers can’t go. Brown is there, along with second-year back Michael Terry III and true freshman Derrek Cooper.
Thursday’s report did bring one bit of relief for Texas: edge rusher Collin Simmons was removed from the list. Simmons had hurt his foot in the Week 3 win over UTSA and opened the week as probable, but his absence from the latest report points toward him being ready for Saturday.
The injury list did grow in one spot, though. On the first report, Texas had three players ruled out: defensive lineman Justus Terry, defensive back Xavier Filsaime, and offensive lineman Jordan Coleman.
By Thursday’s update, tight end Nick Townsend had been added to that group after originally being listed as doubtful. Townsend has already missed Texas’ last two games, including the comeback win over Ohio State in Week 2.
Texas and Tennessee are set to kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Smothers’ status may stay unresolved until the very last moment.
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