Texas is taking another hit on offense, and this one lands on the tight end room.
Nick Townsend will miss the rest of the season because of an injury, according to a report from Horns247. Townsend had already been working through a knee issue this year, one he picked up in the second half of the win over Ohio State. That injury kept him out of the next two games against UTSA and Tennessee.
His season ends with six catches for 31 yards in six appearances, including three starts.
For Texas fans, Townsend’s name still carries a little more weight than the raw numbers suggest. He was the one who scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown in the second half of last season’s upset win over Texas A&M, a play that stood out in a big moment. Now he’ll be aiming to get back to full strength for next year.
The Longhorns at least have some depth to lean on at tight end. No one in the room has fully separated himself the way a Texas tight end has in each of the past three seasons, but there are still players making their mark as the regular season winds down and the College Football Playoff picture remains in play.
Emaree Winston was the first to answer when Townsend went down against Ohio State. He finished that game with three catches for 39 yards and came through with a key fourth-down conversion that kept Texas’ comeback hopes alive. That kind of role should keep growing.
More recently, Michael Masunas has been the tight end making the biggest impact. He didn’t record a catch through the first six games of the season, then broke through with three receptions for 37 yards in the win over Ole Miss. That production mattered in a 34-27 Texas victory that came down to the wire.
In Other News...
Texas May Need A 5-Star Freshman In A Huge SEC Test
Injuries have started to test Texas in the secondary at a bad time, with cornerbacks Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips both listed as questionable for the upcoming game against Missouri. That has put a spotlight on the Longhorns depth behind them, especially with a matchup looming against a Tigers passing game that will lean on Donovan Olugbode.
One name to watch is true freshman John Meredith III, the former five-star recruit who could be asked to take on a bigger role if Texas needs another body on the back end. The Longhorns are also still waiting on edge rusher Colin Simmons, whose status remains uncertain, even as others have helped keep the defense moving in his absence. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Faces A Respect Test Against A Nebraska Team Fans Know Well
Illinois is heading into a matchup that feels a little bigger than the usual early-season measuring stick, because Nebraska is the kind of opponent fans around the Big Ten know well and tend to judge with a long memory. The broader college football conversation has been full of rankings movement, coaching changes and teams trying to separate themselves from the pack, and this game fits right into that mix as a chance for Illinois to show it belongs in the same conversation as the more established names.
For Illinois, the real test is not just whether it can win, but whether it can handle the kind of game that exposes soft spots and rewards discipline. Nebraska brings the sort of familiarity that can make an opponent dangerous, and with so many teams around the country still sorting out their identities, this one has the feel of a useful barometer for where Illinois stands before the schedule gets any harder. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Now Has An Injury Problem Fans Need To See Differently
Texas has spent enough time this season juggling availability that the injury report now feels like part of the weekly game plan. The official SEC Injury Report lists running back Hollywood Smothers, offensive tackle Trevor Goosby and tight end Nick Townsend as out for the season, a reminder that the Longhorns are not just dealing with depth-chart losses but with a roster-management issue that reaches well beyond the field.
The bigger wrinkle is financial, because the program is also trying to navigate a significant chunk of NIL capital tied to injured players. Steve Sarkisian has already framed the challenge in salary-cap terms, which is a useful way to think about the strain of replacing players midseason while still trying to keep the roster balanced. For Texas, the problem is no longer simply who is available on Saturday, but how much flexibility remains when injuries keep stacking up. [Read more 🡒]