Texas is walking into its biggest regular-season test with a healthier look than it had a week ago.
The No. 6 Longhorns head to Baton Rouge on Saturday to face No.
21 LSU, and the first injury report brought some relief for a team that has spent plenty of this season juggling availability issues. After carrying multiple key starters on the injury report before last week’s game against Missouri, Texas cleared several major names for the trip to Tiger Stadium.
The biggest question mark still sits with defensive lineman Hero Kanu, who was the only Longhorn listed on the report aside from players already dealing with season-ending injuries. Kanu reportedly suffered a torn bicep in the win over Missouri, but according to Eric Henry of Horns247, he is expected to play through the injury while managing pain tolerance. Being listed as questionable suggests he may have received the best possible news, since a full bicep tear likely would have ended his season.
Outside of Kanu, Texas avoided any injury designations for a group of important contributors. Cornerbacks Kade Phillips and Graceson Littleton, defensive end Colin Simmons, and wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo are all clear against LSU.
That’s a welcome development for a Longhorns team that has been trying to survive a rough stretch on the injury front. Texas will still be without offensive tackle Trevor Goosby, running back Hollywood Smothers and tight end Nick Townsend for the rest of the season, and all three will remain on the injury report the rest of the year.
There is also still a chance Texas could get defensive end Richard Wesley back in time for a potential College Football Playoff run, but he will not be available against LSU. His next opportunity for an updated status will come ahead of next week’s home finale against Arkansas.
Texas and LSU are set for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Tiger Stadium on Saturday.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffin Opens Up On Arch Manning Before Texas LSU Showdown
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Kiffin also revisited his own complicated history with the Manning family, including the fact that Archie Manning once apologized after previously calling him a narcissistic jerk. It is the kind of backstory that gives this matchup a little more edge than the standings alone would suggest, especially with Texas preparing for one of its biggest tests of the season. For Kiffin, the conversation was as much about respect and history as it was about the game ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Walks Into LSU With Its Playoff Credibility On The Line
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Tiger Stadium is hardly the place to quiet doubts, and this one carries real weight for both programs postseason hopes. With ABC carrying the game, Texas has a chance to turn a skeptical national eye in its direction, but it will have to do it in one of the sports most difficult road environments and against an LSU team with plenty on the line as well. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fans Can Stop Worrying About Chris Del Conte's Future
Rumors about Chris Del Conte and the Big 12 commissioner opening had begun to swirl around a moment when conference leadership was suddenly in the spotlight, but Texas athletic director moved quickly to shut that down. Del Conte said there is absolutely none truth to the speculation that he has any interest in leaving Austin for the league office, calming a question that had started to gain traction among Longhorns fans.
The timing of the chatter made sense, given that current Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has already announced he will step down effective Jan. 31, 2027. Even so, Del Contes public denial leaves Texas focused on keeping one of its most important administrators in place, at least for now, rather than wondering whether the school might soon have to navigate a major leadership change of its own. [Read more 🡒]