Texas may have a new name to watch in the secondary this week, and it’s a familiar one for anyone who followed the Longhorns’ recruiting haul: John Meredith III.
With Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips both listed as “questionable” on Texas’ availability report, the Longhorns could be short-handed at cornerback when they line up against No. 18 Missouri. Texas still has key pieces in place, including safeties Jelani McDonald and Derek Williams Jr., but the injury situation has opened the door for younger defensive backs to be asked to do more.
That’s where Meredith enters the picture. The true freshman and former five-star recruit has only seen the field once so far, recording a solo tackle against Texas State. But with Texas’ depth chart thinning out, the moment may be here for Steve Sarkisian to find out what the blue-chip corner can handle.
Meredith arrived in Austin with plenty of buzz. He was a top-10 prospect in the class of 2027 before reclassifying to 2026 and committing to Texas, which put him on campus a year earlier than originally expected. His high school profile was built on quick reactions and speed, with track and field part of his background as a dual-sport athlete.
The matchup could line up neatly if Texas is forced to shuffle its corners. If Littleton and Phillips are both unavailable, Bo Mascoe, a transfer addition, would most likely draw Missouri’s top receiver, Cayden Lee.
That would leave Donovan Olugbode, Missouri’s No. 2 target, as another major assignment. Olugbode has piled up nearly 600 receiving yards this season, and Meredith’s athletic profile makes him a logical candidate to get the call there.
Texas could use the test. If Meredith can hold up against Olugbode while Mascoe handles Lee, the Longhorns would make life much harder for Missouri’s passing game.
There’s also the possibility Texas is again without edge rusher Colin Simmons, who is still working back from a high ankle sprain. Even so, Rasheem Biles, Lance Jackson, and Colton Vasek were able to overwhelm the Mississippi State offensive line without him. If that kind of pressure shows up again, Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons may not have much time to work with before Texas’ front starts disrupting the play.
In Other News...
Texas Just Took Another Offensive Hit At The Worst Time
Texas took another blow to its offense at an unforgiving time, with tight end Nick Townsend set to miss the rest of the 2026 season after suffering a knee injury in the game against Ohio State. Townsend had carved out a role in the rotation, appearing in six games with three starts and providing a steady presence in the passing game with six catches for 31 yards.
His absence leaves more responsibility on the rest of the tight end room, where Emaree Winston and Michael Masunas have already been asked to help fill the gap. For a Texas offense trying to keep moving forward, losing another piece now only makes the margin for error a little thinner. [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 🡒]