College football’s crackdown on unsportsmanlike conduct found an early flashpoint in Knoxville, and Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons was at the center of it.
Simmons picked up a penalty in the first half of Saturday’s game at Tennessee after his second sack of the day came in the second quarter. After bringing down Vols quarterback Faizon Brandon on third down, Simmons mimicked urinating on the field.
Yellow flags flew immediately, and Simmons’ reaction on the field showed clear confusion. On the broadcast, the referee explained the foul as “simulating use of the restroom”, and the penalty extended Tennessee’s possession before Texas went to halftime up 10-3.
The moment drew instant comparison to former Ole Miss receiver Elijah Moore, who famously simulated urinating on a fire hydrant like a dog during the 2019 Egg Bowl against Mississippi State.
“Just an absolute idiotic move by Colin Simmons doing that,” Kirk Herbstreit said during the broadcast.
Chris Fowler added, “yeah, it's idiotic, and it doesn't get much more vulgar, either.”
The call also fit into the broader way officials are handling unsportsmanlike conduct this season. Taunting remains a flag whenever it’s directed at an opponent and appears to disrupt or delay the game. At the same time, players are still allowed to celebrate together as long as they don’t go over the line after a big play.
The rules committee has identified five “automatic” unsportsmanlike actions: gun violence including “brandishing” a weapon, throat slash or nose wipe gestures, players removing their helmet, dead-ball contact fouls such as pushing, shoving or striking, and pushing or pulling an opposing player off the pile after the ball is dead.
Now, “simulating using the restroom” joins that list.
Simmons would be ejected if he draws another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in Saturday’s game. Two such fouls on the same player mean an automatic ejection.
Texas entered the game ranked No. 1 after beating Ohio State two weeks ago, while Tennessee came in unbeaten and ranked No. 14 under Josh Heupel.
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