Texas’ 31-3 win over Mississippi State came with a heavy price tag.
By the time the night was over, the Longhorns had seen five regulars leave the game with injuries: starting wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, running back Hollywood Smothers, and defensive backs Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips.
After the win, Steve Sarkisian said the team doesn’t yet know how serious any of those injuries are.
"Graceson Littleton didn't finish the game," Sarkisian said after the win. "Cam Coleman didn't finish the game.
Kade Phillips didn't finish the game. Hollywood Smothers didn't finish the game.
Ryan Wingo didn't finish the game. All integral parts to the team.
The severity of all those guys is unknown at the moment. ... We'll have a better gage midweek of just where everybody is and just what that looks like."
Texas is already operating without several other key pieces. All-American EDGE Colin Simmons, EDGE Richard Wesley and offensive tackle Trevor Goosby are also out, and Goosby is done for the season. Sarkisian said the hope is that Simmons can be back in the next week or two.
"What's going to be the emphasis for this week? One of them is getting these guys back," Sarkisian said postgame.
"As many of these guys as we can get back, the better we're going to be. That recovery has to start now for a lot of these guys."
The Longhorns now head to Missouri next week for a matchup with the No. 23 Tigers in Columbia.
In Other News...
Texas Just Got A Ranking Edge That May Not Last
The AP Top 25 gave Texas a small but meaningful bump this week, sliding the Longhorns ahead of Ohio State after Texas comeback win earlier in the season and the Buckeyes recent loss to USC. It is the kind of early November shift that matters less for bragging rights than for the larger playoff picture, especially for a Texas team still trying to strengthen its case with the season entering its most revealing stretch.
The Coaches Poll told a different story, keeping Ohio State in front despite the head-to-head result and underscoring how much disagreement still exists over how to weigh a loss against a marquee win. That split could carry into the College Football Playoff committees first rankings, and Texas may not have long to enjoy any edge it has picked up, with ranked opponents still ahead on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Shined But Texas Still Has One Clear Concern
Arch Manning gave Texas exactly the kind of clean, efficient performance the Longhorns have been waiting to see, completing 16 of 20 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-3 win over Mississippi State. The defense did plenty of heavy lifting too, piling up seven sacks and adding a fumble return touchdown to keep the game from ever feeling in doubt.
Even with all that going right, the run game remains the piece Texas still has to sort out. The Longhorns managed only 60 yards on 32 carries, a modest output that stood out in a game otherwise controlled on both sides of the ball. If Texas is going to keep building on this kind of complete performance, finding more consistency on the ground is the obvious next step. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Still Has Something To Prove After Another Poll Slight
Texas handled Mississippi State 31-3 with a performance that looked every bit like a team trying to steady itself in the second half of the season, leaning on a strong defensive effort and three touchdown passes from Arch Manning. The win pushed the Longhorns to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, but it still did not move the needle much in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, where Texas sits at No. 11.
The slight stings a little more because Ohio State remains one spot ahead at No. 10 despite a recent loss, a reminder that the rankings still have not fully caught up to what Texas has put on the field. Other movement around the poll only sharpened the sense that the Longhorns will need to keep piling up convincing wins, especially with the first College Football Playoff rankings still ahead and a clearer verdict on Texas still to come. [Read more 🡒]