What happened: Texas running back Hollywood Smothers will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to a knee injury. The development sidelines Smothers after he was previously ruled out against Ole Miss in late October.

Why it matters: The loss thins the Longhorns' offensive backfield as Texas navigates the November stretch of its SEC schedule. Without Smothers available in rotation, Texas must adjust its rushing workload to maintain postseason positioning in the College Football Playoff hunt.

What to watch: Texas continues regular-season SEC play while adjusting its backfield depth chart ahead of its next kickoff.