When the Texas Longhorns released their first official depth chart of the 2026 season ahead of their Week 1 kickoff against the Texas State Bobcats, one of the most noteworthy things was the fact that offensive lineman Cole Hutson was nowhere to be found.
Full Texas depth chart ahead of the season opener against Texas State. pic.twitter.com/OVlLBHiQTt
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) September 5, 2026
The fifth-year lineman returned to the Horns' roster after participating in a couple of NFL rookie camps, but never signing a contract.
Of course, with the current drama surrounding eligibility for players trying to return from the NFL, specifically athletes who had signed contracts at the next level, many assumed that was the reason Hutson's name was absent.
However, the Monday after Texas secured its first win of the year, head coach Steve Sarkisian shared that Hutson's absence was actually due to an unrelated eligiblity issue.
Texas OL Cole Hutson facing a new eligibility issue
Sarkisian told reporters that Hutson had been ruled ineligible by the NCAA ahead of Texas's Week 1 matchup, but that it fell "under a different category" than the eligibility debate that players across the country were going through.
He said that Hutson's eligiblity wasn't as clear-cut as some of the players trying to return to college football after participating in any capacity at the next level.
Sarkisian was probably referring to the fact that while Hutson had in fact attended OTAs with both the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, he hadn't signed a contract as an undrafted free agent, a practice player, or at any other extent.
While Sarkisian shared that Texas was working with the NCAA to ensure Hutson would be eligible once again this season, he also said that the Longhorns would ultimately "leave it up to the NCAA."
No matter how you feel about how Hutson's eligiblity status should be finalized, you must be able to recognize that he isn't in the same boat as some of the players that, let's say, LSU is trying to roster at the moment.
The LSU Tigers are trying to add tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris to their depth chart after the two players had signed actual contracts at the next level. Of course, both Wright and Harris had not been ruled eligible before Week 1 either and were missing from the Tigers' victory over Clemson.
In the current day and age of college football, this is just another thing that will have players, coaches, staff members, and fans alike waiting to see what happens next, when the next show drops, and whatever that new change means for the sport.
The best news is that Hutson was not a projected starter for the O-Line this season, so if he is absent for Texas's Week 2 game against Ohio State, the Horns will still have their starting five to go up against the Buckeyes' defensive line.
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