The bad news is only getting worse on the 40 Acres as the No. 19 Texas Longhorns prepare to host the No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels in Week 8 of the college football season.
That much was true, at least, for the Horns' latest injury report, one that included downgrades for two key players: edge rusher Colin Simmons and running back Hollywood Smothers.
Smothers has been on and off the availability report throughout the season and is reportedly dealing with yet another lower-body injury ahead of the Ole Miss game.
Simmons was officially listed as "out" for Saturday, and Smothers was downgraded to "doubtful," in what could honestly only be viewed as a bad sign for Texas.
The expected absence of Simmons, who suffered an ankle sprain against Florida in Week 7 and is presumed to be out for about a month, was only made worse by fellow edge rusher Richard Wesley also being listed as "out."
Wesley, a true freshman, has already made his presence known for the Longhorns this season, earning seven total tackles in just four games. Reports on the rising star cause even more concern, with rumors circulating that he could miss the rest of the season with a high ankle sprain.
Simply put, the Horns' usually dominant defense would be without some of its key players, with both Simmons and Wesley riding the bench.
Beyond Simmons, Smothers, and Wesley, wide receiver Kaliq Lockett and offensive lineman Jaydon Chatman were listed as "questionable," and freshman running back Derrek Cooper was listed as "probable."
Horns' defensive woes only saved by Rebels' lengthy injury report
The only "fortunate" news for the Horns is the number of Ole Miss players who were officially listed as out, totaling eight, with two more listed as "questionable." However, with the losing streak that Texas is on, even an opponent with a lengthy injury list hasn't given the Longhorns a leg up.
That includes three offensive linemen from Ole Miss's depth chart: Emanuel Faulkner (out), Terez Davis (questionable), and Brycen Sanders (questionable).
So, while the Longhorns will be missing depth at the edge rusher position, the Rebels will have a thinned offensive line, almost balancing the scales in the Week 8 matchup.
Ole Miss will also be without a handful of defensive backs, possibly opening up the game for Texas quarterback Arch Manning to finally have a field day with his elite receiving corps. Safeties Edwin Joseph, MJ Preston, and Nascar McCoy, as well as cornerback Pat Broomfield, were all listed as out.
While the odds may literally be in Texas's favor (with the line set at -3.5 in the Horns' direction), things aren't looking great in Austin, and the latest injury list only made things worse.
Odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Add us as a preferred source on Google