The Texas Longhorns already have an uphill battle ahead of them this weekend as they travel to Columbia to face the Missouri Tigers. However, when the Horns released their initial availability report of the week, that hill got quite a bit steeper.
While the expected players, like offensive lineman Trevor Goosby and edge rusher Colin Simmons, were included on the list, so were a plethora of offensive weapons, as well as a couple of critical pieces from Texas's defensive secondary.
Despite the Longhorns being without a number of their usual starters, Vegas oddsmakers toed the line and left the point spread where it had opened on Sunday, wth Texas favored by 2.5 points.
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Texas Longhorns initial availability report vs. Missouri Tigers in Week 10
- OUT: Hollywood Smothers (RB), Trevor Goosby (LT), Nick Townsend (TE), Richard Wesley (EDGE)
- QUESTIONABLE: Colin Simmons (EDGE), Ryan Wingo (WR), Cam Coleman (WR), Kade Phillips (DB), Graceson Littleton (DB)
The good news is that almost none of these players were massive surprises, save for tight end Nick Townsend returning to the list, despite playing through the entire game against Mississippi State last weekend.
So, it looks like head coach Steve Sarkisian's emphasis on team health kept any other players off the report, at the very least.
However, quarterback Arch Manning could be without his top two targets against Missouri, with both Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo listed as questionable, as was starting running back Hollywood Smothers, who has been on and off the injury report all season.
Defensive backs Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips were also listed as questionable, greatly thinning the Horns' secondary, which may have to feature a number of newcomers and freshmen if either or both veterans are officially ruled out by Saturday.
While Simmons being listed as questionable instead of out is a good sign, theoretically, it's also exactly where he started on the report last week, before eventually being ruled out against Mississippi State, so only time will tell if he's actually available in Week 10.
Missouri Tigers initial availability report vs. Texas Longhorns in Week 10
Meanwhile, the Tigers had one of the shortest reports in the entire conference, with just three players listed as out:
- OUT: Malae Fonoti (RB), Josh Atkins (OL), Gavin Hoffman (TE)
Neither running back Malae Fonoti nor tight end Gavin Hoffman have been big contributors for the Tigers' offense this season. Hoffman missed the seven previous games after recording zero receptions in his singular appearance. Fonoti has earned just 18 yards on three carries, also appearing in just one game this season.
Offensive lineman Josh Atkins, who transferred to Missouri from Arizona State this offseason, has been sidelined with a leg injury since spring practice and has yet to contribute for the Tigers.
So, while Texas is missing some of its starters, Missouri is only missing a few players who have barely contributed this season anyway.
Sarkisian has clearly prepared for this, packing on depth at every single position, or we would have seen the odds take a nosedive after the Longhorns and Tigers released their initial SEC-mandated availability reports on Wednesday.
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