As of this morning, it looks like the Longhorns will be without Baxter for their conference opener in Florida today. He appears to still be rehabbing from his recent hamstring injury against UTEP.
Though it's a bummer, hamstrings can be tricky to deal with because they can be re-injured very easily. It's probably the smart decision as well seeing that Jerrick Gibson, Christian Clark, and James Simon have been absolutely killing it when on the field as of late. It also looks like Quintrevion Wisner will be returning to the field against the Gators today, though his worload might be limited.
Gibson, Clark, and Simon have combined for 328 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns since filling in for Wisner and Baxter over the past two games. Not many running back rooms in the country have the type of depth and overall talent that the Longhorns currenty have.
James Simon vs UTEP
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) September 14, 2025
67 yards, 3.9 per carry, 3.3 yards after contact per attempt pic.twitter.com/gpT8BTrwoP
Though Florida's defense has been "okay" in 2025, they haven't been the best when it comes to stopping the run. They're currently allowing opponents to rush for 4.3 yards per carry and 138 yards per game which are both middle of the pack in comparison to the rest of the league.
A big day on the ground for Texas' running backs would not only help keep Florida's defense honest, but it would go a long way in making things easier for Arch Manning and the passing game.
The Gators will also be without two of their best defensive linemen for the matchup as Caleb Banks and L.J. McCray have already been ruled OUT for the game. Banks is currently projected to be one of the top interior defensive lineman in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he's been absolutely dominant when on the field against the run. His overall length and power have made it hard for blockers to handle as of late.
Needless to say, even though Texas will be without C.J. Baxter today, they'll still have a good chance of being able to move the football on the ground.