Overview
- Texas and Missouri meet Saturday in Columbia in a de facto College Football Playoff elimination game after this week’s CFP rankings placed Texas at No. 7 and Missouri inside the top 20.
- Texas' first SEC availability report on Wednesday ruled Smothers out for the game and tagged starters including edge Colin Simmons, receivers Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman, and defensive backs Kade Phillips and Graceson Littleton as questionable.
- Colin Simmons' status is pivotal because he leads the country with about 10.5 sacks and a team-high number of tackles for loss, and his absence would blunt Texas' primary pass‑rush threat.
- Missouri opened the week with no new injuries beyond season‑ending absences and has begun reintegrating All‑American Ahmad Hardy after his limited return last week; the Tigers will host the 11 a.m. kickoff at Faurot Field on Saturday.
- SEC rules require nightly availability updates through Friday plus a final report 90 minutes before kickoff, so late changes could alter both teams' lineups and materially affect their CFP trajectories and depth tests down the stretch.