CFB • Injury ImpactCollege
Texas backfield depth faces Missouri challenge
Texas Backfield Depth Tested as Hollywood Smothers Sidelined for Season
The Longhorns face a critical rotation shift at running back as injuries mount ahead of a pivotal SEC road trip to Missouri. Steve Sarkisian must now rely on Raleek Brown to anchor a ground game that has struggled to find consistent rhythm all year.
Sharp Wire College Football Staff(College Football Beat & Vegas Odds Desk)•19h ago
Read Full Story KEY BETTING TAKEAWAYS
- ▪Hollywood Smothers is out for the remainder of the 2026 season with a torn MCL, thinning the Texas running back rotation significantly.
- ▪The Longhorns' run game ranks 114th nationally (135.4 yards per game) and averages just 3.6 yards per carry, placing immense pressure on Arch Manning.
- ▪The betting market has adjusted to the news, with the spread shifting to Texas -3 (+100) and the total dipping to 43 as oddsmakers anticipate a tighter, lower-scoring affair.
