Hollywood Smothers Out for Season With Torn MCL — SkimNews
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- Hollywood Smothers tore his MCL and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after starting five of six games at running back for Texas.
- Smothers rushed for 74 yards and scored two touchdowns on Texas' final two drives in a 24-23 upset of then-No. 1 Ohio State, helping the Longhorns score 21 fourth-quarter points.
- Raleek Brown leads Texas with 92 carries for 452 yards and five touchdowns and will continue to see the bulk of the action in the backfield; Derrek Cooper should also see an uptick in Smothers' absence.
- Trevor Goosby underwent successful surgery on his torn left patellar tendon last week and will miss the remainder of the season, leaving Texas without its starting left tackle and top NFL draft prospect.
- Colin Simmons has missed No. 7 Texas' past two games with a high ankle sprain and is still questionable for Saturday at No. 18 Missouri, as are starting wide receivers Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman and nickel corner Graceson Littleton, who has started every game.
- Smothers totaled 283 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 2026 after missing Tennessee with a lower-body injury and Ole Miss with a shoulder injury, then leaving the Mississippi State game after four carries for minus-6 yards.
Why it matters: Smothers' absence moves the lead backfield role to Raleek Brown, who already has 92 carries, 452 yards and five touchdowns, with Derrek Cooper also in line for more work. Texas also lost starting tackle Trevor Goosby, so the No. 7 Longhorns enter Saturday's game against No. 18 Missouri with Smothers and Goosby out and four more players listed questionable.
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