Texas DE Colin Simmons Could Feast on Oklahoma OL Depth

The No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns are back in action for the first time since their narrow win on the road against Tennessee.

On Saturday, it's the annual trip to the State Fair of Texas for the 122nd installation of the Red River Rivalry against the Oklahoma Sooners.

It's also a homecoming for Longhorns star edge rusher Colin Simmons. The Dallas native and Duncanville grad will play in the Cotton Bowl for the third time in his Texas career.

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Last season, Simmons had 2.5 sacks of the Sooners in a 23-6 win. The Longhorns (4-0) have not allowed a touchdown to the Sooners (2-2) since Simmons has been with the program, and a win this weekend could give Texas three wins in a row in the series for the first time since 1997-99.

Simmons is coming into top form after setting a school record with 5.5 sacks against the Volunteers. He is tied with Steve Michael for sixth place in the Texas record book with 28.5 career sacks.

The Sooners, however, are on the opposite side of the spectrum.

Oklahoma is likely to be without two starting offensive linemen. Left tackle Michael Fasusi has been downgraded to "out" in the latest SEC injury report, and guard Eddie Pierre-Louis is listed as "doubtful" for pregame. Fred Hinton is another offensive lineman who will be unavailable for the Sooners.

The protection for embattled quarterback John Mateer seems to have taken a step back in health, which has been a head-scratching revelation for OU fans due to Brent Venables' team coming off a bye.

Texas used its off week to improve its fitness; only three players are ruled out for the rivalry, and defensive lineman Justus Terry is listed as "questionable" with a lingering toe injury.

READ MORE: No. 1 Longhorns Benefit From Bye Week Rest Before Red River Rivalry

Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian knows more than just about the injuries Venables' team faces in this matchup. Last season, it was an inverse head-to-head, with Oklahoma owning a top-10 ranking and an undefeated record while Texas had dropped out of the rankings with two losses.

Texas took control late to pull off the upset in 2025. Sarkisian is wary of that happening when the emotions are high under the sun.

"We were a desperate football team and found a way to win in the second half," Sarkisian said this week. "So, we know what it is."

"It's a big game," Venables stated. "Certainly not where we want to be as a football team right now. ... But we need to create some momentum. It’s a very real thing during this time of the year."