Longhorns Hit With Brutal Injury News As Playoff Hopes Hang In Balance

The Texas Longhorns are running out of healthy bodies at exactly the wrong time.

With a critical SEC showdown against No. 18 Missouri approaching Saturday, head coach Steve Sarkisian is facing a potentially devastating injury situation that could leave Texas without several of its most important offensive and defensive players.

MORE: Longhorns Get Major Injury Update Before Missouri Showdown

According to Wednesday's official SEC availability report, nine Longhorns are either questionable or ruled out, including star receivers Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman, All-American pass rusher Colin Simmons and running back Hollywood Smothers.

For a Texas team fighting to stay in the College Football Playoff race, the timing couldn't be worse.

Smothers has officially been ruled out after suffering knee and shoulder injuries during last Saturday's 31-3 victory over Mississippi State.

Tight end Nick Townsend is also out, joining offensive tackle Trevor Goosby and defensive end Richard Wesley on the unavailable list.

Goosby's season is already over following a serious knee injury against Ole Miss, leaving the Longhorns without one of their most important offensive linemen.

But the biggest concern might be the uncertainty surrounding Texas' receiving corps.

Wingo and Coleman both finished the Mississippi State game on the sideline in street clothes. Both are now listed as "questionable" for Missouri.

Wingo leads the Longhorns with 36 receptions and 470 receiving yards, while Coleman has become quarterback Arch Manning's most dangerous scoring threat with seven touchdown catches.

Losing either would create problems. Losing both could dramatically change Sarkisian's offensive approach.

The defensive situation isn't much better.

Simmons remains questionable after missing two consecutive games with a high-ankle sprain. The standout edge rusher has been one of Texas' most disruptive defenders, and his absence would create another challenge against Missouri's offense.

Defensive backs Kade Phillips and Graceson Littleton are also questionable after suffering injuries against Mississippi State.

That leaves Texas potentially shorthanded at three critical areas: wide receiver, pass rush and defensive secondary.

Meanwhile, Missouri enters the matchup with considerably fewer availability concerns, reporting just three players out and no additional questionable players on its initial report.

The contrast is difficult to ignore.

Texas enters Saturday at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, with little room for another conference defeat if it hopes to strengthen its playoff résumé.

Sarkisian has spent the season preaching the importance of depth. Now that philosophy faces perhaps its toughest examination.

MORE: Texas Lands At No. 7 In First CFP Rankings, Playoff Hopes Surge

Updated SEC availability reports will provide a clearer picture before kickoff, but the early outlook is concerning.

Texas still has the talent to beat Missouri. The bigger question is how much of that talent will actually be available Saturday.