Texas running back Hollywood Smothers will miss the remainder of the season with a torn MCL, ending a campaign in which he rushed for 283 yards and two touchdowns in six games. The former NC State transfer, ranked as the No. 3 running back in the 2026 transfer class, arrived in Austin after a 939-yard, seven-touchdown season but battled injuries throughout the year.
Injury history and immediate impact
Smothers missed the Longhorns' road win over Tennessee and the home victory over Ole Miss on Oct. 24 due to a lower-body injury. In his last appearance against Mississippi State, he carried the ball four times for minus-6 yards before being helped to the medical tent. With Smothers sidelined, fellow running back Raleek Brown is expected to shoulder a heavier workload in the rushing attack.
Mounting injury concerns
The loss of Smothers adds to a growing availability report ahead of Texas' game against Missouri. Star left tackle Trevor Goosby has already been ruled out for the season, while edge rusher Colin Simmons (high-ankle sprain), wide receiver Ryan Wingo (quad injury), wide receivers Cam Coleman and Kade Phillips, and defensive back Graceson Littleton are all listed as questionable. Simmons and Wingo are considered the most likely to play, though neither is guaranteed.
Running game struggles persist
Texas' ground game has averaged just 135.4 rushing yards per game this season, ranking 13th in the SEC — ahead of only Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Arkansas. Since the departures of Bijan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks, the Longhorns have failed to recapture their former rushing dominance. Tre Wisner led the backfield in 2024 with 1,000 yards at 4.7 yards per carry, but his production dipped to 597 yards at 4.6 yards per carry in 2025 amid injury issues. The offseason additions of Smothers and Brown were intended to revive the run game, but the unit has yet to find consistency.
With College Football Playoff hopes on the line against Missouri and LSU in the coming weeks, Texas will rely on Brown and quarterback Arch Manning to maximize the available rushing options. The program will likely need to address the running back position again in the next offseason.
