Conceptual burnt-orange football helmet and two prepared sets of pads in a tunnel before Texas visits LSU in 2026

Texas Expects Colin Simmons and Cam Coleman Back Against LSU

5 hours ago

4 min read

Texas did not place Colin Simmons or Cam Coleman on the initial SEC availability report for Saturday night at LSU. That is the clearest sign yet that the Longhorns expect two major contributors back in the plan.

Quick Answer

Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons and wide receiver Cam Coleman are expected to play against LSU on Saturday, November 14, 2026. Neither player appears on the initial SEC availability report. Simmons returned for limited action at Missouri after missing two games, while Coleman sat out that game. Their expected availability adds pressure to LSU’s protection plan and gives Arch Manning another outside receiving option for the 6:30 p.m. CT game on ABC.

What happened with Colin Simmons and Cam Coleman?

The SEC’s official football availability page lists Texas players with an injury-related status for the LSU game, but Simmons and Coleman are absent. The Houston Chronicle reported early Thursday that both are expected to play in Baton Rouge.

Simmons had missed Texas games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The University of Texas confirmed that the junior edge rusher returned in the November 7 road win at Missouri. Coleman missed the Missouri game after suffering a shoulder injury against Mississippi State, according to the current reporting.

Being omitted from Wednesday’s report is meaningful because the SEC process is designed to identify players who are not fully available. It is not an absolute guarantee. Teams file daily updates, and a player can still be added or changed before the final report 90 minutes before kickoff.

A syndicated Houston Chronicle report provides the same expectation and adds the workload context: Simmons played only 18 snaps at Missouri after a high-ankle sprain, while Coleman missed the game. That distinction matters for LSU. Expected to play does not necessarily mean expected to handle a normal snap count, so the Tigers must prepare for each player’s full skill set without assuming either will be used exactly as he was before the injury.

Why does Simmons’ expected return matter for LSU?

Simmons changes the speed of the protection problem. Texas’ official notes list the Longhorns among the national top 15 in sacks and tackles for loss, and Simmons is the unit’s most disruptive edge presence. Even if Texas manages his workload, LSU has to account for where he aligns on passing downs.

That matters even more because LSU starting right tackle Weston Davis is listed as probable after leaving the Alabama game. Probable is encouraging, but the Tigers still need a protection structure that can survive if Davis is limited or if Texas moves Simmons across the formation.

TigerHype’s earlier Colin Simmons matchup analysis explains the compressed passing clock Simmons can create. The new availability signal does not duplicate that scouting question; it makes the question immediate. LSU now has to prepare as if Simmons is active rather than build around uncertainty.

What does Cam Coleman add to Texas’ offense?

Coleman gives Texas another outside target for Arch Manning and forces LSU to defend more of the field. The value is not only in targets or catches. His presence can widen coverage, discourage a safety from crowding the box and create cleaner space for Texas’ other receivers.

LSU’s defensive decision becomes more layered if Coleman is available. The Tigers can still disguise coverage and pressure Manning, but aggressive calls carry a greater one-on-one cost when Texas has another healthy boundary option. That makes early-down discipline important: winning first down reduces the number of obvious passing situations in which Manning can choose the best matchup.

The news also intersects with LSU’s own uncertainty at linebacker. Whit Weeks remains questionable. The TigerHype injury tracker will keep both teams’ official designations current as Thursday, Friday and game-day reports arrive.

Which Texas players remain on the report?

The initial report lists running back Hollywood Smothers, tight end Nick Townsend, edge rusher Richard Wesley and offensive lineman Trevor Goosby as out. Defensive lineman Hero Kanu is questionable. Those absences still matter, but the Simmons and Coleman news prevents LSU from treating Texas as a stripped-down roster.

The clearest way to frame the matchup is balance. Texas has confirmed losses, especially at running back and along the line, but its most dangerous edge rusher is expected to play and a major receiver is trending back. LSU must attack the available weaknesses without planning for help that may not exist.

What should LSU fans watch next?

Watch the SEC’s Thursday update first. If Simmons and Coleman remain absent from the report, the expectation that they will play strengthens. If either name appears with a designation, that becomes the new verified status and should replace the current projection.

Then watch LSU’s answer at right tackle and safety. The LSU–Texas kickoff guide confirms the Saturday night setting, while TigerHype’s final-three-games explainer shows why this home game is the hinge of LSU’s path to 9–3.

The return signal is significant, but it is not a reason for a breaking-email alert. It is a verified personnel update in a scheduled reporting cycle, and the next official SEC filing can still refine it.