Sarkisian Backs Simmons After Penalty Costs Texas a Stop in Knoxville
The short version
- Colin Simmons drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag for a celebration mimicking urination after a third-down sack of Faizon Brandon in Texas' 20-17 win at Tennessee on Sept. 26, 2026.
- The penalty turned a would-be fourth-and-29 into a first down for the Volunteers, though Tennessee later failed on fourth down.
- Simmons finished with five sacks and apologized for the celebration after the game.
- Steve Sarkisian said the penalty can't happen but that he would not give Simmons the "death penalty" for it.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian called Colin Simmons' unsportsmanlike conduct flag unacceptable but said the defensive end will not face severe punishment after the win over Tennessee.
Texas defeated Tennessee 20-17 on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, but the victory came with a moment its coach would like to forget. Defensive end Colin Simmons was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after mimicking a urination gesture during a sack celebration, wiping out a key third-down stop.
The play came on Simmons' second sack of Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon. The sack would have left the Volunteers facing fourth-and-29 near their own 12-yard line, but the penalty instead gave Tennessee a fresh set of downs. The Volunteers used the extended possession to move into Texas territory, and cameras showed Simmons standing on the sideline for several plays afterward. Tennessee ultimately failed on a fourth-down try, limiting the damage.
Referee Kyle Olson announced the call at the stadium, explaining that Simmons had simulated going to the restroom as part of his celebration. Teammates could be seen attempting to stop Simmons as he made the gesture, and on later sacks in the game they signaled to him to keep celebrations in check.
Simmons, who finished the day with five sacks, addressed the incident after the game. "I also do want to say I apologize for the celebration," he said. "I was definitely in that mode, feeling myself. But you know, it happens, charge it to the game." Asked whether there were further discussions about the play, he said the team has a next-play mentality and does not dwell on mistakes. When asked directly whether head coach Steve Sarkisian had spoken to him, Simmons again pointed to moving on to the next play.
Sarkisian told reporters the penalty "can't happen," but made clear the program would not overreact. "We took him out and we addressed it," Sarkisian said. "I'm not gonna give the guy a death penalty for an unsportsmanlike conduct. It has to about the team and not the look at me."
The coach added that he had cautioned his players before the game about letting emotions get the better of them in front of a crowd exceeding 100,000 people, a group that included the president of the United States. He described the celebration as a bad football play and an emotional response his staff had specifically warned against.
Before kickoff, Simmons had served as one of Texas' captains for the pregame coin toss, and he wore a brace on his arm during the third quarter, according to game photography.
Simmons, a 20-year-old junior from Duncanville, Texas, is regarded as one of the top defensive players in the country. A five-star recruit in high school, he earned All-SEC first-team honors last season and was named a preseason All-American by Phil Steele for 2026. His 21 sacks across his first two seasons are the most in Texas history, and both Sports Illustrated and ESPN's Jordan Reid have projected him as a top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL draft. Now listed at 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds, he also won at least one national freshman of the year award.
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