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LEAD STORY: Texas Freshmen Make Their Case Before Knoxville
The No. 1 Texas Longhorns used their 30-6 win over UTSA to give their freshmen more work, and running back Derrek Cooper took the biggest step. Cooper sat out Texas' 24-23 comeback win over Ohio State in Week 2. Against UTSA he carried 11 times for 44 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 1-yard run with a little under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. The score finished an eight-play, 66-yard drive. Texas said Cooper's ankle is not fully healed but improved enough for him to play, and the staff wanted him ready for SEC play.
Wide receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr., rated the No. 3 athlete in the 2026 recruiting class, played a career-high 25 snaps. He caught two passes for 22 yards, including a 15-yard screen, and now has four catches for 47 yards through three games. Texas used Bishop in 10 personnel, the first four-receiver package under the current staff. The Longhorns also set up a one-on-one shot for him at the X receiver spot, and it nearly went for a touchdown before a UTSA cornerback broke it up. Bishop also plays on special teams. He logged snaps on punt return and on kickoff coverage and returns against UTSA, and made a solo tackle against Ohio State. He worked at defensive back over the summer, and Texas has not ruled out using him on defense later.
On defense, edge rusher Richard Wesley played more after star junior Colin Simmons left with an injury and missed the second half. In 24 snaps, Wesley had three solo tackles, a tackle for loss, two stops and a quarterback hurry. He has at least one tackle in all three games and five on the season. Linebacker Kosi Okpala dropped UTSA running back A'Marion Peterson for a 3-yard loss in the fourth quarter. That gives Okpala a tackle for loss in both games he has played. Cornerback Samari Matthews and safety Toray Davis also saw snaps on defense. The Longhorns open SEC play next at No. 14 Tennessee in Knoxville.
QUICK HITS
- Florida: Gainesville is enjoying a Jackson-to-Jackson moment. Veteran Kahleil Jackson, who arrived at Florida in 2020 when some current teammates were still in middle school, has earned the "Unc" nickname in the Gators' locker room.
- SEC golf honors: Farah O'Keefe was named SEC Golfer of the Week after sharing medalist honors at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup. Sterling Hurd of the No. 12 men's team was named SEC Freshman of the Week after sharing medalist honors in his college debut at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic.
- Vanderbilt tennis: The Commodores went winless in their main-draw openers at the All-Americans. They can still play on in the consolation bracket.
- Future schedules: Georgia baseball released its full 55-game schedule for 2027. Tennessee softball will open 2027 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, where the NFCA has announced the matchups.
- Mizzou history: Missouri is honoring its 1960 football team as national champions.
- LSU basketball: LSU men's basketball held a press conference Wednesday ahead of the 2026-27 season. ESPN reported that the Tigers have signed several players this offseason who have eligibility questions.
- Vols in the NFL: Former Tennessee receiver Josh Palmer scored a touchdown for the second straight week. Outside linebacker Byron Young and offensive lineman Trey Smith also had notable Week 2 games.
PORTAL WATCH
No transfer portal activity involving SEC programs was reported in the last 12 hours.
RECRUITING BUZZ
No new commitments came in during this window. On the field, the 2026 class is already showing up in Austin: Bishop, Cooper, Wesley and Okpala are all playing real snaps for the top-ranked Longhorns.
GAMES TO WATCH
No games are scheduled today. This weekend's headliner is No. 1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee in Knoxville, the SEC opener for the Longhorns. Keep an eye on whether Cooper is healthier and gets more carries, how much Bishop plays at receiver, and who rushes off the edge for Texas while Simmons' status is unclear. On the other side, Tennessee gets a chance to beat the nation's top-ranked team at home.
