Texas Longhorns junior edge Colin Simmons was named among this season’s 18 semifinalists for the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award, the award’s committee announced earlier today. Presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club, the award recognizes college football’s most outstanding defensive player.
Simmons, a former five-star recruit, has established himself as a cornerstone of the Longhorns’ defensive front. The recognition follows his selection as one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award earlier
this month. Simmons led the SEC with 12 sacks during the 2025 season and earned first-team All-SEC honors from the conference’s coaches.
Despite missing two games and only playing 18 snaps against Missouri, Simmons is still tied for the nation’s lead with 10.5 sacks.
Three Bednarik Award finalists will be announced on Nov. 24.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS
Austin American-Statesman: Texas basketball freshmen: How Marcus Spears Jr., other freshman are playing
Austin American-Statesman: Arch Manning’s goatee is here to stay—as long as Texas football keeps winning
Austin American-Statesman: Steve Sarkisian hopes CFP expansion leads to more big nonconference games
Houston Chronicle: Bohls: What’s wrong with a 24-team CFP field? Oh, let us count the reasons.
247Sports: First things first Tuesday: Sarkisian admits ‘receiver-centric’ offense to start the season was wrong
247Sports: Confidence is ‘one of the most important things’ to Arch Manning. Here’s how Steve Sarkisian is managing it.
247Sports: Raleek Brown, Emmett Mosley V are Texas’ most reliable go-to guys on offense and should be featured that way
247Sports: Steve Sarkisian points his program’s recent history as reason for belief in the Longhorns down the stretch
Inside Texas: Texas football is as ‘connected’ as ever. Why that matters for 2026’s stretch run.
Inside Texas: A trio few expected in the preseason powered Texas’ best offensive game in 2026
Inside Texas: Always reliable: Matas Volkietais continues to improve
ICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION
No. 7 Texas 93, Grambling State 62: Three takeaways before facing the Bears
Missouri AD calls for SEC to make replay booth decisions more transparent
Penalty tracker: Repetitive issues plague Texas against Missouri
Texas baseball releases 2027 schedule with 35 home games
RECRUITING ROUNDUP
247Sports: 2028 CB Xavier Bowman discusses Texas interest, potential offer, and recruiting timeline
247Sports: Midlands recruiting notebook: Latest intel from Top247 prospects in the region following a huge weekend
Inside Texas: Inside Scoop: Miami pushing for flip, 2027 recruiting targets news, and notes
SEC SHOWDOWN
Austin American-Statesman: Sark: Manning doesn’t give ‘a crap’ about game in Louisiana. What did Arch say?
Inside Texas: Everything LSU’s Lane Kiffin said about Arch Manning, Steve Sarkisian, and Texas football
Inside Texas: Texas’ offensive adjustments against Missouri
Rock M Nation: Crowe stars in Mizzou’s victory over SIUE, Mitchell goes down
Rocky Top Talk: Tennessee pulls away from Radford in the second half, wins 70-47
Roll ‘Bama Roll: Tide rides hot shooting to 109-68 victory
A Sea Of Blue: Kentucky and North Carolina battling for five-star recruit CJ Rosser
WHAT WE’RE READING
SB Nation: Jordan Davis modeled his game after John Henderson. Now he’s a Jaguar.
SB Nation: The Jets never got off the ground
SB Nation: A Vikings-Matthew Stafford trade transforms them into a Super Bowl contender
NEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND
- A moment worth reliving.
