Colin Simmons produced one of the best defensive performances in Texas football history on Saturday. Yet it was what the 20-year-old did after one of his sacks, rather than the sack itself, that became the most widely discussed moment of the Longhorns’ 20–17 win at Tennessee. President Donald Trump was among the crowd at Neyland Stadium.
In the second quarter, Simmons brought down Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon, then mimed urinating on the field, as UNILAD described. Officials assessed a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. The flag gave Tennessee a fresh set of downs instead of forcing it to punt after the sack, according to CBS Sports.
Simmons addresses the penalty
“I apologize for the celebration,” Simmons said after the game, explaining that he had become caught up in the moment. He also posted a message on X asking forgiveness for his actions. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said the team took the defender out briefly, addressed what happened and sent him back into the game. The incident had cost his side field position in a contest ultimately decided by three points.
For readers less familiar with American football, a sack occurs when a defender tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw. Simmons’ gesture happened after such a play, but the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty extended Tennessee’s possession. The referee penalized the celebration, rather than the physical tackle.
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A record performance in a three-point win
The apology came after Simmons had tied Texas’ single-game record with five sacks. The Longhorns recorded ten as a team, the second-highest total in program history, according to the University of Texas’ game report. Texas held Tennessee to 221 yards of offense and escaped Knoxville with its fourth victory in four games this season.
Trump’s attendance was confirmed in Tennessee’s official account of the game. The hosts scored a late touchdown to get within 20–17 and recovered the ensuing onside kick, but their final pass into the end zone fell incomplete. Simmons’ five sacks helped shape that result; his penalty and apology became a separate story from a day of dominant defensive play.
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