Texas defensive lineman Colin Simmons apologized for a sack celebration against Tennessee that resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The referee described the celebration as "simulating using the restroom" when he announced the infraction to the crowd.
Ref: "Unsportsmanlike conduct, defense, No. 1, for simulating using the restroom."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 26, 2026
Kirk Herbstreit: "Just an absolute idiotic move by Colin Simmons doing that."
Chris Fowler: "Yeah, it's idiotic, and it doesn't get much more vulgar, either." pic.twitter.com/WxLj5uTxZG
"I apologize for the celebration," Simmons told reporters after the game. "I was definitely in that mode, feeling myself. But you know, it happens. Charge it to the game."
Simmons added that Sarkisian spoke to him on the sidelines after the penalty and encouraged him to have a "next-play mentality."
The penalty occurred when the Longhorns led 10-3 with just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter. The flag extended the drive, but Texas' defense forced an incompletion on fourth down a couple minutes later, resulting in a turnover.
Simmons had the best game of his college career Saturday, recording eight tackles, five sacks, and one forced fumble. His five sacks tied the school's single-game sack record set by Shane Dronett in 1990.
The 20-year-old Simmons is a projected first-round pick in the 2027 draft. He led the SEC in sacks last year with 12 and is now up to seven in 2026 after his monster performance against Tennessee.
No. 1-ranked Texas squeezed out a 20-17 win on the road and improved to 4-0 for the season. The Longhorns have a bye week before facing off against Oklahoma on Oct. 10.
