Biggest Winners & Losers After Texas Barely Avoids Upset Against Tennessee, Including Colin Simmons Dominating

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Without a doubt, the biggest game on the Week 4 college football schedule for many fans was the noon SEC clash between Texas and Tennessee. While many thought the game could turn into a shootout, it ended up being a showcase of both teams’ defensive fronts as they combined for 16 sacks on Saturday.

In the end, the Longhorns were able to do enough to eat up clock late and get a very hard-fought 20-17 win on the road. Following the matchup, we look at the biggest winners and losers from Texas vs. Tennessee, including rough days for both starting quarterbacks.

Loser: Arch Manning, Texas

giants — Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) looks to throw during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas on Sept. 12, 2026.

There is a lot of pressure on Texas QB1 Arch Manning because of the massive hype that surrounds him as a top prospect and a potential top-three pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Sometimes the standard he has to meet isn’t fair. However, on Saturday he had an average performance.

Yes, his offensive line was not good and gave up six sacks. Yes, he also led the drive in the fourth that put the game out of reach for the Volunteers. However, the guy fans were wowed by in their come-from-behind win against Ohio State did not show up late in this game, and it was his rushing attack that locked up the victory this weekend.

Winners: Texas and Tennessee’s Defensive Fronts

NCAA Football: Tennessee at Georgia Tech — Sep 12, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Mariyon Dye (9) reacts after a sack against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the fourth quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The defensive fronts for both Tennessee and Texas were outstanding on Saturday. Obviously, Texas has talent like Manning and wide receiver Cam Coleman on offense, but the Volunteers entered the highly anticipated matchup averaging 47 points a game and were a top-five rushing team.

The front lines for both teams had no interest in a shoutout this weekend and dominated. They harassed both quarterbacks all day and, for the most part, limited both rushing attacks. They were the stars of the game in Week 4.

Loser: Faizon Brandon, Tennessee

Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon (11) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop (18) during Tennessee’s college football game against Kennesaw State at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Sept. 19, 2026.

Tennessee freshman QB Faizon Brandon has been pretty good over his first three starts as a college football starting QB. However, the 18-year-old found out in Week 4 that playing an elite team in the SEC is very different than going up against Furman and Kennesaw State.

The Volunteers’ offensive line failed Brandon as he was hounded and smacked around all day en route to being sacked 10 times. Unsurprisingly, he had a rough day as he connected on just 17 of his 29 passes for 145 yards.

Winner: Colin Simmons, Texas

NCAA Football: Arkansas at Texas — Nov 22, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Colin Simmons (1) reacts after a fumble was recovered for a touchdown during the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Heading into the 2026 college football season, Texas EDGE Colin Simmons was seen as a player who could go in the top 10 of April’s NFL Draft. Well, he may have solidified that eventuality on Saturday against Tennessee.

Of the Longhorns’ 10 sacks on Saturday, the talented pass rusher had half of them, and he could have had six if he didn’t get a taunting penalty. This weekend, Simmons stamped his place as an elite talent in next year’s draft with an unbelievable game against a top-15 team.

Loser: Tennessee’s Run Game

Sep 19, 2026; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop (18) looks up after landing in the end zone for a touchdown during Tennesseea?TMs college football game against Kennesaw State at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Sept. 19, 2026. Mandatory Credit: Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee entered the game with the fourth-best rushing game in the country. Over the first three weeks of the season, the Volunteers averaged nearly 300 yards a game on the ground as DeSean Bishop and Daune Morris were a two-headed running monster for the team. Well, Texas had none of it on Saturday.

The duo was held to just 67 yards combined in Week 4, and overall the Volunteers had just 70 yards on the ground. The run game was a key part of why Tennessee was ranked 14th in the nation, and it was completely shut down this weekend.

Winner: Qua Moss, Tennessee

Tennessee defensive back Qua Moss (6) celebrates a turnover during a game between Tennessee and Kennesaw State at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Sept. 19, 2026.

Outside of a late score and strong play from their defense, Tennessee fans did not have a ton to cheer for this weekend. However, Qua Moss gave Volunteers supporters hope for an upset when he returned a punt to the house to tie the game at 10 early in the third quarter. It was one of the few scoring bright spots for the program on Saturday and made a win seem possible in the second half.

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