Texas Longhorns DE Colin Simmons got himself whistled for one of the most bizarre and truly head-scratching unsportsmanlike conduct penalties of the season during the first half of Saturday’s game against Tennessee. After notching his second sack of the game in the second quarter, Simmons celebrated by pretending to urinate on the field right after taking down Vols quarterback Faizon Brandon on third down. Yellow flags immediately flew, and Simmons looked genuinely bewildered by the officials’ reaction.
That Sack Celebration Was Wild, But The Call Was Real
The referee’s announcement during the broadcast left no doubt: Simmons was flagged for “simulating use of the restroom.” Talk about a specific call! This wasn’t some generic taunting; this was a direct, explicit violation that cost Texas. That penalty extended Tennessee’s possession, a crucial mistake Simmons won’t want to repeat. Texas still managed to take a 10-3 lead into halftime, but the optics were just bad.
The demonstration brought back memories, too. It was eerily similar to what former Ole Miss wideout Elijah Moore pulled back in the 2019 Egg Bowl. Experts weren’t holding back either, with Kirk Herbstreit on the broadcast calling it “just an absolute idiotic move.” Chris Fowler piled on, saying, “yeah, it’s idiotic, and it doesn’t get much more vulgar, either.” It’s tough to argue with that when you see a player pull something like this.
New Rules, New Consequences: One Flag Away From Ejection
Turns out, college football officials are really cracking down this season. The rules committee modernized the interpretation of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls specifically because they want to clean up things that show up the opposition. Taunting is always flagged, especially anything directed at an opponent that slows the game down. Players can still celebrate together, no problem, but there’s a definite line you just can’t cross.
Now, on top of the existing five “automatic” unsportsmanlike designations (things like brandishing a weapon, throat slash gestures, removing a helmet, dead-ball contact, or pulling players off a pile), you can officially add “simulating using the restroom” to that list. That’s a huge deal. It means Simmons’ act is no longer just a “judgment call” on whether it’s over the line; it’s a guaranteed flag.
The stakes for Simmons himself became instantly higher. If he gets whistled for another unsportsmanlike penalty during Saturday’s game, that’s it: automatic ejection. Texas, the nation’s top-ranked team after a big win over Ohio State a couple weeks ago, doesn’t need its stars getting thrown out for preventable, frankly dumb, celebrations. Tennessee, ranked 14th and unbeaten under Josh Heupel, definitely didn’t mind the extended possession. Colin Simmons needs to chill out. He’s a phenomenal player, but that kind of stunt could cost his team way more than a few yards if it happens again.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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