Colin Simmons offered an apology of sorts after his off-color sack celebration drew an unsportsmanlike penalty Saturday.
Simmons, a preseason All-American and potential first-round NFL draft pick this spring, went off for five sacks while Texas football beat Tennessee in Week 4. After his second quarterback takedown of the day, Simmons appeared to mime himself urinating on the field as his teammates tried to stop him. He was flagged for the gesture and instead of a third-down sack creating a fourth-and-29 and a punt opportunity from the Tennessee 12, the Volunteers were awarded a new set of downs.
After the game, Simmons addressed the play.
“I also do want to say I apologize for the celebration,” the All-SEC pick said. “I was definitely in that mode, feeling myself. But you know, it happens, charge it to the game.”
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Cameras for the ABC broadcast showed Simmons standing on the sideline for multiple plays afterwards, as Tennessee used the penalty to help drive into Texas territory. Simmons was asked if there were any additional conversations about the play.
“Of course, but (we have a) next play mentality; we don’t harp on that,” Simmons said.
Another reporter asked if head coach Steve Sarkisian said anything to him; Simmons replied, “next play mentality, move on.”
The standout edge rusher continued to make plays, and on subsequent sacks, his teammates could be seen signaling to Simmons to keelp the celebration subdued.
For his part, Sarkisian said after the game the penalty “can’t happen,” but appeared to support his star player.
“We took him out and we addressed it,” Sarkisian said. “I’m not gonna give the guy a death penalty for an unsportsmanlike conduct. It has to about the team and not the look at me.”
The coach said he warned his team not to be too hyped while playing a game in front 100,000-plus, including the president of the United States.
“That’s a bad football play,” Sarkisian told reporters. “We had harped and talked about this game about not getting emotional with this crowd and that was an emotional play.”
Why was Colin Simmons flagged vs. Tennessee?
Simmons was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct after celebrating a third-down sack of Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon. While explaining the penalty at Neyland Stadium, referee Kyle Olson said Simmons simulated using the restroom during his celebration.
WATCH: Texas EDGE Colin Simmons was penalized for a peeing celebration.
(via ABC) pic.twitter.com/Hvxn8ThEKe
– On3 (@On3) September 26, 2026
He dodged a bullet as Tennessee eventually failed on a fourth-down attempt. Before Saturday’s kickoff, Simmons represented the Longhorns as a team captain at the pregame coin toss.
Who is Colin Simmons?
Simmons has been recognized as one of the top players on Texas’ defense and in the SEC. The 20-year-old was a preseason All-American pick for 2026, according to Phil Steele, after earning All-SEC first-team honors last season.
A junior from the Dallas suburb of Duncanville, Simmons was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He won at least one national freshman of the year award and was named to several freshman All-American lists. His 21 sacks over his first two seasons are the most in Texas history.
Now listed at 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds, Sports Illustrated and ESPN’s Jordan Reid each had Simmons as a top-10 NFL draft pick in 2027.
This article originally published at Urination celebration: Sarkisian not giving Colin Simmons the ‘death penalty’ after flag.
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