College football officials are cracking down this season on unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that show up the opposition and Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons earned a penalty during the first half of the No. 1 Longhorns' 20-17 win at No. 14 Tennessee.

After recording the second of a career-best five-sack game in the second quarter, Simmons pretended to urinate on the field after taking down Vols quarterback Faizon Brandon on third down.

The field was immediately littered with yellow flags, drawing a reaction of bewilderment from Simmons.

During the broadcast, the referee said Simmons was flagged for "simulating use of the restroom", extending Tennessee's possession before the Longhorns took a 10-3 lead into halftime.

"We took him out, we addressed it and we put him back in," Sarkisian said after the game. "At that point, you know what I mean, I'm not going to give the guy the death penalty over an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. We've got to fix it, though. That can't continue as we move forward."

Simmons' demonstration was similar to former Ole Miss wideout Elijah Moore, who simulated urinating on a fire hydrant like a dog during the 2019 Egg Bowl against Mississippi State.

"Just an absolute idiotic move by Colin Simmons doing that," Kirk Herbstreit said during the broadcast. 

Chris Fowler followed with, "yeah, it's idiotic, and it doesn't get much more vulgar, either."

The rules committee this offseason modernized the interpretation of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls and how they're presented. Taunting is always flagged — anything directed at an opponent that seemingly disrupts or delays the game. 

However, players are allowed to celebrate together and not cross the line after a big play. There's only five "automatic" unsportsmanlike designations:

  • Gun violence including "brandishing" a weapon, 
  • throat slash or nose wipe gesture, 
  • players removing their helmet,
  • dead-ball contact fouls such as pushing, shoving or striking, 
  • pushing or pulling an opposing player off the pile after the ball is dead. 

And now you can add "simulating using the restroom" to the of the automatic variety.

Texas entered the game as the nation's top-ranked team following its win over Ohio State two weeks ago while Tennessee was unbeaten and ranked 14th under Josh Heupel.

No other team in college football this season has a pair of top-15 wins.

"We're used to this environment. We're used to this arena. We win big games. We do," Sarkisian said in the aftermath.

Texas still has to play seven ranked teams the rest of the way.

"That is why I say I am not going to apologize for winning on the road vs. a top 15 team, when other teams don't even play them," Sarkisian said.

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