Texas’ gritty overtime win against Kentucky came at a steep cost. The game was a defensive slugfest, ending 16-13 with Mason Shipley nailing a 45-yard field goal in OT. Texas leaned heavily on defense and special teams, but the physical toll on key players was evident. That’s why the news surrounding Michael Taaffe hits hard. Taaffe went down with a thumb injury after he racked up 10 tackles. The thumb injury required surgery, and while it’s not season-ending, the exact timetable for his return remains unclear.

Medical staff and coaching sources purposely withheld a return date to avoid tempting Taaffe to rush back. “He’s out. We don’t know how long,” Steve Sarkisian said. “ Obviously, a significant loss. We’ve got Derek Williams , Xavier Filsaime , some nice guys to step in for

See Full Page