As the college football season reaches its midway point, plenty of playoff contenders suddenly find themselves dealing with season-ending injuries to notable players.
Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, Tennessee linebacker Keenan Pili and Texas defensive back Derrick Williams are out for the rest of the season, their coaches announced Monday. Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons also has an injury that puts his availability for the rest of the season in doubt.
All went down as part of a brutal weekend that included Florida quarterback Graham Mertz and Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton suffering season-ending injuries and Utah quarterback Cam Rising hurting his lower leg severely enough to keep him for the rest of the season.
Mertz and Pili both got injured in No. 11 Tennessee's 23-17 overtime victory over Florida. Pili's ACL injury leaves the Volunteers without one of their team captains as they prepare to host No. 7 Alabama on Saturday.
Pili's college career is over. He is 26 and transferred to Tennessee from BYU. He suffered a season-ending triceps injury to start the 2023 season and has used not one but two medical redshirts. Injuries limited him to just seven games in two seasons with the Vols.
''There's nobody that represents Tennessee better than him," coach Josh Heupel said Monday. ''He's a great leader and will continue to be that inside of our building. Just heartbroken for him and his family. A guy that does absolutely everything right. Special player, but special person. He's got a great future.''
Heupel said either Arion Carter or Jeremiah Telander will take over for Pili in wearing the in-helmet communication device on defense.
Morrison, who has a hip injury, arguably was the top player to go down for the season over the weekend. The second-team preseason Associated Press All-America selection had nine career interceptions and was regarded as a possible first-round draft pick.