Former Texas Longhorns fan favorite wide receiver Parker Livingstone committed to the Oklahoma Sooners on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Livingstone, who is transferring after his redshirt freshman season and will have three years of eligibility remaining, took visits to both Indiana and Oklahoma. He will now call Norman home and face his former school and new arch-rival annually in the Red River Rivalry.

The Lucas, Texas, native caught 29 passes for 516 yards and six touchdowns this season. He ranked third in yards, fourth in catches, and second in touchdowns amongst all Longhorns pass-catchers in 2025.

Livingstone’s goodbye message and transfer commitment

Livingstone, who grew up a Longhorns fan, became a fan favorite early on in the season, as he scored three touchdowns in Texas’ opening two games to lead the pass-catching corps. The known fact that he was quarterback Arch Manning’s roommate also contributed to the fan-favorite sentiment. To many, it likely seemed that Livingstone would be here to stay in Austin.

But in college football’s present landscape, there are no guarantees, and Livingstone announced his decision to enter the portal on Jan. 1. His commitment to Texas’ biggest rival now adds to the shock of his departure.

“Never in a million years did I think I would be going into the portal looking for a new home,” Livingstone wrote in his goodbye on X. “Some things are out of my control. Such is the reality of the ever-changing landscape of college football. Emptied my tank every day for this great university, my teammates & all of the good folks of Texas. Grateful.”

The message that Livingstone’s transfer portal decision was “out of (his) control” brought a whirlwind of speculation and interest in the details of his exit from the Texas Longhorns program. It’s difficult to put together exactly what occurred behind closed doors to shatter the Livingstone-Texas relationship. But after an article in The Athletic mentioned Livingstone’s “out of my control” wording in his note, On Texas Football’s Bobby Burton wrote on X:

“Livingstone was offered a mid-six-figure NIL/rev share deal and turned it down. The offer was never withdrawn. But yeah, he was forced out involuntarily. Whatever.”

Livingstone’s move from one side of the Red River to the other will certainly be a storyline heading into the 2026 edition of the rivalry matchup on Oct. 10.

With both Livingstone and DeAndre Moore Jr. exiting the Forty Acres to enter the transfer portal recently, Texas has been expected to pursue top portal names to add to its wide receiver room. One of those players is former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, who has taken a visit to Austin and is still in his decision-making process. Coleman, who will likely be a one-and-done at his next collegiate destination due to his NFL Draft status, ranks as the No. 1 player in the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

1. St. Michael’s

2. Westlake

3. Bowie

4. Westwood

5. Vandegrift 

6. Lake Travis

7. Cedar Park

8. Hendrickson 

9. Round Rock

10. East View 

Just outside: Wimberley

Tip-ins

With nearly all of the college football world thrust into the 2026 offseason, Texas A&M football is in the middle of a nationwide arms race that will determine the ability for a sustained playoff campaign this next year.

For head coach Mike Elko, an incredibly pressing need is the defensive line, which will be heavily depleted this next season. From losing Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year Cashius Howell to depth pieces along the defensive line, the Aggies have a need that must be addressed.

Therefore, Northwestern transfer Anto Saka presents a perfect opportunity for Elko and his staff to develop him into an SEC-caliber defender, and he has the measurables to back it up. Now, he’s set for a visit to College Station.

D-Line U?

A&M has had its fair share of players going off to enjoy successful careers in the NFL, but as of late, those players are becoming indomitable forces on the defensive front. In fact, Aggie alum Myles Garrett just finished setting the single-season record for sacks, and Washington outside linebacker Von Miller is still getting the job done in his 15th season with 9 sacks.

Consensus All-American Cashius Howell is on track to go in the first 50 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, which could easily draw Saka to commit to the program that Elko is building from the ground up.

Elko has showcased his ability to develop players such as Howell, and Saka could follow a similar blueprint. The six-foot-four, 255-pound edge has been making an impact since the day he stepped foot on Northwestern’s campus, and he racked up 12 sacks in his three years as a Wildcat.

His junior campaign was his least productive in terms of sacks, but he still managed to force two fumbles and create disruption on the defensive line for the rest of his supporting cast to make an impact as well.

NFL talent in college quickly equates to success and championships, and the more that the Aggies can bring home to College Station, the easier it will be to get to where they want to be as a program. Adding a defender like Saka would bring an all-around pass rusher who is built for any situation.

Saka’s build is very similar to that of Howell’s, and although it would be crazy to anticipate a player replicating his success, the only way folks would know is if he decides to make Aggieland his final stop in college.