Texas Replaces Parker Livingstone With Cam Coleman Before Oklahoma Rivalry

Texas and Oklahoma entered their October 10, 2026, Red River Rivalry matchup with former Longhorns wide receiver Parker Livingstone on the Sooners' roster after his offseason transfer. The move followed a productive 2025 season at Texas and reflected coach Steve Sarkisian's decision to reshape the offense around quarterback Arch Manning.

Livingstone caught 29 passes for 516 yards and six touchdowns for Texas in 2025, ranking third on the team in receptions and receiving yards, according to USA TODAY. His production has declined since joining Oklahoma, where he recorded six receptions for 51 yards through four games in 2026.

Texas added several players through roster changes, including Auburn transfer Cam Coleman, running back Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown. Sarkisian said the program had to release established players to create roster and financial room for incoming talent.

Explaining the decisions on the Paul Finebaum Show in July, Sarkisian described roster management as a strategic necessity in the transfer portal era.

"I think in this day and age of the portal and high school, you've got to have the ability to be strategic," Sarkisian said.

He identified Livingstone among several players who departed as Texas pursued its recruitment priorities, including former running backs Tre Wisner and CJ Baxter and receiver DeAndre Moore Jr.

"To make the moves we make, to bring in a Cam Coleman, to bring in a Hollywood Smothers, to bring in a Raleek Brown, to bring in a Mike Masunas at tight end, we had to let DeAndre Moore go. We had to let Parker Livingstone go. We had to let Tre Wisner go. We had to let CJ Baxter go.

“This wasn’t like we kept acquiring. … We had to let some pretty good players leave to create the cap space to bring those guys in. I think strategically, there were some tough decisions to make. But, we made them. I think we all can agree that we’re probably better around Arch (Manning) today than we were a year ago at this time,” Sarkisian said.

Livingstone, a former Texas fan who grew up in the Dallas area, said he had not expected to leave Austin. He announced his intention to enter the transfer portal in January after Texas played Michigan in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

"Never in a million years did I think I would be going into the portal looking for a new home. Some things are out of my control. Such is the reality of the ever-changing landscape of college football," Livingstone wrote in his transfer announcement.

In March, Livingstone told reporters that having an agent influenced his departure, while his choice of Oklahoma over Indiana reflected his desire to remain close to home. According to USA TODAY, those were his final two options, and both programs had reached the College Football Playoff in 2025.

"If I didn't have an agent, I would probably still be in Austin right now," Livingstone said.

Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy said the program had not anticipated Texas would allow the receiver to leave, making his availability a significant recruiting opportunity for the Sooners.

"We didn’t see that coming," Nagy said. "We didn’t see Texas dropping Parker that way, so that was huge for us."

Quarterback Arch Manning also addressed the reunion with his former roommate and close friend before the rivalry game. The Texas quarterback said the personal connection would not change his focus on beating Oklahoma.

"It's going to be different," Manning said. "Obviously we were roommates, best friends. Now he's at a different school.

I'm not going to think anything of it. We're going to try to go beat OU and win the game. I'll say what's up to him after."

Sarkisian struck a similarly competitive tone when discussing Livingstone's move to a rival. He said he expected to greet the receiver warmly after the game but intended to prioritize Texas' attempt to defeat Oklahoma during the contest.

Livingstone's earlier Texas statistics also included one pass attempt completed for four yards and a touchdown in 2025, according to USA TODAY. His Oklahoma totals through the first four games of the 2026 season remained at six catches for 51 yards.