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Parker Livingstone transferred from Texas to Oklahoma.
Steve Sarkisian spoke at SEC Media Days on Thursday to preview the 2026 college football season. The Texas coach admitted to releasing Parker Livingstone to clear room for transfer Cam Coleman.
Livingstone is now on the other end of the Red River Rivalry. Is he leaking secret intel about the Longhorns‘ playbook?
That question was asked to Sooners quarterback John Mateer. The signal caller opened up on discussions had with his new pass catcher.
Texas released Parker Livingstone.
“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,” Steve Sarkisian said in Tampa this week.
“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 today than we were a year ago at this time.”
“Contrary to popular belief, our money isn’t endless.”
-Steve Sarkisian
Livingstone spent two seasons at Texas where he hauled in 29 receptions for 516 yards and six scores. He was quarterback Arch Manning’s roommate in Austin. The two had a connection on and off the field.
Livingstone transferred after a breakout sophomore season. He will now suit up for rival Oklahoma.
“I was a little surprised, but Parker‘s a good guy,” Manning said of the move. “He’s got a good family. Obviously, we were roommates, I so wish him all the best. Can’t say I would have done the same thing, but wish him all the best, expect when we play them.”
Money played a role in his exit. Texas reportedly offered a six-figure deal. Livingstone turned it down in search of a better opportunity. It was a business decision.
While his departure was a shock to Manning, it helped open up room for a new addition.
Cam Coleman is getting paid in Austin.
The former five-star wideout played two years at Auburn. He left after the firing of Hugh Freeze. At the time, his NIL valuation was $1.8 million. It’s now closer to $3 million.
Coleman was the top receiver in the transfer portal this offseason. The Longhorns had to open up the checkbook to land his services.
He has since inked a deal with Nike to bolster his income. He will be one of the highest paid players at his position. Coleman is an upgrade from Parker Livingstone, but will Manning’s former roommate use his knowledge against Texas?
Is Parker Livingstone leaking intel to Oklahoma?
John Mateer represented the Sooners at SEC Media Days this week. He was asked about Livingstone earlier in the week. More specifically, he was asked about conversations had with his new teammate.
“We’ve had conversations, but we haven’t sat him down in a room (to talk Texas),” the quarterback said. “We’ll ask. Everyone is curious, I’m not going to lie… But it’s more like, ‘What’s it like there? How was it?’ and the process of coming here. We’re not grilling him on scheme and stuff like that.”
Mateer says Livingstone hasn’t leaked any intel about the Longhorns. That may change leading into the Red River Rivalry.
Sarkisian was also asked about his former wideout. While he hated to see him walk away, he doesn’t intend to take it easy in the 2026 season.
Steve Sarkisian was asked what it’s going to be like seeing Parker Livingstone on the OU sideline in Dallas.
“I mean I hope we kick his ass. It’s the Red River Rivalry. He chose to go there. He’s on the other side. That’s the way the game goes.” pic.twitter.com/LSDGxW4BjA
— The REF (@KREFsports) July 23, 2026
“I mean I hope we kick his a–,” Sark said on Thursday. “It’s the Red River Rivalry. He chose to go there. He’s on the other side. That’s the way the game goes.”
It will certainly be a talking point when the two teams meet in October. We’ll see if Livingstone’s presence has any impact on the outcome.