AUSTIN — On Monday, Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning was prepared for the inevitable question about Saturday’s Red River Rivalry matchup against his former roommate Parker Livingstone, the fan favorite who took a heel turn when he transferred from the Forty Acres to the Oklahoma Sooners this offseason.
“It’s going to be different. Obviously, being roommates and best friends, now he’s at a different school, but I’m not going to think anything of it. We’re going to try to go beat OU and win
the game, and then I’ll say what’s up to him after,” Manning said.
“Maybe,” the Texas quarterback deadpanned.
The matter-of-fact statement by Manning stood in contrast to Livingstone’s departure and subsequent controversies.
After recording 29 catches for 516 yards and six touchdowns for the Horns in 2025, Livingstone unexpectedly entered the portal when it opened, declaring, “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.”
Livingstone’s statement sparked a source-off with the Texas side indicating that the Horns offered the 6’4, 191-pounder a “mid-six figure NIL/rev share deal” before signing with the Sooners over the Hoosiers for $800,000, according to a report from the Houston Chronicle.
That turned into a war of words started with Livingstone during the spring.
“When I was at Texas, I wanted to go and beat the crap outta OU. Now that I’m at OU, I want to go there and beat the crap outta Texas,” Livingstone said.
At SEC Media Days, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian weighed in on seeing his former player on the other side of the field in Dallas.
“I hope we kick his ass,” Sarkisian said. “It’s the Red River Rivalry. He chose to go there. He’s on the other side. That’s the way the game goes.”
The list of players who have transferred between the two program is a short one, although the recent history is significant, including quarterback Casey Thompson landing at his father’s alma mater after stints at Texas, Nebraska, and Florida Atlantic, and wide receiver Brenen Thompson leaving Austin for Norman before finding success at Mississippi State.
But the former Longhorns passer didn’t appear in any games for the Sooners and the pass catcher played a limited role in OU’s 2023 win over Texas, catching three passes for 19 yards.
If Livingstone bucks that trend by making an impact against Texas, it will be his first impact performance for Oklahoma — in 73 snaps over four games, the Lucas Lovejoy product has just five catches for 51 yards, fumbling once and notching a long reception of 17 yards.
