Micah Rhodes picked a brutal moment to make his move.
Just two days before Oklahoma and Texas square off in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday, the 2028 four-star running back announced just after midnight on Thursday that he was committing to the Longhorns. It also happened to be his birthday, which gives the timing a coincidence label - even if it won’t feel that way in Norman.
Committed to The University of Texas #HookEm
- Micah Rhodes (@themicahrhodes) October 8, 2026
For Oklahoma, the flip lands like a double shot to the ribs if the Sooners can’t beat Texas. Rhodes had originally been the first addition to OU’s 2028 class back in January, and he made that commitment loudly, appearing on Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson’s “Night Cap” podcast to announce it.
Thank you for having me! #BoomerSooner https://t.co/vs3mkZX3uq
- Micah Rhodes (@themicahrhodes) January 30, 2026
That pledge didn’t last long. It held for 62 days before his decommitment surfaced on April Fools’ Day, and by then the surprise was already wearing off.
Rhodes had made it clear that former Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray was the big reason he wanted to be a Sooner, so once Murray left about a month later for the same job with the Kansas City Chiefs, the trail to Austin was easy to follow. Rhodes even reacted to Murray’s departure on social media right after it happened.
😔😔😔
- Micah Rhodes (@themicahrhodes) February 12, 2026
The 247Sports Composite lists Rhodes as the No. 12 running back in the 2028 class and the No. 166 overall player. He’s a four-star recruit from Klein Oak High School and the No. 20 prospect in Texas. As a sophomore last season, he rushed for 1,309 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he was a MaxPreps Freshman All-America selection in 2024.
The path away from Oklahoma got even clearer when Rhodes visited Texas during the spring, the weekend before his decommitment became public. Two days after that decommitment, multiple reports had the Longhorns as the favorites to land him. The final announcement just put a bow on what had already been building.
Oklahoma has since moved on to Deland McCullough, who arrived after a season with the Las Vegas Raiders and a previous stop at Notre Dame. McCullough has already started working the 2028 board, including an offer to top running back Kevin Hartsfield about a month after Rhodes backed out.
The Sooners still haven’t landed a 2028 back to replace Rhodes, but another Texas name is trending their way. Jayshawn Mitchell of San Antonio Brennan High School is the target to watch, with Rivals national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman predicting in July that he would end up at Oklahoma.
Mitchell is ranked even higher than Rhodes, checking in as the No. 8 running back, No. 113 overall player and No. 12 prospect in Texas. Texas is also on his list, though Rhodes’ commitment to the Longhorns may have helped trim that option down. Mitchell will be in Austin next weekend, but he’s also scheduled to visit Georgia last weekend and Ohio State on Saturday, before coming to Norman on Oct. 31 for Oklahoma’s game against South Carolina.
That means the Sooners will get the last shot to make an impression.
Rhodes’ flip hurts now, but Oklahoma may end up replacing him the same way it replaced Murray - by moving on quickly and finding a better fit on the board.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Faces A Red River Concern Fans Already Feared
Oklahoma heads into the Red River matchup with a defense that could get a boost from a couple of returning pieces, but the more immediate concern is on the other side of the ball. The Sooners are working through injury issues along the offensive line and at running back, and that combination can shape everything from protection to play-calling in a game where margin for error is already slim.
Michael Fasusi is doubtful, Eddy Pierre-Louis is questionable and Xavier Robinson is out, leaving Oklahoma to sort through a patchwork situation at key spots before facing Texas. There are several other availability questions on the report as well, while Texas enters with fewer players listed as unavailable, which only sharpens the concern for a Sooners offense that would prefer far cleaner health heading into one of the season's biggest tests. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Receiver Frustration Just Took Another Hit Before Texas
A week before the Red River showdown, Oklahoma added another wrinkle to a wide receiver room that has already been under scrutiny. Freshman Jahsiear Rogers has been dismissed from the football program, according to an OU spokesperson, and he has already been removed from the teams online roster. Rogers had not carved out a major role this season, but he arrived with the kind of recruiting profile that made him an intriguing long-term piece for the Sooners.
For a passing attack trying to find more consistency, losing a young receiver who once looked like a possible building block is another reminder of how much turnover can shape a season. The Sooners are now moving toward Texas with less depth and one fewer developmental option at a position that has been watched closely all fall. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Offensive Line Faces Growing Heat Before Red River
With the Red River rivalry looming, Oklahomas offensive line has become a talking point for reasons the Sooners would rather avoid. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables took a public shot at the units inconsistency and its development under line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, putting a spotlight on a group that has already dealt with plenty of turnover and instability.
Venables pointed to the transfer portal and injuries to key linemen as part of the problem, two issues that have made it harder for the group to settle in and build cohesion. Even with the frustration, he still sounded encouraged about what the line could become if Oklahoma can hold on to its young talent, leaving the bigger question centered on whether that growth can arrive soon enough. [Read more 🡒]