A single flip from Easton Royal sent a ripple through the 2027 recruiting rankings, and Texas felt it most.
Royal, the No. 1 wide receiver in the class, was once committed to the Longhorns and stood as their top-ranked pledge. But after rumors that LSU could be the landing spot, he made a different move and committed to Florida instead on Oct.
- That decision pushed Texas down in the Rivals rankings, from No. 6 to No. 9 in mid-October.
The Longhorns still have a loaded group. They have 21 commitments, including five-star offensive guard Ismael Camara and 12 four-stars. Even so, losing Royal was enough to knock them back in the national picture.
Florida, meanwhile, got a much-needed lift. The Gators were sitting at No. 8, behind Texas and Oklahoma, but Royal’s flip helped move them up to No.
- Their class now includes 26 commitments, along with Maxwell Hiller, the No. 1 interior blocker in America.
At the top, Texas A&M remains out front with the nation’s best class. The Aggies’ haul includes five five-stars and a composite score of 93.915.
Notre Dame has surged to No. 2 thanks to a deep, highly rated group, while Miami sits third. Oregon is fourth, followed by Florida.
Behind them come Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech, showing just how crowded the race still is among the sport’s biggest brands and most aggressive movers.
The SEC still has a strong grip on the top 10, with Texas A&M, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, and LSU all represented. The Big Ten also stays well in the mix through Oregon, Ohio State, and Michigan, while Texas Tech’s spot underscores the Big 12’s ability to land elite talent.
None of these rankings are close to final. Player evaluations will keep shifting as more film comes in, and the early December signing period is expected to bring more flips, late pledges, and movement throughout the board.
For Texas, the slide is the kind of reminder recruiting always delivers at the top level: the margins are thin, and one big decision can change the entire picture.
In Other News...
Sarkisian's Latest Officiating Frustration Will Fire Up Texas Fans
Steve Sarkisian had plenty to say after Texas took a hit in the loss to Oklahoma, and one of his sharpest complaints centered on a pass-interference flag against cornerback Kade Phillips. Sarkisian said Phillips made a good play on the ball, a reaction that fit with the larger frustration around a Longhorns secondary that has been living with these calls all season.
Phillips has been flagged for pass interference three times this season, and senior cornerback Bo Mascoe has drawn two more, which only adds to the sense around the program that the balance of those calls has not gone Texas way. Sarkisian also pointed to the broader issue of the Longhorns not getting similar breaks in their favor, a grievance that is likely to resonate with a fan base already looking for reasons to feel the officiating has been working against them. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Suddenly Has A Draft Question Texas Fans Didn't Expect
Arch Manning has spent this season under a spotlight that seems to grow brighter by the week, and his name is already being pulled into 2027 draft conversation despite being in the middle of his Texas run. The numbers have been solid enough to keep the noise going, with a 63-percent completion rate, 1,122 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions through five games, but the bigger picture has always been about how much more football he wants to play before making the leap.
So when NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay left Manning out of his top 10 quarterbacks for the 2027 draft, it added a twist Texas fans probably did not see coming. The omission does not settle the question of whether Manning will eventually declare or choose to stay for a fifth college season, but it does underscore how early and unsettled the discussion already is around his future. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Must Fix One Offensive Problem Around Arch Manning Fast
Texas offensive issues have been hard to ignore, and the loss to Oklahoma only sharpened the focus on a bigger concern around Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisians attack. The Longhorns have flashed enough talent to suggest the ceiling is still high, but the rhythm has been uneven, and the overall approach has at times felt too easy for defenses to read.
Sarkisian has already pointed to the need to branch out beyond 10 personnel and keep opponents from anticipating what comes next. That makes the development of pieces like Cam Coleman, along with freshmen Jermaine Bishop Jr. and Derrek Cooper, especially relevant as Texas looks for more variety and more answers before the offense gets boxed into the same looks again. [Read more 🡒]