Two 'program-changing' 2026 recruits to be in attendance for the Red River Rivalry

Current Texas commits and blue-chip 2026 recruits, RB Derrek Cooper and DB Jermaine Bishop Jr., will officially be on the sidelines for the Longhorns today. They made the announcement earlier in the week, and it was just confirmed by staff.

Cooper, who's currently ranked as the No.1 running back in the 2026 recruiting class, committed to the Longhorns on July 20th and has been in constant contact with the team over the past few months.

The 6'1", 210-pound ball-carrier has been dominant throughout his senior season for Chaminade-Madonna this year, totalling 451 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns through his first 6 games of the season. His uncanny ability to drag defenders for extra yards on a consistent basis has allowed him to average a whopping 8.8 yards per carry as well.

Bishop Jr., the 4th-ranked ATH in the 2026 class, has been committed to Texas since May and figures to be a key addition to the Longhorns' defensive back room next year. Though he's been a shutdown cornerback in high school, he's also been a dominant wide receiver, so it's possible that he could see some time there as well in Austin.

On paper, both of these players look like prototypical Texas recruits based on both size and overall skillset. Cooper can affect the game as both a ball-carrier and pass-catcher out of the backfield, and Bishop Jr. can shut down opposing receivers with ease in either the slot or outside.

The fact that both of these players will be in attendance today at the Cotton Bowl puts even more pressure on the Longhorns to upset the Sooners.