Steve Sarkisian, Texas Dealt Bad News on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Dec 3, 2025 12:42 PM ET

Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns finished the regular season with a Week 14 win over the Texas A&M Aggies. At 9-3, the Longhorns are still in the mix for a spot in the College Football Playoff, earning the No. 13 spot in the latest rankings.

Even if they don't make it, though, Texas can still achieve a 10-win season, considering it already reached bowl eligibility. Not earning a playoff spot would be a disappointment, though, after the Longhorns entered Week 1 ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25.

Sarkisian has continued to build for the future, though, making several big splashes in the 2026 recruiting class. Wednesday is the first day recruits can sign with programs.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian.Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

That means flips are a common occurrence, and the Longhorns have found themselves on the short end. Rivals' Hayes Fawcett reported on Wednesday that defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland flipped his commitment from Texas to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

"BREAKING: Four-Star DL Vodney Cleveland has Flipped his Commitment from Texas to North Carolina, he tells me for @rivals The 6’3 315 DL had been Committed to the Longhorns since June," Fawcett wrote.

BREAKING: Four-Star DL Vodney Cleveland has Flipped his Commitment from Texas to North Carolina, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’3 315 DL had been Committed to the Longhorns since June⁰⁰“Isaiah 41:10”⁰https://t.co/xfGstpFRM1 pic.twitter.com/MmW9p1pmEn
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 3, 2025

Rivals Industry Rankings place Cleveland as a four-star recruit, the No. 29 defensive lineman and the No. 252 player in the nation.

He becomes the third player in the 2026 cycle to decommit from Texas, joining four-star defensive lineman Dylan Berymon and three-star offensive tackle Max Wright.

His decision isn't a major surprise, as Rivals' Justin Wells previously reported, "After numerous trips to Chapel Hill, Cleveland is trending in that direction."

With Cleveland decommitting, Texas' 2026 cycle still has 24 players, ranking No. 3 in the SEC and No. 7 in the nation. The Longhorns still have three four-star defensive linemen, including James Johnson, Jamarion Carlton and Corey Wells.

Despite the loss, Texas remains firmly in position for a top-10 recruiting class for the fifth straight year under Sarkisian.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: