Regardless of the speculation surrounding Urban Meyer and current Texas head coach Tom Herman’s future in Austin, there’s still a game to focus on this week.
Texas travels to Kansas State on Dec. 5. As far as we know, Herman will remain the leader through the end of the season. His squad is hoping to turn things around after a heartbreaking, last-second loss to Iowa State last week.
Recording a win against Kansas State and Kansas to close out the season would certainly bode well for Herman’s outlook. However, it appears little too late to right the ship.
After Texas was knocked out from Big 12 title contention last week, it felt as if the entire program was deflated. Two star players — left tackle Samuel Cosmi and safety Caden Sterns — chose to opt out of the remainder of the season.
Is there still fight left among these players?
According to USA TODAY Sports, the Texas vs. Kansas State matchup presents one of the biggest questions in college football for Week 14.
“Last week’s loss to Iowa State that ended any realistic hope of making the Big 12 championship game has raised the heat on the Longhorns coach. Herman is 30-18 with two games left in his fourth season at the school and he’s facing questions about his future. A loss Saturday at Kansas State could prove a tipping point. The situation isn’t helped by two of the best players for Texas opting out this week. On the positive side, the Wildcats have lost four in a row and present Texas an opportunity to bounce back quickly. The Longhorns just have to go out and win it or change is likely coming in Austin.”
However, that coaching decision has likely already been made considering the losses to TCU, Oklahoma and Iowa State this season. The biggest game of Herman’s tenure was actually last week against Iowa State.
The only realistic way that Herman would have been able to remove the target off of his back was if he was able to win the Big 12 title. That’s clearly out of the picture and there isn’t much to play for anymore.
Whether or not three-time national championship winning coach Urban Meyer will come to the Forty Acres is the only question mark surrounding the Texas football program right now.