Texas head coach Tom Herman was not included in the rankings of the top 25 Power Five college football coaches.
CBS Sports college football writers recently voted on their top coaches heading into the 2020 season. Although Herman did not crack the top 25, he did land at No. 28 overall. More shockingly, four other Big 12 coaches were ranked ahead of him.
While to some it may seem too low, it’s a realistic placing considering the lack of success Herman has had with highly-rated recruiting classes. Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports reiterated that his roster is capable of producing more.
“Texas failed to live up to dreams and expectations in 2019, and Herman’s ranking suffered for it. He dropped 11 spots down to No. 28, and it’s hard to argue with the results. I kept Herman at No. 25 because I know what his teams are capable of accomplishing. In my eyes, the problem is that his teams lack the kind of consistency needed to enter the elite tier. If that problem gets solved, Herman could be at the head of a juggernaut.”
Consistency and player development has been the Achilles heel of the Texas football program. While the squad that Herman has led has featured numerous young athletes, many thought the Longhorns would take a step forward in 2019. If anything, they took a step back with a few inexcusable losses.
Herman now has his back against the wall. If the new hires of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and defensive coordinator Chris Ash prove to be successful transitions, Herman could easily land on the top 25 list next year.
Take a look at the top 25 rankings below.
25) Matt Campbell – Iowa State
24) Mario Cristobal – Oregon
23) Bronco Mendenhall – Virginia
22) Mark Stoops – Kentucky
21) Pat Fitzgerald – Northwestern
20) Mack Brown – North Carolina
19) David Shaw – Stanford
18) Gus Malzahn – Auburn
17) Paul Chryst – Wisconsin
16) Gary Patterson – TCU
15) P.J. Fleck – Minnesota
14) Kirk Ferentz – Iowa
13) Mike Gundy – Oklahoma State
12) Jim Harbaugh – Michigan
11) Kyle Whittingham – Utah
10) Ryan Day – Ohio State
9) James Franklin – Penn State
8) Dan Mullen – Florida
7) Jimbo Fisher – Texas A&M
6) Kirby Smart – Georgia
5) Brian Kelly – Notre Dame
4) Ed Orgeron – LSU
3) Lincoln Riley – Oklahoma
2) Dabo Swinney – Clemson
1) Nick Saban – Alabama