Tom Herman better lead Texas to Big 12 title or he could be out

How hot is the seat under Texas football coach Tom Herman?

The Texas Longhorns have struggled throughout the past decade to live up to expectations. No matter that every time the team picks up a big win, the refrain in Austin is “Texas is back.” In 2018, the team’s second year under head coach Tom Herman, it appeared that might finally be the case.

The Longhorns went 10-4, reaching the Big 12 championship, and expectations were as high as ever in 2019. However, Texas regressed the following season, going 8-5, and Herman’s seat warmed up a bit.

After Charlie Strong lasted just two seasons as the Longhorns’ head coach, Herman may have a reason for concern. He is entering his fourth season with the team, and has a talented, albeit underperforming, roster headlined by highly-touted quarterback Sam Ehlinger.

Is Tom Herman really in danger of losing his job at Texas?

With former Oklahoma Sooners stars Jalen Hurts and CeeDee Lamb off to the NFL, the door appears to be open for the Longhorns to claim a conference title. The Sooners have won the last five Big 12 titles, but Texas is not far behind talent-wise. Oklahoma State appears likely to end up as an also-ran, especially considering some offseason turmoil in the locker room.

A strong regular season and win over the Sooners in the Big 12 championship could mean a College Football Playoff appearance and long-term job security for Herman. However, the alternative is deeply concerning for the fourth-year head coach.

If Texas disappoints in the regular season, as it frequently has in recent years, Herman could be gone before year’s end. CBS Sports writer Dennis Dodd ranked Herman as a 4 on his 0-5 hot seat scale, meaning that the coach must “start improving now.”

For Herman and Texas, that likely means a top-10 finish in the rankings at the very least. The athletic department expects excellence from its team, and the Longhorns simply have not delivered in the past decade.

Herman could absolutely keep his job past 2020, but the only way it happens is if “Texas is back” rings true at the end of the season.

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