Texas football: Longhorns intriguing backup plan if Urban Meyer declines job offer

Texas football wants Urban Meyer but if they can’t coax him out of retirement, they have a backup plan.

Urban Meyer is the top choice to replace Tom Herman as the Texas football coach. He is the top choice, second choice, third choice and they don’t even want to really have to think about a backup plan.

Of course, not having a backup plan is not something they can afford to let happen otherwise they’ll end up looking foolish if Texas is unable to convince Meyer to leave his cushy gig with FOX as well as his role with Ohio State.

That said, while Texas continues the full-court press of the three-time national champ, Texas has set their sights on coaches they will pursue if Meyer decides to stay retired and not take the Texas football job.

Texas football has candidates in mind if they swing and miss on Urban Meyer

According to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, Penn State’s James Franklin and Oregon’s Mario Cristobal are Plan B and Plan C, respectively.

Needless to say if Texas football can’t land Meyer, whoever they do land will be viewed as a massive letdown.

Franklin is embroiled in the worst year of his tenure at Penn State with a 1-5 record after getting a win vs. lowly Michigan last week to avoid an 0-6 start.

Cristobal has fared well in his limited time at Oregon and has recruited at a high level after leaving Alabama where he was the Tide’s offensive line coach.

If Texas does hire either Franklin or Cristobal, it will be one that gives the coaching carousel a significant kick as it will present openings at either Penn State or Oregon which would be highly-attractive jobs in their own right.

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