Big 12 Football: Week 13 Power Rankings

7. Texas Longhorns (Record: 5-7)

Unfortunately for the Texas Longhorns, a 31-9 loss at home against TCU was enough to overshadow a monumental day for running back D’Onta Foreman, as it was essentially the funeral for Charlie Strong’s coaching career with the Longhorns.

It was rumored that after a botched public relations job by the Texas administration, Coach Strong would have another shot at staying through 2017 if he was able to win against the Horned Frogs. All the weapons were certainly there, however, nothing the Longhorns seemed to put together on Saturday was effective in putting points on the board. It’s one thing for players to show up at a press conference and show their support for their head coach, but it’s quite another to show up on the field where it matters and play like your coaches’ jobs are on the line. Texas players failed to do that, and unfortunately, its bowl season is now up for Coach Tom Herman to decide on.

Foreman joined Ricky Williams as the only players in the history of Texas Longhorns’ football to amass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season. On the flip side of that accomplishment, the 2017 Texas Longhorns also became the first team to post three consecutive seasons since its four-season skid from 1935-38.

Regardless of what Foreman does in terms of a draft decision, Texas returns several key players in 2017 including quarterback Shane Buechele, who should be effective in the type of offense Herman runs.