Tom Herman and Texas Longhorns Suffer Brutal Loss of Offensive Leader with Gruesome Injury

Tom Herman came into the Kansas State game feeling the heat. After a disappointing loss last weekend in Austin to Iowa State, ending the Texas Longhorns‘ shot at a Big 12 title, the rumors about Herman’s future at Texas have only intensified. On Saturday in Manhattan, Kansas, the Longhorns were in the midst of easily their best offensive performance of the season, when 2020 hit with a vengeance and the Texas offense lost one of its veteran leaders to a gruesome injury.

Senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger was the unquestioned field leader for Tom Herman and the Texas Longhorns coming into the 2020 season. Ehlinger and the Texas offense have had some highlight moments throughout the season, including their 69-point output in Manhattan against Kansas State. However, the Longhorns offense has struggled at some inopportune times with mental mistakes and turnovers.

The Texas defense has also been consistently inconsistent this season, surrendering 30 or more points to four out of the first five Big 12 opposing offenses. In the last five weeks, the Longhorn D has improved and given up 30 points just twice.

Following the Texas Longhorns’ 23-20 loss to Iowa State, ending any hopes for the Longhorns and a chance at a Big 12 Championship, starting offensive lineman Sam Cosmi announced he was opting out for the final two games of the season.

Cosmi’s move came as a surprise to many Longhorn fans. While it’s not uncommon for players to opt out after the regular season and before the bowl game, it’s not often players depart with multiple games remaining on the regular-season schedule.

Then it happened again. Veteran safety Caden Sterns announced he was also not playing in the final two games. Both top players departing sent a concerning message to Burnt Orange Nation and head coach Tom Herman. In the players’ eyes, team was now second in the list of priorities.