Every week, college football insider Shehan Jeyarajah will come to you with a roundup of everything he thinks – and things he thinks he thinks right now – about college football in Texas this week. 

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Three Things I Know

1. Baylor needs a splash

We’re officially coming up on a week since Matt Rhule left Baylor for the Carolina Panthers job. Athletic director Mack Rhoades was aware that Rhule’s departure was a possibility, but the Bears are in the midst of an almost silent process. 

The longer this wears on, the less likely that Baylor goes with an internal candidate. Likely losing defensive coordinator Phil Snow and linebackers coach Mike Siravo makes promoting from within more difficult. However, all options remain on the table. 

Regardless of what direction Baylor goes, Rhoades needs to draw attention. Baylor is in a tenuous position now heading into its fourth coach in six years. The next guy has to be someone who can continue to sell Baylor as a top destination and a place that can win at the highest levels. Matt Rhule proved it could be done – the next hire has to cement it. 

2. Houston’s 2020 upside is gone

When D’Eriq King opted to redshirt after four games, there was a risk that he could leave. Yesterday during the national title game, that came to fruition as King announced that he was entering the transfer portal. 

To be clear, entering the transfer portal simply means that schools can contact him. It’s not a commitment by any means. But still, it’s hard to see him returning to campus. 

Suddenly, King’s redshirt looks less like a genius Holgorsen maneuver and more like the best player in a program being dissatisfied. There’s still upside at Houston in 2020 with a host of transfer players eligible, but losing King and turning the program over to Clayton Tune full time makes for an underwhelming situation. 

3. Tarleton will have a tough entrance to Division-I

Transitioning levels of college football is tremendously difficult, as many programs from across the state can attest. Tarleton is better prepared than most to do it, but its first schedule proves that the Texans will have at least a few “welcome to the big time” moments. 

The Texans open against Sam Houston State and elite head coach K.C. Keeler. No. 8 Kennesaw State is on the schedule later in the year, along with perennial title contender South Dakota State. 

There are a handful of Division-II teams on the schedule that should provide some wins, but Tarleton won’t even be eligible to compete in postseason play for four seasons. It should pay off in the end, but the transition will still be brutal for Tarleton for the next several years. 

Three Things I Think I Know

1. Jacob Peeler will help at Texas State

Jake Spavital saw his receivers struggle last year and promptly hired the receivers coach that developed DK Metcalf and A.J. Brown to run his offense. 

Hutch White was the only receiver at Texas State with more than 30 receptions or 400 receiving yards. That won’t cut it in Spavital’s air raid offense. However, there’s still plenty of talent on campus, and it’ll get helped with JUCO transfers at wide receiver, running back and tackle. 

Spavital has announced that he will take over play calling responsibilities in 2020. However, Peeler’s second eye on the offense should make a difference. If he’s able to get anything out of the wideouts, especially, that’ll be the most important role he can have. 

2. Tom Herman has a short leash in 2020

Texas opted to go for the instant rebuild of its coaching staff. Already, the Longhorns have two new coordinators, a new cornerbacks coach, a new linebackers coach and a new wide receivers coach. A new running backs coach could be on the horizon if Stan Drayton leaves for the Cowboys. 

Heading into year four, there’s somewhat of a hard reset at Texas. With Todd Orlando and Tim Beck gone, all the pressure now falls on Tom Herman’s head. WIth a star senior quarterback in Sam Ehlinger, just improving won’t be good enough. 

To be confident that Herman will get a year five, Texas has to get back to the Big 12 championship game. This was his chance to point fingers at assistants. He won’t get that chance next year. Peaking in year two isn’t going to cut it.

3. Todd Orlando has lots of good coaching left

A year ago, we were praising Todd Orlando for building up Texas’ defense and helping the Longhorns go to the Big 12 championship game. Even though his unit struggled because of injuries, he remains a solid coach and recruiter. 

Landing at Texas Tech is a tremendous fit for both sides. He’ll take on more of a program-wide role, which will be good for his development as a program manager, and should help mentor the most important spot on Keith Patterson’s defense: linebackers. 

Perhaps even more importantly, getting Orlando back on staff is a huge boon for Matt Wells. Orlando unquestionably had other offers at Power Five schools. It’s not like he’s a Texas native, either. Orlando wanting to work with and learn from Wells again after years apart is a major endorsement, and a much-needed one for a program coming off 4-8.