Reports: Texas wouldn’t accept bowl bid invite

Despite the outside chance that the Texas Longhorns could qualify for a bowl bid at 5-7, bowl officials have gotten the word that head coach Tom Herman would decline an invitation if extended, according to the Austin American-Statesman:

Texas fans, meanwhile, should not expect to see the Longhorns in any bowl, even if they get an invitation as the third-highest-ranked 5-7 team in the Academic Progress Rate used to fill final bowl openings. Multiple bowl officials who didn’t want to be identified told the American-Statesman they’ve heard Texas won’t accept a bid.

ESPN confirmed the news later on Friday.

Texas is third in line to qualify due to APR score if the number of six-win teams does not reach the 80 slots necessary to fill the slate.

During new head coach Tom Herman’s introductory press conference on Sunday, president Greg Fenves and athletic director Mike Perrin deferred to Herman on the issue, but Herman hadn’t had time to think about it, either.

He said he would likely sit down with Perrin at the appropriate time.

But with the ‘Horns currently only having four assistant coaches on staff, all of whom are out on the road recruiting until the start of the dead period on December 12, coaching in a bowl game would be extremely difficult and likely counterproductive.

So even though the young team could use the extra 15 practices, it appears that the disappointing 2016 season is all but officially over, regardless of what happens on Saturday.