Big 12 Report: Texas leaves Charlie Strong in limbo

A bizarre scene is unfolding at Texas.

The Longhorns have reportedly decided to fire coach Charlie Strong following the team’s shocking loss to Kansas over the weekend, but no formal announcement has been made about Strong’s future. He held his weekly news conference on Monday and brushed aside questions about his job status then walked away from the podium to an applauding group of players that came out to support him.

“I want to come back,” Strong said. “The program is going in the right direction.”

Strong will coach Texas in its regular-season finale against TCU on Friday with bowl eligibility and, possibly, his future on the line.

“I would like to think winning that game will help,” Strong said.

It seems unlikely Strong will return for a fourth season, no matter what transpires against the Horned Frogs. He is 16-20 with the Longhorns and didn’t guide the team to a winning record in any of his first three seasons. Many believed Strong would have saved his job by beating Kansas and TCU to finish 7-5, but his fate was all but sealed Saturday in Lawrence.

Kansas had lost 19 straight games against Big 12 opponents and hadn’t defeated Texas since 1938. The Longhorns were 24-point favorites and led by 11 in the fourth quarter.

That’s not a game you can lose at Texas and hope to continue on as coach.

His dismissal seems like a forgone conclusion. Reports surfaced before the KU loss that indicated Texas boosters were putting major pressure on the athletic department to part ways with Strong and to hire Houston’s Tom Herman.

But it is odd the school seems set on waiting until after the season to terminate his contract or to give him a vote of confidence.

Texas players have thrown their support behind Strong on social media, and it’s possible fans will greet him warmly at the TCU game the way LSU fans rallied around Les Miles when it appeared the Tigers were set to fire him at the conclusion of last season. Miles won the final regular-season game of 2015 and saved his job.

Strong will also get to a coach a game while he sits in limbo.

For all the marbles

Who says the Big 12 championship game won’t return until next season?

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will meet on Dec. 3 in Norman with a conference title on the line.

The Sooners (9-2, 8-0 Big 12) are one win away from completing an undefeated march through league play. The Cowboys (9-2, 7-1) haven’t lost since a September visit to Baylor and can claim a trophy with one more win.

It’s Bedlam for all the marbles.

Whoever wins will also be in playoff mix. Oklahoma, up to No. 7 in the latest AP top 25, is one of the nation’s hottest teams. Oklahoma State has a unique argument for playoff inclusion, as one of its two losses would have been a win if not for officials allowing an illegal final play from Central Michigan to stand.

“We review everything else in football, why can’t we review that a game was over?” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “I think the committee sees us as a one-loss team, in my opinion. I’m just not sure that’s something they can admit publicly.”

Power rankings

1. Oklahoma (9-2, 8-0 Big 12): Can win the Big 12 and maybe reach the playoff with one more win.

2. Oklahoma State (9-2, 7-1): Another win mixed with the right kind of campaigning could put Cowboys in playoff mix.

3. West Virginia (8-2, 5-2): Undefeated against teams outside Oklahoma.

4. Kansas State (6-4, 4-3): Alex Barnes adds new dynamic to K-State’s offense.

5. TCU (5-5, 3-4): Disappointing season for the Frogs given what they returned from last season.

6. Iowa State (3-8, 2-6): Cyclones have won two in a row and just beat Texas Tech 66-10. No, that is not a typo.

7. Kansas (2-9, 1-7): Jayhawks ended a lengthy losing streak to FBS and Big 12 foes by beating Texas.

8. Texas (5-6, 3-5): Charlie Strong is a good man, but his team isn’t very good.

9. Baylor (6-4, 3-4): Season can’t end fast enough in Waco.

10. Texas Tech (4-7, 2-6): Red Raiders have wasted a season with a truly elite quarterback.

This story was originally published November 21, 2016 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Big 12 Report: Texas leaves Charlie Strong in limbo."