Orgeron v Herman: biggest game of their careers?

Yes I know the players play the game, not the coaches, but there are some undeniable subplots to the LSU/Texas game involving the head coaches. Neither coach is really on the hot seat, but whichever coach loses this game has a seat that got got warmer.

Herman and Orgeron will forever be linked in that it was Herman spurning LSU that got Orgeron the LSU job. But it wasn't just Herman turning LSU down, it was the way he did it that makes the showdown that much more personal.

It's certainly fair game for a coach looking for a job to leverage offers from different teams to get the most money. Herman crossed that line. He led LSU and Alleva to believe the deal was done. The silver ling in his deception for some might be that the wheels to get rid of Alleva started turning in earnest with the egg Alleva got on his face when Herman screwed him (and LSU fans).

Most outsiders saw the Orgeron hiring as a response to LSU losing Herman without a plan B in place. Texas got their man, LSU settled for Orgeron.

As things turned out last year, and even most Orgeron critics would agree, Orgeron's LSU team looked every bit as good as Herman's Texas team last year. Texas fans were ready to run Herman after his opening loss to Maryland last year. LSU fans and Texas fans are not known for their patience.

So who did get the better coach, Texas or LSU? Certainly that cannot be answered by the outcome of one game in September. Or can it? Football fans and the media can be amazingly reactionary. A broad segment of the fan base and media for both teams will view the outcome of this game as a referendum on the coaches. It comes with the territory of coaching schools like Texas and LSU.

And that's fair to a certain extent. These are both talented teams. Both coaches have had a year to put their staff and playbooks together. Both coaches have had the entire off-season to gameplan for this game. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know the coachspeak, Texas is only thinking about La Tech and LSU Georgia Southern.

Hogwash. These coaches have been thinking about this game the day after the 2018 season ended for them. Its about bragging rights for the SEC/Big 12. Its about recruiting. Its about revenge for the way Herman screwed LSU. Its about affirmation for Orgeron, that he was the better choice all along.

Its a big game, no matter how anyone may try to downplay it. I think with Herman getting the big money and Texas playing at home, the pressure is more on him. Orgeron still has many doubters and many others on the fence. Beating Texas at Texas with all that is on the line would be the biggest win of his head coaching career.

The margin for error in college football today is one. Lose two games and you are probably out of the national championship conversation. I think this is the biggest game of both of these coach's careers to date. And there really can be no excuses. No one will want to hear it. The pressure is on.