Texas has started to narrow their search for Mack Brown's successor, focusing particularly on Vanderbilt's James Franklin, Baylor's Art Briles, Florida State's Jimbo Fisher and Louisville's Charlie Strong, according to a report by The Dallas Morning News.
Fisher, Strong and Briles all received extensions this year, and Franklin got one at the end of 2012. Fisher, Franklin and Strong have more or less denied interest in leaving their current spots.
Briles and Franklin have long been considered two potential names, while Fisher's also appeared on plenty of lists of possible candidates as of late. Strong might seem like a surprise, but he actually topped Bovada's odds of Texas' next coach shortly after Mack Brown left.
Much to the dismay of college football fans who are already tired of the will-they-won't-they drama of Nick Saban and Texas, the Alabama head coach continues to be floated as a name. He also just signed a new deal that will reportedly pay him $7 million per year.
The Longhorns appear to be taking their time with the hire and are not expected to announce anything until after bowl season at the earliest.
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