This isn’t the news many South Carolina fans wanted to hear before the holiday and Saturday’s finale against Clemson.

College football insider Pat Forde is reporting that Houston coach Tom Herman, long rumored the front-runner with a contract in place with the Gamecocks, is no longer a candidate to become South Carolina’s next head coach.

Citing sources, Forde says that Herman has withdrawn his name despite “extensive third-party discussions” with South Carolina. Various reports indicated Herman was the Gamecocks’ top choice to succeed Steve Spurrier.

Forde’s story coincides with an earlier Wednesday report indicating that Alabama’s Kirby Smart is the new front-runner in Columbia.