How close were Houston coach Tom Herman and LSU to making a deal?

According to Gridiron Now, the two sides had an oral agreement in place until Herman backed out.

That Herman went back on his word angered LSU AD Joe Alleva, who then turned to interim head coach Ed Orgeron for the full-time job:

“It wasn’t about money,” the source said. “It wasn’t that Texas offered. It was about a gentleman’s handshake in place and you reneged.”

Herman will be named Texas’s new head coach on Saturday, according to reports, following the firing of Charlie Strong.

LSU and Texas will meet in 2019 and 2020, so this year’s coaching carousel could add more fuel to that matchup’s fire.