Ohio State may be down an offensive coordinator as well as its top two quarterbacks when the Buckeyes meet Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. On Monday, news broke that OSU offensive coordinator Tom Herman has accepted the head coaching job at Houston. Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman was the first to report the move.

Houston fired Tony Levine after the team’s 7-5 finish this season. They will reportedly bring in Herman, who has been the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Urban Meyer at Ohio State for the last three seasons. At this point, it is unclear whether Herman will remain with the Buckeyes through the playoffs or who his replacement would be if he does leave.

Herman beat out Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin for the Broyles Award last week, given to the nation’s top assistant coach. He was at the helm of an offense that was fourth in the country in scoring (45.2 points per game) and eighth in total offense (507.6 yards per game) despite losing quarterback Braxton Miller, a Heisman contender, before the season started.

Related: OSU OC Herman beats out Kiffin, Steckel for Broyles Award

 

Herman plugged in freshman J.T. Barrett, who performed like a Heisman candidate himself before going down with a gruesome injury in the Buckeyes’ regular season finale against Michigan. With just a week to prepare, Herman got sophomore Cardale Jones ready for the Big Ten title game. Jones played well on short notice, leading Ohio State to a 59-0 win over Wisconsin.

Related: Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel takes Missouri State job

Two of the five Broyles Award finalists from this season have now taken head coaching jobs. Over the weekend, former Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel accepted a job as Missouri State’s head coach.