When Tom Herman arrived at the University of Houston in 2015, he came to campus long on credibility and short on head coaching experience. Having just finished a stint as offensive coordinator for the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, Herman was determined to make the Cougars the top program in the nation outside the Power Five conferences. In his first season at the helm, he did just that, leading the Cougars to a 13-1 record and a convincing Peach Bowl victory over Florida State. Equally important, Herman followed that up with the best recruiting class that Houston has seen in decades. Nobody knows what will happen if the right (or wrong, if you're a fan of the Cougars) Power Five school comes calling for Herman's services, but last season he performed his duties at the highest level of any coach in the city, and it wasn't really that close.