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For the last two weeks, Tom Herman talked about his team's Big 12 title hopes being "on the ropes". 

This past Saturday Iowa State all but delivered the knockout blow, leaving Texas' path to a potential title game bid near the edge of the realm of possibility with two games remaining in the season. 

Without an extra game, Texas also can't equal its win total of a year ago. 

Locked into a single-digit win season and little to no shot at a Big 12 title, can Texas embrace a spoiler role this coming week against Baylor?

A win over the Bears would not only deal a major blow to what has been a successful season in Waco, it would all but end rival Oklahoma's thin shot at a College Football Playoff bid. A loss to Baylor could knock the Longhorns into a pool with three to four other teams vying for a decent bowl bid at the end of the season. 

While one could criticize many things about this year's Texas team, nobody in their right mind would disparage the team's desire and effort level. Could that change now that the likely highest ceiling for the team is the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio?

Whether Herman and his staff are able to keep his team enaged and giving the level of effort we've seen from the team all season will make a big difference in just how uncomfortable this offseason could possibly get in Austin for the head coach and his assistants.