After months of waiting for the inevitable, the final death knell for the Texas Longhorns’ season sounded Monday. It came as the team’s slim hopes for a bowl game came crashing to earth. 

Sure, there was a bit of hope that Texas could perhaps salvage what’s become another losing campaign by playing in a mediocre, pre-holiday bowl extravaganza. 

It came as the NCAA announced there wouldn’t be enough bowl eligible teams to fill the astounding 80 bowl bids this season. 

That brings us to Texas (4-7), which could very well have had something to play for Saturday as they face a rather wounded Baylor team. 

Ah, but per the usual, the NCAA couldn’t make things that easy. While some 5-7 teams will play in a bowl, Texas, should they improve to 5-7 if they upset Baylor, won’t be one of them. 

To fill up bowl spots, the NCAA turned to its Academic Progress Rate (APR) to help determine which 5-7 teams are worthy of a bowl bid. According to ESPN, that would be done by selecting the five 5-7 teams with the overall highest APR.

According to the NCAA’s website, Texas’ APR for 2013-2014, the most current APR, is 958. Nebraska, Kansas State (which Texas beat), Minnesota, San Jose State, Illinois and Rice have higher APRs than Texas. 

In other words, academics will finally get its chance to shine when it comes to big time college football. 

That will come at the expense of Texas, whose bowl experience this year will probably revolve around the one holding the tortilla chips on Jan. 1. 

But you won’t find many Texas fans crying in their salsa over a missed chance at a bowl game this year. 

After enduring an up-and-down campaign, the Longhorn faithful may be more than eager to throw in the burnt orange towel. 

Texas’ season has been nothing short of disappointing. That stunning win over Oklahoma in October seems like such a long time ago. 

I believe the phrase “even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while” applies. 

But in somewhat total semi-seriousness, this offseason will undoubtedly become one of the most important in the Charlie Strong era. 

After all, the bright sheen that emanated from his historic hiring two years ago has been worn down to a dull glow. 

He’s going to have to find a competent coordinator to lead an offense that’s become rather toothless. Strong should reevaluate a defense that’s been able to find new and exciting ways to underwhelm. 

And then there is special teams. Let’s not talk about that. Too soon, man. Too soon. 

Despite the gloom and doom, Texas has quite a bit of upside heading into next year. Chris Warren III and D’Onta Foreman should team up to create a formidable one-two punch in the backfield. Add in Jerrod Heard and an experienced offensive line, and Texas could very well be (gasp) pretty good on offense. 

Meanwhile, Texas’ defense should revolve around the human wrecking ball that is Malik Jefferson. 

Alas, I must throw in that awful buzzword – potential. 

Texas has the potential to be a great team. But can Strong and his staff meet that potential? 

It’s going to start Saturday, when Texas will probably get steamrolled by Baylor.  

What happens after that will more than likely shape the remainder of Strong’s tenure at Texas. 

And if that doesn’t work out, at least they now sell beer at football games.