Houston head coach Tom Herman is no longer a candidate to be the football coach at South Carolina, multiple sources have told Yahoo Sports.

Tom Herman is 10-1 this season at Houston. (AP) More

Herman had been the school's top choice to replace Steve Spurrier, sources said, and third-party discussions had been extensive. But Herman has withdrawn his name from consideration, according to sources.

A salary raise to $3 million a year was approved for Herman last week at Houston, where the Cougars are 10-1 in his first year on the job after a successful stint as offensive coordinator at Ohio State. Herman could still be a candidate for other jobs, but the option of staying at Houston – with a loaded team for 2016 – appears to be a growing possibility.

South Carolina's Plan B could be Kirby Smart, the Alabama defensive coordinator. Smart has rebuffed other head-coaching opportunities to stay with Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa since 2007.

However, Smart also is a Georgia graduate, and if embattled coach Mark Richt leaves or is fired, it could create another opening that could attract Smart.