The Texas defense will be led in 2017 by either Houston interim coach Todd Orlando or LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, 247Sports continues to be told.

We’re told the ball will soon be in Aranda’s court as he decides whether to continue at LSU on Ed Orgeron’s staff — potentially earning record dollars for a DC — or reuniting with an old friend.

Aranda and new Texas coach Tom Herman were roommates in the 1990s at tiny Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, California. The two were later assistants at different schools in Texas, recruiting the same area. They’ve remained close over the years as they’ve risen up the college football ladder.

A huge part of Orgeron’s pitch to become the full-time head coach at LSU was retaining Aranda, whose defense was No. 7 in scoring (16.4) and No. 17 in yards per play (4.86) in his first season.

Orgeron was “introduced” Saturday afternoon as LSU’s head man. He said during his news conference that he had talked with Aranda earlier in the day and that he “expected” him to stay.

Our sources in Baton Rouge say the school is prepared to pay Aranda as much as $2 million per season to stay put. That number, $2 million, has also been put out there as a possible lure for Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, for whom Orgeron worked at USC.

Some close to LSU believe that the program has more to spend in the assistant budget because it hired Orgeron at $3 million per season instead of spending $6 or $7 million on Herman or FSU’s Jimbo Fisher.

How much Texas would offer Aranda is unclear, but those in Austin believe Aranda’s relationship with Herman could mitigate some of the financial considerations. One source called it an “old friend discount.”

Our LSU insiders have been told that the reserved, cerebral Aranda ultimately covets an NFL defensive coordinator job. So, he would weigh the opportunities accordingly.

The Big 12’s relative weakness presents the chance for more wins and immediate success, perhaps, but those who know Aranda have said for years that he has shied from returning to the conference because of the gaudy offensive numbers put up by more than half the league’s teams.

Aranda was a Texas Tech graduate assistant early in his career before moving west to build his resume.

As for Orlando, we’ve been told in recent weeks that he has become increasingly interested in replacing Herman at Houston. The 44-year-old took a big step toward that Saturday when he was named the program’s interim coach for the team’s bowl game.

In theory, we’re told Herman should know about Aranda’s status before Orlando knows which direction Houston is going.

We’re told that other early candidates at Houston include West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, once a Houston assistant; Cal coach Sonny Dykes, who interviewed for the position two years ago; Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley; Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery; Troy coach Neal Brown; and former LSU coach Les Miles.