Earlier this season, Utah State nearly pulled an upset over Wisconsin in Madison. Perhaps sooner rather than later, the Aggies’ coach could be leading the Badgers. Maybe.
Per reports from Sports Illustrated, ESPN and the Wisconsin State-Journal, USU coach Gary Andersen has spoken with Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez for the position left vacant by Bret Bielema, who left earlier this month to take the Arkansas job.
Andersen led Utah State to an 11-2 record this season with a win over Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Only five points -- a 16-14 loss to Wisconsin and a 6-3 loss to BYU -- separates the Aggies from an undefeated season. Andersen is 27-24 in four years with USU. He signed an extension with the university earlier this year that would take him through 2018.
Jacksonville Jaguars assistant Mel Tucker is also considered to be a frontrunner for the job even though he said he was not interested in the job last week “at the time.” Oregon State coach Mike Riley and Miami coach Al Golden have also declined interest in the job.
Alvarez will coach the Badgers in the Rose Bowl, but has said he has no interest in returning to the sidelines as the team’s coach in 2013.
Updated 12/19 8:30 a.m. ET: Both ESPN and the Associated Press are among the outlets reporting that Gary Andersen will in fact be Wisconsin’s new head coach. An announcement likely won’t be made until Thursday.