AUBURN, Ala. — More than a week has passed since Auburn began its search for the next head football coach.
Now that bowl pairings are finalized, it’s time to take a look at where the principal candidates – at least based on rumored and reported interest – are heading with their current schools. It is presumed that if Auburn hires an active head coach (Bobby Petrino is currently unemployed), that coach would join Auburn immediately and forego his current team’s postseason preparation.
It’s worth noting four of the five currently-working coaches on Auburn’s likely short list won conference championships this season, and three are preparing for BCS bowls.
Coaches are solely ordered chronologically by the date of their bowl.
GARY PATTERSON
TCU (7-5) vs. Michigan State
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (Tempe, Ariz.) ~ Dec. 29, 10:15 p.m. ET ESPN
JIMBO FISHER
No. 12 Florida State (11-2) vs. No. 15 Northern Illinois
Orange Bowl (Miami, Fla.) ~ Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. ESPN
CHARLIE STRONG
No. 21 Louisville (10-2) vs. No. 3 Florida
Sugar Bowl (New Orleans) ~ Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m. ESPN
GUS MALZAHN
Arkansas State (9-3) vs. No. 25 Kent State
GoDaddy.com Bowl (Mobile, Ala.) ~ Jan. 6, 9 p.m. ESPN
KIRBY SMART
No. 1 Alabama (12-1) vs. No. 2 Notre Dame
BCS National Championship (Miami, Fla.) ~ Jan. 7, 8:30 p.m. ESPN