CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 07: Head coach Scott Frost of the UCF Knights looks on against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the second half at Nippert Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Athletic director adds fuel to the rumor mill while talking up college football’s hottest coaching candidate

A new athletic director adds fuel to the fire about an up and coming coach.

When the college football coaching carousel heats up in the next two months, UCF coach Scott Frost will be one of the most sought after coaches in the country.

Frost has already been linked to the job at Florida after the Gators fired Jim McElwain, and he's also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Mike Riley at Nebraska. Riley hasn't been fired, but the Cornhuskers have a new athletic director, and Nebraska has stumbled to a 4-4 start this season.

Related: Odds have dramatically shifted for Florida's next head coach

Frost played at Nebraska under Tom Osborne, and he will be the top coach on their list if they decide to part ways with Riley.

New Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos added fuel to the fire for the Frost rumors during a recent radio interview with college football analyst Nick Bahe, according to Land of 10. Moos praised Frost's coaching ability and said he'd be a Power 5 coach sooner rather than later.

"Of course, he does have the roots here, raised in the state of Nebraska and playing for the icon that Tom Osborne is and a lot of things very positive," Moos said. "Scott is going to be a coach in a Power Five [conference], and probably sooner than later, and he has paid his dues and I've been quite impressed.

"[I have] never really met him, but just watching his work from afar."

Translation: Moos would love to have Scott Frost as Nebraska's next coach.

Frost has UCF at 7-0, and the Golden Knights have one of the most prolific offenses in the country. UCF appears to be the top Group of 5 team at this point in the season, and Frost is only in his second year.

Related: School taking measures to keep rising coach candidate from potential Power 5 job

The 42-year-old Frost inherited a team that went 0-12 in 2015. He led them to a 6-7 season in his first year followed by this season's breakout 7-0 start.

If Frost is targeted by both Florida and Nebraska, it will be intriguing to see if he chooses the Gators over his alma mater. Florida is a better job, but it might be tempting for Frost to try and return his alma mater to glory.

Whatever big programs have openings in the next month or two will likely have Frost atop their list and for good reason.

(h/t College Football Talk)