According to BearcatReport, Cincinnati is in contract negotiations to make Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell its next head coach.
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That differs from an ESPN report:
Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell and Cincinnati have spoken but no contract negotiations are under way, sources tell ESPN.
— . (@ESPNRittenberg) December 9, 2016
Fickell, just 42 years old, has spent the last 12 seasons as a defensive coordinator or co-coordinator and was named one of the nation's top recruiters in 2012.
Fickell served as Ohio State's interim head coach between Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer.
Cincinnati parted ways with Tommy Tuberville after a disappointing 4-8 season in his fourth year. The Bearcats may now be scrambling to find a new head coach, as potential candidates Jeff Brohm and Matt Rhule have already taken new jobs at Purdue and Baylor, respectively. Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck has also reportedly turned down the position.
Ohio State's other defensive coordinator, Greg Schiano, is also reportedly a major candidate for the South Florida head coaching job.
If Fickell lands the job, there's currently no word on whether he'd coach Ohio State's College Football Playoff game against Clemson.
