Conflicting reports on whether Ed Orgeron is interested in Northwestern job

Update (8 p.m.): Bruce Feldman of The Athletic said that, after speaking with Orgeron, the coach said "there is no truth to the report that he has any interest in the Northwestern coaching job."

With under two months to go before kicking off the 2023 college football season, Northwestern finds itself in the unenviable position of having to scout for a new football coach after parting ways with Pat Fitzgerald, ending his 17 year tenure at the school amid a hazing scandal. Now, according to one new piece of speculation, one man could be interested.

One of the more intriguing names now being connected to the Northwestern job is that of Ed Orgeron, who "would have interest" in taking the position going forward, according to a report from InsideNU.

The report noted that Northwestern has not been in communication with Orgeron about the job as the school has yet to officially begin the search to replace Fitzgerald.

Orgeron has not been seen on a college football sideline since he led the LSU program from 2016 to 2021, including during the Tigers' magical undefeated run to the College Football Playoff national championship in 2019.

LSU and Orgeron came to an agreement for the coach to leave the program after the 2021 football season after consecutive .500 seasons.

Fitzgerald was one of Northwestern's best players in modern history before taking the head coach position in 2006, going on to finish as the Wildcats' winningest coach. But it all came to an end this week when school president Michael Schill fired Fitzgerald for cause after an investigation found hazing in the football program.

(InsideNU)

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | All Teams

Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks