Report: Lane Kiffin 'Not in the Mix' for Oregon HC Job After New Ole Miss Contract
Dec 9, 2021
OXFORD, MS - NOVEMBER 06: Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin talks to wide receiver Dontario Drummond (11) prior to a college football game against the Liberty Flames on Nov. 6, 2021 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, MS. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin is "not in the mix" for Oregon's head-coaching vacancy, according to John Canzano of the Oregonian.
"We are committed to winning championships at Ole Miss, and Coach Kiffin is the person to lead us to those heights," the school's vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics, Keith Carter, said in a statement after the agreement. "With his winning edge, offensive vision and recruiting prowess, he has quickly cemented our team among the best in the nation, and this is just the start.
"With major facility projects on the horizon, we are investing in this program like never before and look forward to building on the foundation that Coach Kiffin has established."
Kiffin, 46, has led the Rebels to a 10-2 mark in 2021—the school's first 10-win regular season in program history—and a 15-7 record across two seasons. The Rebels are heading to a New Year's Six bowl game this season.
Kiffin's journey has been a fascinating one. He held a number of assistant jobs early in his career, including as a Jacksonville Jaguars quality control assistant (2000) and an assistant under Pete Carroll at USC (2001-06), where he took over as offensive coordinator for his final season.
The Oakland Raiders then hired him as head coach, though he went just 5-15 and was fired four games into his second season in 2008.
He resurfaced with the Tennessee Volunteers, taking over as head coach in 2009 and leading the team to a 7-6 record before being hired as USC's head coach in 2010. After just a 28-15 record in four seasons and one 10-win season, however, the Trojans fired him midway through the 2013 campaign.
A pattern had seemed to emerge for the young Kiffin—he was given high-profile jobs but failed to get results. He spent the next three seasons under Nick Saban as the offensive coordinator at Alabama, which helped rehab his reputation as one of the bright young offensive minds in the game, before taking over as Florida Atlantic's head coach in 2017.
2015 Alabama coaching staff under Nick Saban. Where are they now: OC: Lane Kiffin (HC at Ole Miss) 7.2M DC: Kirby Smart (HC at Georgia) $7.1M WR: Bill Napier (HC at Florida) $7.4M OL: Mario Cristobal (HC at Miami) $8M DB: Mel Tucker (HC at Michigan St) $9.5M Saban makes $9.7M pic.twitter.com/RoNWVVeoUl
In three seasons, he led the Owls to a 27-13 record and two bowl game appearances.
As for Oregon, the football program is looking to replace Mario Cristobal, who left the school to take over as the Miami Hurricanes head coach. Pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon is serving as the team's interim head coach.
Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux Declares for NFL Draft; Reportedly Will Skip Alamo Bowl
Dec 7, 2021
Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux gestures during an NCAA college football game against Washington, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Seattle. Oregon won 26-16. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux has declared for the 2022 NFL draft.
Though Thibodeaux did not mention his status for Oregon's Alamo Bowl game against Oklahoma, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the star defender will not participate in the contest.
The 20-year-old amassed 49 total tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles in 10 games for the Ducks in 2021. He earned those numbers despite missing two-plus games with a left ankle sprain and playing limited reps upon his return against Arizona on Sept. 25.
Many analysts consider the 6'5", 258-pound Thibodeaux to be the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2022.
The B/R NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2022 NFL draft. He received a grade of 9.4 out of 10. Only three other players received grades of 9.0 or higher, and no others above 9.1. Derrik Klassen, also of Football Outsiders and Oddschecker, ranked Thibodeaux as the best speed rusher in the draft.
The NFL Mock Draft Database also lists Thibodeaux as the No. 1 overall prospect on its consensus big board.
The South Los Angeles, California native was at his best in a 34-31 win against UCLA on Oct. 23, when he amassed nine tackles (eight solo, 4.5 for a loss) and two sacks.
He can single-handedly change a game on a dime at his best, such as when he forced this sack and fumble that eventually led to a touchdown in a season-opening 31-24 win over Fresno State on Sept. 4:
Now he'll likely do the same for another team on Sundays.
This year's NFL draft will take place April 28-30 in Las Vegas.
Based on early projections, Thibodeaux's wait to hear his name called may not be more than the 10 minutes on the draft clock after the team holding the No. 1 overall pick opens the proceedings.
5-Star OT Kelvin Banks Jr. Decommits from Oregon After Mario Cristobal Hired by Miami
Dec 7, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on during the Pac-12 Conference championship game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium on December 3, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes defeated the Ducks 38-10. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
In the wake of Mario Cristobal leaving Oregon to take the head coaching position at the University of Miami, the Ducks lost one of their top recruits.
Class of 2022 five-star offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. announced on Twitter that he has de-committed from Oregon. Banks said he is "focused on doing what's best for my future and family."
Banks is a senior at Summit Creek High School in Houston, Texas. He is ranked as the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 14 overall player in the nation by 247Sports' composite.
247Sports midlands region recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks describes Banks as a "big-bodied, big-framed lineman with potential for position versatility at tackle or guard."
Banks has offers from Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and Oklahoma State, among other schools. He projects as a future NFL draft pick.
"A high-floor offensive lineman who also still has significant developmental potential to provide a high ceiling in the long term," Brooks' evaluation continued. "Should become a multi-year high-major starter. Possesses long-term potential to reach the early rounds of the NFL Draft."
Banks isn't the only prospect to de-commit from the Ducks. He joins four-star quarterback Tanner Bailey, who also de-committed from Oregon on Monday after Cristobal's departure.
Cristobal was announced as the Hurricanes' head coach on Monday after coaching the Ducks since 2017. He replaced Manny Diaz, who went 21-15 in three seasons. According to ESPN, Miami is paying Cristobal in the range of $8 million annually and also plans to pay his $9 million buyout.
Cristobal played offensive tackle for Miami and was a part of two national championship teams in 1989 and 1991.
Mario Cristobal Agrees to Become Miami HC After Manny Diaz's Firing
Dec 6, 2021
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after beating Washington Huskies 26-16 at Husky Stadium on November 06, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Mario Cristobal has accepted the Miami Hurricanes head coaching job, leaving the Oregon Ducks to return to the program he once played and coached for.
“My family and I are excited to return home to the University of Miami, which has been so instrumental in shaping me as a person, player, and coach,” Cristobal said in a school release. “This program has an unparalleled tradition and an exciting future ahead of it. I can’t wait to compete for championships and help mold our student-athletes into leaders on and off the field who will make our University, our community, and our loyal fan base proud.”
Matt Zenitz of On3Sports and Brett McMurphy of the Action Network first reported Cristobal's decision to take the job.
That followed reports Sunday that the Hurricanes had come to terms with Cristobal and reports Monday the team had fired current head coach Manny Diaz:
Mario Cristobal has agreed to terms on a contract to become the new head football coach of the Miami Hurricanes, per @MiamiHeraldpic.twitter.com/7EI4OCVqn1
BREAKING: Miami coach Manny Diaz has been informed he has been let go, per source. He was 21-15 in three seasons at UM. The move paves the way for the Canes to hire Oregon’s Mario Cristobal as Miami’s next head coach.
Miami now has complete confidence that Mario Cristobal will become their next head coach. Contract terms agreed to. Will make $8 million range annually. https://t.co/n6sIV6nn8D
Oregon reportedly was aggressive in trying to keep Cristobal. Per John Canzano of The Oregonian, Oregon's offer to Cristobal was "aggressive and in line" with what Lincoln Riley (set to make more than $110 million over his contract) and Brian Kelly ($95 million plus bonuses over 10 years) received from USC and LSU, respectively.
It was reported in early December that Miami was going to "make a run" at Cristobal for its head coaching position. The Hurricanes were also reportedly "optimistic" about hiring the 51-year-old.
Cristobal, who was born and raised in Miami, was an offensive lineman for the Hurricanes during his playing days and also served as a graduate assistant to start his coaching career. In addition, he was a tight end and offensive line coach for the school, so he's familiar with the program.
Cristobal was named head coach of the Ducks in December 2017. At the time, he agreed to a five-year contract through January 2023. A new six-year, $27.3 million contract for the head coach was announced in December 2020, and it was supposed to run through 2026.
Cristobal owns a 35-12 record as Oregon's head coach, including appearances in four bowl games (wins in the 2018 Redbox Bowl and 2019 Rose Bowl). The Ducks have had a winning record in each of his full seasons at the helm, so it should come as no surprise that Miami was interested in his services.
Todd McShay 2022 NFL Draft Big Board: Hutchinson, Thibodeaux Top Latest Rankings
Dec 6, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 04: Michigan Wolverines defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) looks on prior to the Big Ten Championship college football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Dec. 4, 2021 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ESPN draft guru Todd McShay released his updated big board for the 2022 NFL draft on Monday, with Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson taking over the top spot in his rankings.
He was followed by the previous No. 1 player, Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal, LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton in the top five.
On Hutchinson, McVay wrote that he "plays a powerful game and is truly relentless in pursuit," adding that he has "fast eyes and locates the ball really well. I also like his inside move, and his ability to line up on either side and drop in coverage will be valuable to NFL teams. The senior can stack blockers at the point of attack and has active hands."
That has translated to 14 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a Big Ten title and a berth in the College Football Playoff, where Georgia awaits. He also jumped from No. 5 on McShay's previous big board to the top overall spot.
Hutchinson displaced Thibodeaux, though only by one spot. McShay called the Oregon defensive end a "phenomenal pass-rusher" who gets "a good push on blockers" and "shows solid initial quickness and closing speed."
McShay believes Thibodeaux is versatile and athletic enough to switch to a 3-4 outside linebacker role in the NFL if called upon to do so.
Defensive players dominate McShay's top 10, with only Neal, Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross and Alabama wideout Jameson Williams representing the offensive side of the ball atop his rankings.
From there, however, wideouts litter the list, with Ohio State's Garrett Wilson (11) and Chris Olave (14), USC's Drake London (12), Penn State's Jahan Dotson (20) and Arkansas Treylon Burks (27) joining Williams in the top 32.
As for quarterbacks, Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett (15) is the top-ranked player at the position according to McShay, followed by Ole Miss' Matt Corral (16), Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner (21) and Liberty's Malik Willis (24). For quarterback-needy teams drafting in the top 10, selecting a quarterback that early will likely be considered a reach.
Report: Oregon Pulled 10-Year, $85M Contract Offer to Mario Cristobal Amid Miami Buzz
Dec 6, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on during the second quarter of the PAC-12 Football Championship football game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium on December 03, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
If Mario Cristobal decides to spurn the University of Miami and return to Oregon, he may have cost himself tens of millions of dollars with his flirtation.
John Canzano of The Oregonianˆˆ reported Oregon pulled a 10-year, $85 million contract extension offer as Cristobal considers bolting Eugene to return home to Miami. The report says Cristobal "may have alienated" Nike co-founder Phil Knight, whose support as a booster has played a role in the Ducks' rise to national prominence.
This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.
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Report: Mario Cristobal, Miami Agree to Terms on Contract; Could Exceed $8M Per Year
Dec 5, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on during the second quarter of the PAC-12 Football Championship football game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium on December 03, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Oregon Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal has reportedly agreed to terms on a contract to become the new head football coach of the Miami Hurricanes, per Barry Jackson, Susan Miller Degnan and Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald. The deal could be worth more than $8 million per year.
The deal reportedly has not been signed.
Cristobal was reportedly set to meet with Oregon players at 4:30 p.m., per Brandon Kamerman of KVAL News. However, Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports reported otherwise:
Mario Cristobal was in San Diego about 1:45 from when there was a report about a supposed Oregon team meeting at 4:30. Source I spoke to said that meeting would be news to him... In addition, it didn't seem plausible that he could even be back in Eugene by then.
In addition, Aaron J. Fentress of The Oregonian reported there was no team meeting scheduled for Sunday afternoon. However, Cristobal is reportedly headed back to Eugene and has cancelled his recruiting visits in California for Monday.
He reportedly had until midday Monday to inform Miami if he wanted the job, per Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger. If Cristobal declined, Manny Diaz would have remained the Hurricanes head coach, as first reported by Jackson.
Cristobal has a deep connection to the program. He was an offensive lineman for the Hurricanes and served as a graduate assistant for the program in 1998. The 51-year-old was also a tight end coach for the Hurricanes from 2004-05 before becoming the team's offensive line coach in 2006.
Cristobal also reportedly had a contract extension offer on the table from Oregon, per John Canzano of The Oregonian. It was "aggressive and in line" with what Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly received from USC and LSU, respectively.
Riley will reportedly make more than $110 million over the duration of his contract, while Kelly will make $95 million across 10 years.
Cristobal became head coach of the Ducks in 2017, taking over Willie Taggart. At the time, he agreed to a five-year contract through January 2023 worth $2.5 million annually. Last December he signed a new six-year, $27.3 million deal that runs through 2026.
Oregon went 35-13 with Cristobal as its head coach and has had a winning record in each of his full seasons at the helm. His teams have made four bowl games, including wins in the 2018 Redbox Bowl and 2019 Rose Bowl.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes finished the 2021 season with a 7-5 record. It was the team's second straight winning record under Diaz, who's 21-15 at the school.
Oregon's Mario Cristobal on Miami Rumors: 'I Haven't Talked to Anybody'
Dec 4, 2021
EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 27: Oregon Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal oversees pre-game drills during a PAC-12 conference football game between the Oregon State Beavers and Oregon Ducks on November 27, 2021 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Oregon head football coach Mario Cristobal attempted to calm rumors of him jumping ship to Miami following the Ducks' 38-10 loss to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday.
According to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, Cristobal said the following about whether he has been in contact with Miami:
"I haven't talked to anybody, so let's not create narratives as we sit here in this press conference. Oregon's working on some stuff for me, and that's what I have right now, and that's the extent of that conversation.
"If there's anything to report, I'd report it. I always have."
Cristobal also acknowledged the likelihood of other schools pursuing him, saying: "Do I expect people to come [after] me? Yeah, I do. It happens every single year. There's nothing else to report besides that. If there is, or when there ever is—if there ever is—I'll make sure to get it to [the media] as fast as I can."
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported Friday that Miami's pursuit of Cristobal has been "ongoing for several days" and there is "optimism" within the program that it will get him.
Prior to becoming Oregon's head coach in 2018, Cristobal played offensive line at Miami from 1989 to '92 and had stints with the Hurricanes as a coach from 1998 to 2000 and 2004 to '06.
While Miami's pursuit of Cristobal makes sense, especially with the program likely to fire head coach Manny Diaz after going 7-5 this season and 21-15 over the past three seasons, Oregon is reportedly set to pull out all the stops to keep him.
Per John Canzano of The Oregonian, Cristobal has received an "aggressive" contract extension offer from Oregon that would pay him around what USC gave Lincoln Riley to leave Oklahoma and what LSU gave Brian Kelly to leave Notre Dame.
If Cristobal accepts Oregon's offer, it will mark the second time in a year that he has signed an extension with the Ducks, as he inked a six-year, $27.3 million deal through 2025 in December last year.
A source told ESPN it is "a coin flip" regarding whether Cristobal will stay at Oregon or go to Miami. The source noted that the biggest motivating factor in Cristobal going to Miami would be the chance to be closer to his mother Clara, who is working through some health issues.
While Cristobal's first head coaching gig at Florida International from 2007 to 2012 didn't go well, with the Golden Panthers going 27-47, he has been a stabilizing force at Oregon.
In four seasons as the Ducks' full-time head coach, Cristobal has gone 35-12, and he has led Oregon to Pac-12 Championship Game wins in both 2019 and 2020.
Along with winning the Pac-12 title game, Oregon went 12-2 overall and won the Rose Bowl in 2020.
The Ducks had a legitimate chance to reach the College Football Playoff this season after upsetting Ohio State, but a loss to Stanford followed by two losses to Utah ended their hopes.
Still, the Ducks have registered another double-digit-win season at 10-3, and Cristobal seems like the right coach to lead them into the future.
No. 17 Utah Rolls Past No. 10 Oregon 38-10 to Win 2021 Pac-12 Title
Dec 4, 2021
Utah quarterback Cameron Rising, right, runs the ball under pressure from Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell during the first half of the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)
The No. 17 Utah Utes have won their first Pac-12 football title, defeating the No. 10 Oregon Ducks 38-10 in the conference championship game Friday at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.
Utah led 23-0 at halftime en route to the 28-point win. Linebacker Devin Lloyd's first-quarter pick-six turned out to be the play of the game, as his 34-yard return for a touchdown gave the Utes a 13-0 edge.
Other Utah defenders got in on the act too. A Malone Mataele interception of Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown led to Utah kicker Jadon Redding knocking home a 50-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
Oregon never seriously threatened Utah's lead post-halftime.
The Ducks did start the half off with a field goal, but a 41-yard run by Rising led to a TJ Pledger four-yard plunge to all but seal the game.
Thomas later added a second touchdown to put Utah up 35 points. Oregon running back Travis Dye's two-yard run late in the fourth got the Ducks in the end zone for the first time all evening.
This game marks the second time Utah blew out Oregon in two weeks, as the Utes beat the Ducks 38-7 on Nov. 20. On Saturday, Utah ended up out-gaining Oregon 361-221.
Utah lost the 2018 Pac-12 championship game to Washington and the 2019 matchup to Oregon, but the third time was the charm for the Utes, who accounted for two of the Ducks' three losses this year.
Sure, the scoreboard will show that Oregon scored 10 points, and Utah did have a few turnovers, but the Utes nearly played a perfect game.
They overwhelmed Oregon on both sides of the ball, with the defense making plays and preventing the passing game from going anywhere and the offense doing pretty much whatever it wanted.
A few standout players got Utah this far, although this was a total team effort led by a great game plan from head coach Kyle Whittingham and his staff.
With his performance, Thomas now has 20 touchdowns and 1,041 rushing yards on the season. The 6'2", 221-pound bruiser is difficult to bring down, as the Ducks found out the hard way. He had 21 carries for 94 rushing yards and three touchdowns during the regular season against Oregon, giving him 157 yards and five scores in two games against the Ducks.
Awesome to see Tavion Thomas — Dayton Dunbar HS — just running over dudes like he’s been doing.
Lloyd was a sensational, game-wrecking presence once again, as he finished with seven tackles (five solo) and the pick-six.
He also rose his NFL draft stock in the process, and he'll likely be making a lot of plays on Sundays shortly. Jordan Reid of the Draft Network provided his insight post-pick-six:
Now you’re seeing why scouts are so excited about #Utah LB Devin Lloyd. Transitioning from safety to LB, he’s gained over 30 pounds and made tremendous strides in many areas since arriving on campus.
Utah's excellent running and defense helped overcome some issues through the air, as Rising threw a pair of interceptions.
Neither ended up mattering, however, and Rising's running more than made up for it. He also established a good rapport with Kincaid, who likely had some NFL scouts taking notice:
Dalton Kincaid is making himself some coin this evening. Good for him. Cracking player. #Utes
Utah isn't going to the College Football Playoff, but the Utes can at least make a case to be one of the best four teams in the country at this moment. Gabe Ikard of Sirius XM Radio and Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy provided more insight:
Utah’s clearly not making the CFP but I’m not sure there are 4 teams playing better than them right now. This is why CFP expansion will be fun.
If there were an expanded CFP, @Utah_Football is the team nobody would want to play. Kyle Whittingham consistently get the most out of his football teams, which is the true measure of any coach.
The CFP isn't in the team's future, but a standout performance in the Rose Bowl will cap an excellent season for a great Utes squad.
Oregon Lays an Egg
There isn't one, single positive that Oregon can take away from this game. Perhaps one can point to Travis Dye faring well on the ground yet again (15 carries, 82 rushing yards), but those specific stats are empty calories when considering how poorly the Ducks played.
The Ducks' coaching staff had plenty of time to check the tape on Utah from the 38-7 regular-season loss and figure out a better game plan.
Plus, it would figure that the entire team would be fired up to play Utah to get a measure of revenge on the Utes en route to the Rose Bowl.
That did not happen, and the ESPN broadcast team made its opinion known on the matter.
Kirk Herbstreit on #Oregon: "This is an embarrassment, on this big a stage."
Oregon has plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, especially on defense.
It features a potential No. 1 overall NFL draft selection in edge-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, a Jim Thorpe Award finalist in safety Verone McKinley III and a tackling and playmaking machine in linebacker Noah Sewell.
Meanwhile, the running game didn't miss a beat when Dye took over as the starter for the injured CJ Verdell. Credit to a stout offensive line and Dye for keeping that train moving.
The passing game has been the team's weakness this season, as evidenced on Friday, but Brown has also done more than enough on the ground to make up for it on most days.
Therefore, it's confusing to see a team that beat Ohio State in the Horseshoe come out and be completely uncompetitive against Utah twice.
Granted, the Utes are a very good football team, but it's stunning to see them outscore the Ducks 76-17 in two games.
Oregon ultimately has no one to blame but itself. They had too much talent to play like this, and now it's back to the drawing board to figure out what went wrong before the team closes their once-promising season in a bowl game.
What's Next?
Utah is headed to the Rose Bowl and will play the winner of the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday evening between Iowa and Michigan.
Oregon's bowl game is to be determined.
Report: Miami 'Optimistic' About Hiring Oregon's Mario Cristobal in 'Coming Days'
Dec 4, 2021
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after beating Washington Huskies 26-16 at Husky Stadium on November 06, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
High-ranking officials at the University of Miami are "optimistic" about hiring Oregon's Mario Cristobal as their next head football coach in the "coming days," according to Susan Miller Degnan, Barry Jackson and Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald.
An announcement is anticipated before Tuesday.
The news comes after John Canzano of The Oregonian reported that Miami planned to make a run at Cristobal as a possible replacement for head coach Manny Diaz.
However, Canzano also reported that Oregon has a contract extension on the table for Cristobal and it's "aggressive and in line" with what Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly received from USC and LSU, respectively, earlier this week.
Riley, the former head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, reportedly will make more than $110 million over his contract. Kelly, who left Notre Dame to take the LSU head coaching job, agreed to $95 million over 10 years with the potential to earn bonuses.
It's unclear if Cristobal, a Miami native, is interested in the Hurricanes' coaching position. However, Canzano noted Cristobal's mother, who is ill, still lives in the area. He recently flew home to spend time with her.
The 51-year-old was an offensive lineman for the Hurricanes during his playing days and also served as a graduate assistant to start his coaching career in 1998. He was a tight end coach for Miami from 2004 to '05 before coaching the offensive line in '06.
Cristobal was named head coach of the Ducks in December 2017, taking over for Willie Taggart after agreeing to a five-year contract through January 2023 that paid him $2.5 million per year. Last December, the head coach signed a new six-year, $27.3 million deal that goes through 2026.
Cristobal has a 35-12 record as Oregon's head coach, including appearances in four bowl games (wins in the 2018 Redbox Bowl and 2019 Rose Bowl). The Ducks have had a winning record in each of his full seasons at the helm.
Oregon is set to play the Utah Utes on Friday night in the Pac-12 championship.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, finished the 2021 campaign with a 7-5 record, second place in the ACC Coastal. It was the team's second consecutive winning season under Diaz.
