With Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian headed to Austin to take over the Texas football program following the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, the Crimson Tide could be close to landing his replacement.

According to Bruce Feldman, Alabama has zeroed in on Bill O’Brien, most recently the head coach and general manager of the NFL’s Houston Texans, as its pick for the Tide offensive coordinator post. Feldman reports that “[a] deal is expected to happen in the next few days”.

O’Brien, of course, has plenty of experience in the college football world. Before being hired as the head coach of the Texans in 2014, he was 15-9 at Penn State, succeeding Joe Paterno after the legendary coach was dismissed in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. His coaching career started at his alma mater of Brown before stops at Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Duke before joining the New England Patriots and eventually becoming their offensive coordinator until heading to State College.

With a disappointing first NFL head coaching gig in the rearview mirror, O’Brien looks poised to be headed back to the college ranks for the first time since leaving for the pros.