Auburn’s bowl matchup against No. 18 Wisconsin took an interesting turn of events on Wednesday evening, when it was announced Badgers head coach Gary Andersen had accepted the head coaching vacancy at Oregon State.

The shocking news leaves a void in Madison less than a month before Wisconsin is to take on No. 19 Auburn. The Badgers’ senior class approached Wisconsin athletics director — and former head coach — Barry Alvarez about coaching the bowl game on New Year’s Day.

“I told them I’ll make up my mind tonight,” Alvarez said in a news conference to address Andersen’s departure on Wednesday. “I’ll definitely consider that.”

Alvarez has once been in this situation at the end of the 2012 when former coach Bret Bielema accepted the Arkansas job. Alvarez returned to the sideline to coach the Badgers in the 2013 Rose Bowl.

The legendary head coach won 118 games in his career in Madison.

Alvarez told reporters he’d received numerous calls about the open since learning Andersen was leaving for Corvallis. Andersen notified Alvarez of his decision on earlier Wednesday afternoon, and Alvarez told Andersen he expected the assistants to stay through the Jan. 1 bowl game.

“I began working to find a new head coach as soon as I spoke with Gary this morning,” Alvarez said in a statement. “My first concern is taking care of the players on our current team, especially the senior class, and ensuring that their bowl experience is a memorable one. I will find a head coach to uphold the great tradition at Wisconsin, someone who is committed to excellence both on and off the field.

Alvarez’s final game coaching the Badgers came against Auburn in the 2006 Capital One Bowl, which Wisconsin won 24-10.