Would an SEC team take a chance on Bobby Petrino?

That topic was discussed on “ESPN College Football Sunday” one day after the coach led No. 10 Louisville to a 63-20 upset of No. 2 Florida State.

SEC Network host and radio personality Paul Finebaum revealed Petrino had interest in the Auburn coaching vacancy following former head coach Gene Chizik’s firing in 2012. However, the coach was unable to get an interview due to the infidelity scandal that led to his own termination at Arkansas before the 2012 season.

“Four years ago I had a conversation with Bobby Petrino, a personal meeting for about an hour and a half,” Finebaum said. “His lawyer asked me if I could talk to him. He was out of a job and was trying to get some positive publicity to get an interview at Auburn. Chizik was about to get fired. He could not get an interview at Auburn, they ended up hiring Gus Malzahn.”

Instead, Petrino accepted the head coaching position at Western Kentucky in December 2012. He led the Hilltoppers to an 8-4 (4-3 Sun Belt) record in 2013, which was a four-game improvement from the previous season. He rejoined Louisville, where he coached from 2003-06, in 2014 and holds a 61-18 (36-12 ACC) record during his second tenure with the program.

When asked the question directly of whether an SEC team would consider taking a chance on Petrino, Finebaum quipped “they wouldn’t then but they would now.”