The Tennessee Volunteers have reportedly made Alabama DC Jeremy Pruitt their top target in what has become a long and messy coaching search.

According to Tennessee insider Jimmy Hyams, the Vols have now officially offered the job to Pruitt, but there are still some details being ironed out.

Chief among those issues is whether Pruitt will be able to keep coaching the Crimson Tide during their upcoming College Football Playoff run, which seems like a lot for new AD Phillip Fulmer to ask:

Could this entire deal fall apart if Tennessee tries to keep Pruitt from coaching in the CFP? That wouldn’t be surprising at all at this point, based on the roller-coaster ride the entire search has been.

With the way the fan base revolted against Greg Schiano and Fulmer’s apparent insistence that Pruitt start right away and ditch the Crimson Tide, it’s a wonder that anyone is considering the Vols’ opening at this point.

If Tennessee wants to hire Pruitt, it will likely have to do the right thing and let him continue to coach through the end of Alabama’s Playoff run.