The Michigan Wolverines' head football coaching position opened abruptly on Wednesday, as Sherrone Moore was fired and then later arrested.
Second-year Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer's name was the first one mentioned by On3's Pete Nakos in who could replace Moore, and major betting sites quickly labeled him a favorite.
RELATED: Bama’s DeBoer a favorite to land recently opened Michigan gig
As the college football world reacts to the Moore saga, analysts have weighed in on DeBoer's interest in the job.
ESPN's Pete Thamel told Pat McAfee on "The Pat McAfee Show" that there was no indication the Tide coach would be interested, although he acknowledged he would be Michigan's first choice.
"I would be skeptical," Thamel told McAfee of the timing. "Just having been around this long ... that Kalen DeBoer could navigate the high wire to leave in the middle of the playoff."
“And no one has indicated that he would be interested at all," he added. "I would expect some clarity on that fairly soon. Just because, you know, from the second this job opened, his name was the first one to emerge.”
SEC Network's Paul Finebaum suggested on ESPN's "First Take" that given the "angst and anxiety" DeBoer has faced with replacing Nick Saban, he "wouldn't be at all surprised if [DeBoer] listened to Michigan."
According to college football analyst Josh Pate, Michigan should make DeBoer "tell them no."
Pate also pushed back against DeBoer being miserable in Tuscaloosa.
"This is a guy who's a pretty straight shooter, and he has been effusive in his praise of what it's been like to move there," Pate said of his conversations with the Crimson Tide coach.
NBC Sports college football insider Nicole Auerbach, a Michigan alum, described DeBoer as "the obvious top name for Michigan."
Alabama will kick off with Oklahoma on Friday, December 19, at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the College Football Playoff.
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