Wisconsin football: 3 best candidates who could replace Paul Chryst

I’m going to be honest, I didn’t have ‘Paul Chryst getting fired’ on by college football bingo card when the season started, but here we are. Wisconsin football is looking for a new leader.

The Badgers and Chryst have reportedly parted ways on Sunday after one of the most embarrassing losses of the season as they lost to Illinois at home by 24 points after trailing by just four at halftime. It just felt like one of those program-deflating losses that demanded change and the athletic department agreed.

Chryst won the Big Ten West three times and was even named the conference’s coach of the year in 2016 and 2017. But it’s a “what have you done for me lately?” business and he was just 15-10 since 2020.

With yet another coach falling victim to the midseason ax, who should replace Chryst?

3. Dave Aranda, Baylor HC

This is the least likely of the three that I’m about to list. Dave Aranda actually has connections with Wisconsin as he was the defensive coordinator in Madison from 2013-15.

While that may not be enough to reel him back in after he went to LSU and won a national title as the defensive coordinator in 2019 and then took over at Baylor as head coach, it’s at least something. Those ties to Wisconsin might give the Badgers a fighting chance but he seems to be very happy at Baylor right now.

Wisconsin could use a defensive mind who has won a national title and knows how to coach at the highest level. He’s also won a Big 12 title in just two-plus years with Baylor.

Aranda could decide to coach in the Big Ten with the Big 12 losing two of its big dogs and potentially losing some of its luster and Wisconsin would be a really good spot for him.