Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal is expected to leave Eugene and become the next head coach at Miami, according to a report from Mike Ryan.

A subsequent report from Barry Jackson said that Cristobal was in the late stages of negotiations for a deal that pays around $8 million per year, with the duration set for “longer than five years.” Plus, as Jackson noted, Cristobal is not expected to come alone. Previous reports said that Miami was set to replace athletic director Blake James with Clemson’s Dan Radakovich, and Jackson said that he will come to Miami with Cristobal unless “somebody gets cold feet.”

Over the course of the past week, reports had swirled that Cristobal was considering the Miami job. After Oregon lost 38-10 to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship game, reporters asked Cristobal whether there was any validity to the rumors. He did not quite rule it out.

“I would say if there’s something to report, I will report it. I always have,” Cristobal said. “Over the years, because certain things are put out there or not. Every year our entire staff, whether behind the scenes, whether public or not, we’ve always had different people come for our people, including myself, and how the media treats it and how they choose to posture it, I have no control. As I just mentioned, that’s the extent of it.”

Cristobal previously ‘considering’ both Oregon and Miami

The Oregonian’s John Canzano tweeted an update on where things stand, and it sounds like there could be an answer soon.

Cristobal is currently out on the road recruiting, and Oregon wants to offer him a new contract with a raise and Miami is working hard to hire him away, according to Canzano. He also reports Cristobal wants to stay with the Ducks, but will have some conversations in the next 24-48 hours.

What I know about Mario Cristobal:

– He hit road recruiting

– Oregon wants to extend him with new deal and more $

– Miami boosters want to give him new zip code

– Early whisper is Cristobal wants to stay in Eugene but will talk it through in next 24-48 hours w his camp.

— John Canzano (@johncanzanobft) December 4, 2021

Prior to Canzano’s tweet, rumors began to surface that the University of Miami offered to make Cristobal the highest paid football coach in school history, according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. At the time, there was no agreement in place between the two sides, but the report suggests Miami efforts are in ‘advanced stages.’

“Miami’s offer for (Mario) Cristobal would make him by far the highest paid coach Miami ever had,” Jackson tweeted. “Miami’s efforts are in advanced stages, but Cristobal obviously will need to say yes. (We’ll see). Miami banking on lure of working in hometown for alma mater for good money and giving him what he needs.”

Cristobal is a Miami native who played for the Hurricanes from 1989-92 before starting his coaching career in 1998 as a graduate assistant. The 51-year old coach spent time on staff from 1998-2000, then again as the tight end coach and offensive line coach from 2004-2006.

Since then, Cristobal has emerged as one of college football’s best coaches. In four seasons as head coach at Oregon, he has accumulated a 35-13 record, including a 2-2 run in bowl games. Cristobal led the Ducks to 2019 and 2020 Pac-12 titles with another conference championship game appearances in 2021.