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Pat Fitzgerald may be on the verge of returning to coaching college football.

The Detroit Free Press and Lansing State Journal reported Sunday that Michigan State plans to hire Fitzgerald as its new coach after firing Jonathan Smith.

Fitzgerald, who went 110-101 with 10 bowl appearances in 17 seasons as Northwestern’s coach, hadn’t signed a contract as of midday Sunday, the outlets reported. He won two Big Ten West titles with Northwestern, where he also was an All-America linebacker in the 1990s.

A Tribune source said Fitzgerald is a serious candidate for the Michigan State job and the sides planned to talk Monday.

Fitzgerald has been in conversations with other schools after eight universities reached out to his representation about the

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