It’s not exactly the kind of news that Georgia Bulldogs fans want to hear on the morning of the SEC Championship game.

UGA defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is expected to be Colorado’s next head coach, “barring any unforeseen circumstances,” according to a report by CUSportsNation.com and Rivals.com that was posted on early Saturday morning.

According to CUSportsNation’s Mike Singer, “Tucker’s name picked up steam as this week continued” and that Tucker had already interviewed for the position. “We expect Colorado to make the news official in the next 24-48 hours.”

Tucker, 46, has served as UGA’s defensive coordinator for the last three seasons, coming over from Alabama with Kirby Smart. Tucker was a highly-respected assistant in the NFL for nine years, including a brief stint at the interim head coach for the Jacksonsville Jaguars in 2011.

Tucker’s name has frequently been mentioned for coaching vacancies within the last week, including openings at North Carolina and Louisville. He was a finalist for the Tennessee job last year that ultimately went to Jeremy Pruitt.

After Saturday’s SEC Championship game, Tucker will be available for media interviews.

Check back on DawgNation later today for updates.

UPDATE: Both ESPN’s Chris Low and Adam Rittenburg have reported that Tucker is headed to Colorado, “barring a late change.”