Barry Alvarez is returning to the Wisconsin Badgers' sideline, but only to coach the Outback Bowl in the wake of Gary Andersen's surprising and abrupt departure.

Kirk Herbstreit reported Thursday for ESPN that Alvarez would be taking over the team on an ultra-brief basis for the team's New Year's Day bowl game. Alvarez, Wisconsin's athletic director, coached the Badgers in the 2013 Rose Bowl game when Bret Bielema left to coach at Arkansas.

Alvarez is scheduled to give a press conference at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, where he could confirm the news that he will lead the Badgers against Auburn.

"I began working to find a new head coach as soon as I spoke with Gary this morning," Alvarez said in a statement Thursday morning. "My first concern is taking care of the players on the current team, especially the senior class, and ensuring that their bowl experience is a memorable one. I will find a head coach to uphold the great tradition at Wisconsin, someone who is committed to excellence both on and off the field.

"I want to thank Gary for his two years here and commend him on the way his team performed on the field, in the classroom and in the community. I wish him the best at Oregon State."

Before Alvarez became Wisconsin's athletic director, he was the football team's coach and he went 118-74-4 and 8-4 in bowl games with three Big Ten titles. No Badgers coach has won more games.

A 2010 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Alvarez was part of the selection committee for the inaugural four-team playoff this season. Andersen apparently left Wisconsin for family reasons and Alvarez said he plans to find a replacement before the end of the month.

"First and foremost I want to thank Coach Alvarez for the opportunity to coach at the University of Wisconsin," Andersen said in the school's statement. "I also want to thank my staff and the people at UW. We worked very hard together and accomplished some great things. I had the opportunity to meet and coach some great young men and I look forward to watching them as they continue their careers and move through life."