Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, the architect of arguably the best offensive turnaround in the country last season, is reportedly in Tuscaloosa, Alabama this week meeting with the Crimson Tide about the program’s open O.C. position.

Alabama coach Nick Saban is in the market for a new offensive coordinator after assistant Bill O’Brien left for a job with the New England Patriots last week. According to Dawgman.com’s Chris Fetters, Grubb is talking with Alabama about joining Saban’s staff.

Grubb came over with Kalen DeBoer last offseason and enjoyed immediate success as Washington’s offensive coordinator. Following the Huskies’ Apple Cup win, Grubb received a two-year extension that reportedly bumped his salary to $1.45 million for the 2023 season.

After UW beat Texas in the Alamo Bowl, UW awarded Grubb a second raise to ward off potential suitors and bump his salary to a reported $2 million a year.

“My initial emotional response to being here (in January of 2022) was that this place could be unbelievably special, not knowing really anything about Washington,” Grubb said shortly after his extension was announced. “Now, going through a full year of it and seeing the support of the community and the kids that are in this program, this place is incredibly special. So I’m excited to be here.”

Should he depart for Alabama, it would be a significant blow to UW.

Under Grubb’s watch, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. put forth the best season of his collegiate career and led the country in passing. UW improved from 21.5 points per game the year before Grubb and DeBoer arrived to 39.7 points per game in 2022. The offense jumped from 323 yards a game to 516.

In both instances, it marked leaps from outside the top 100 among FBS teams to inside the top 10.

Penix announced shortly after the season he’d return for another year in Seattle, as did 1,000-yard receivers Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze. When UW’s two wideouts addressed their returns, they talked about national championship aspirations in 2023. At the very least, the Huskies should be in the thick of the Pac-12 title race following an 11-2 season.