COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Heisman Trophy winner with Ohio State will be back in the Buckeye State as a division one coach.

Eddie George is set to become the next coach of the Bowling Green Falcons in the Mid-American Conference after coaching Tennessee State in division two for the past four seasons, Bowling Green announced Sunday. While the university did not release details, George is expected to sign a five-year deal to land his first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) job, according to reports.

The 51-year-old began his coaching career in 2021 nearly 20 years after retiring from playing football. After going 9-13 in his first two seasons with Tennessee State in the Ohio Valley Conference, George turned things around with a 6-5 record in 2023 and led the Tigers to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in 2024 with a 9-3 regular season record.

Tennessee State fell in the opening round of the playoffs 41-27 to Montana in what was the team’s first FCS playoff appearance since 2013.

Before diving into coaching, George was one of the best running backs in Ohio State history, culminating his career with the Heisman Trophy in 1995. He was then a first-round pick in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and became one of the top running backs in the NFL.

A four-time Pro Bowler, George played in three different cities in his NFL career and ended his nine-season run with over 10,000 rushing yards and 68 touchdowns. He played in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Tennessee Titans in the 1999 season, losing to the St. Louis Rams 23-16.

George will now look to turn Bowling Green into a consistent MAC contender with the Falcons’ last conference title coming in 2015. BGSU also has not won a bowl game since 2014 but has played in a bowl game the past three seasons.

Bowling Green begins its season on Aug. 28 when it hosts Lafayette. Other notable games include a trip to Cincinnati (Sept. 6), hosting Liberty (Sept. 13), and playing at Louisville (Sept. 20).