EAST LANSING — Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi remains a hot name where vacancies for head coaching jobs are concerned.

Spartans coach Mark Dantonio confirmed that UConn has requested an interview with Narduzzi for its head coaching vacancy.

The Huskies made the request before the end of the Spartans' regular season, according to a CBSSports.com report, and the interview could take place this season.

Dantonio said Narduzzi would make a "tremendous" head coaching candidate.

“But at the same time, I know he’s extremely happy here, and I know our players love him,” Dantonio said. "He loves our players.

“I’d hate to lose Pat Narduzzi, but I’ll admit this. I didn’t want to lose Jerel Worthy to the NFL. That’s the same type of thing. I didn’t want Le’Veon (Bell) to leave or William Gholston to leave. But when the opportunity comes and the opportunity is so good that you need to take it, then that’s when you take it. But it’s got to be the right opportunity, and Pat understands that and weighs those things out.”

Michigan State moved up to No. 4 in the polls on Sunday on the heels of its historic 34-24 victory over Ohio State in Saturday night's Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Spartans (12-1) will play Stanford (11-2) in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. It's Michigan State's first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1987 team played in the 1988 classic, beating USC 20-17.

Narduzzi told reporters last Wednesday that "there's nothing to deal with,'' when asked how potential job offers might detract from his focus on preparing for the Big Ten championship game.

Narduzzi's unit continues to lead the nation in total defense even after Saturday's game with the explosive Buckeyes, who netted 374 yards with 273 coming on the ground and another 101 through the air.

Michigan State has now averaged allowing a nation-low 248.2 yards per game of offense per game.

The Spartans also stayed No. 1 in rushing defense (80.8 yards per game), and they are No. 1 in third-down conversion defense (27.7 percent).

Michigan State slipped to No. 2 in the country in pass efficiency defense (91.48 rating) after the Ohio State game and No. 4 in scoring defense (12.7 points per game), but the numbers are still impressive.

Narduzzi is currently making $512,500 per year, and he negotiated a unique three-year contract with Michigan State earlier this year.

Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis has been consistent in his view on the possibility of the Spartans losing Narduzzi, telling MLive.com in June that, "Whether you are an assistant athletic director or an assistant coach, I understand it's a difficult process to do the job you are doing and prepare yourself to be in that head position.

"But there are things I've seen Pat do in the last year that will better prepare him to be a head coach, while at the same time not distracting from his ability to be our defensive coordinator.''

Narduzzi's contract calls for him to pay Michigan State $250,000 if he elects to leave the Spartans for any other position other than as a head coach, provided Dantonio is still the Spartans' head coach at that time.

The buyout is intended to cover the costs for Michigan State to hire a replacement, "and shall not be, nor construed to be, a penalty,'' according to the contract.

It's a very advantageous position for Narduzzi to be in, having virtually no buyout clause.

But that has been part of the trade off of the Spartans being able to keep him at a salary that's relative low when one considers the value he has added to the program.

UConn fired Paul Pasqualoni after four games this season, with offensive coordinator T.J. Weist assuming the interim head coach position the remainder of the 3-9 season.

According to various reports, other candidates for the UConn job include: Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone and Ball State head coach Pete Lembo.