Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora has been offered the job at North Carolina and is likely to accept it, a source told ESPN's Joe Schad.

Fedora, who is also among candidates to succeed the fired Mike Sherman at Texas A&M, led Southern Miss to an upset of previously-undefeated Houston in the Conference USA championship game. The Golden Eagles finished the season 11-2 and will play Nevada in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

Fedora is 33-19 at Southern Miss, his first head coaching job after assistant coaching positions at Florida and Oklahoma State.

If Fedora and North Carolina can reach a deal, it would be subject

to approval by UNC chancellor Holden Thorp, as well as the

university's board of trustees.

Everett Withers served as North Carolina's interim coach after the school dismissed Butch Davis before the 2011 season. The Tar Heels finished 7-5 and were invited to the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl, but went 3-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and lost four of their last six games.

Withers interviewed for the job last week.

He said he wouldn't let the uncertainty about his future be a

distraction for the Tar Heels as they prepare for a fourth straight

bowl game.

He also said he planned to coach the bowl game regardless of his

status.

Southern Miss faces Nevada in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24.

Information from ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad and The Associated Press was used in this report.