COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina coach Lou Holtz said Monday he's focused on preparing his team to play Ohio State in the Outback Bowl -- not on discussing Notre Dame.

Holtz on the list?

Notre Dame will not only revisit its original list of head coaching candidates, but it will also take a look at former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, WGN Radio in Chicago reported Sunday. According to WGN, with regard to Holtz re-joining the Irish, "there is interest on both sides." Holtz is currently head coach at South Carolina. Regis Philbin jumped on the bandwagon Monday on his morning TV show "Live With Regis And Kelly", endorsing Holtz for the Notre Dame job. Check out ESPN.com's rundown of possible candidates to replace O'Leary at Notre Dame.

The South Bend (Ind.) Tribune reported that Notre Dame officials contacted Holtz on Saturday to discuss the coaching position left vacant when George O'Leary resigned last week after admitting he lied on his resume.

"The only thing I'm thinking about right now is preparing my team to face a good Ohio State team," Holtz said at practice Monday.

South Carolina sports information director Kerry Tharp said Monday that Holtz was contacted for advice. He did not know whether Notre Dame had contacted South Carolina athletic director Mike McGee to discuss the opening with Holtz.

McGee was in Birmingham, Ala., for a Southeastern Conference meeting and did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Monday.

Notre Dame officials have declined to discuss any possible candidates for the coaching job.

Holtz has said little about the coaching search at Notre Dame, where he coached for 11 years, including a national championship in 1988. He still follows Notre Dame closely. Following the South Carolina-Georgia game, he had someone call The Associated Press office in Columbia to get a Notre Dame score.

Tharp said Holtz doesn't plan to talk with the media until Wednesday's Outback Bowl press conference.

The 14th-ranked Gamecocks (8-3) are preparing to play the No. 22 Buckeyes in a rematch of last year's Outback Bowl, which South Carolina won 24-7.

Holtz took over a 1-10 South Carolina team three years ago and saw the losing streak stretch to 21 games. Last year, Holtz guided the Gamecocks to an 8-4 record.

It's the first time South Carolina has gone to consecutive New Year's bowl games. Holtz could become the first South Carolina coach to win two bowl games.