PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh football coach Paul Chryst says he’s committed to sticking with the Panthers.

Chryst issued a statement on Tuesday night saying he’s focusing on getting Pitt ready for the BBVA Compass Bowl against Mississippi next month and not speculation that he could be on Wisconsin’s short list to replace Bret Bielema, who left the Badgers to take the head coaching job at Arkansas.

Chryst played quarterback for Wisconsin in the 1980s and spent seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Badgers under Bielema before being hired by Pitt last December. The Panthers went 6-6 in their final season in the Big East, including an upset of then-No. 13 Virginia Tech and a triple-overtime loss to undefeated Notre Dame.

Chryst says he understands why his name would pop up for the Wisconsin job, but added he is working very hard to “re-establish” the Panthers.