Report: Following Oregon rumors, Mississippi State working on an extension for Dan Mullen

After getting linked to the Oregon job, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen will reportedly receive an extension from MSU:

Source: Dan Mullen and Mississippi State are working on a contract extension. Mullen makes an average of $4.5 million through '18.

— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) December 7, 2016

ESPN’s Brett McMurphy reported Wednesday that Mullen was a finalist for the Oregon head coaching job, a position ultimately that went to former USF coach Willie Taggart.

Bo Bounds, a radio host at ESPN 105.9 in Central Mississippi, disputed McMurphy’s report stating that Taggart’s reported salary shows that Oregon wasn’t seriously willing to pay for Mullen.

"If you offer Willie Taggart 3.2 million you can't have a serious conversation with Dan Mullen who is making almost 4.5" @bobounds on Oregon

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) December 7, 2016

"Oregon went on the cheap, I don't believe Dan Mullen was a legit finalist there" – @bobounds

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) December 7, 2016

If Mullen’s extension includes a raise, it could keep the coach in Starkville for the foreseeable future. Bounds told Finebaum that Mullen’s salary keeps all but roughly 12 jobs from being able to pay more to lure the eight-year coach away.

Mullen became the Mississippi State head coach in 2009 after working alongside Urban Meyer at Notre Dame, Bowling Green, Utah and Florida from 1999-2008. He is 60-42 with the Bulldogs.

MSU’s appearance in the St. Petersburg Bowl will be the seventh straight bowl appearance under Mullen.