What else can Dan Mullen do at Mississippi State?

The Bulldogs (8-4) will go to a bowl game for a school-record sixth time in a row. Let’s face it — Mullen has overachieved. Winning at Mississippi State isn’t easy.

This year, the rumors about the coach leaving for greener pastures may come true. Reports surfaced that Georgia would be interested in Mullen. The Mississippi State program may have hit the ceiling with the departure of Dak Prescott.

While Mullen may have more job security than any other SEC coach — including Nick Saban — at age 43, he might seek an opportunity where he can win conference and national championships.

Mullen’s record — 54-33 at Mississippi State — is good enough to attract offers from those types of programs. Plus, he served as offensive coordinator for national championship teams at Florida and coached Alex Smith, Tim Tebow and Cam Newton before mentoring Prescott.

Mullen’s accomplishments have come with arguably the fewest resources in the SEC and some of the lowest-ranked recruiting classes in the conference. Mississippi State spends just over half as much on football as Ole Miss.

Mississippi ranks with Arkansas as the SEC states with the smallest population — and the Bulldogs share their state with Ole Miss. The Bulldogs’ athletic budget pales in comparison to those at Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M. Davis Wade Stadium ranks 11th in the conference in capacity at 61,337.

Starkville, the smallest and most isolated conference outpost, ranked 14th — last — in a media ranking of SEC cities. Vanderbilt, which is comparable in athletic spending and revenue, is in the No. 1-ranked city, Nashville.

Yet Mullen has made Mississippi State competitive in the nation’s toughest division.

Can he realistically expect to ever compete for championships with Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M and Arkansas on an annual basis?

Mullen may not to do any better than he’s done the last six seasons.