Speculation surrounding Dan Mullen’s future in Starkville is swirling. After all, it is late November.

Would he leave Mississippi State if he was offered the Florida job? What about the Tennessee job? Is he really satisfied at Mississippi State?

We don’t definitively know the answers to those questions yet. Many want to talk about the resources and upside that Mullen would gain by finally leaving Mississippi State for a big-time program. It seems like a foregone conclusion that it’d be a step up from his current program, which wasn’t exactly rich with history before he arrived.

But there’s something that people seem to be overlooking when it comes to Mullen’s future. That team he’s coaching in Starkville isn’t mediocre at all. One would have a hard time arguing that his current roster, which is on the cusp of a 9-win season, is worse than what he’d inherit at Florida or Tennessee. Lord knows neither Florida nor Tennessee could stay on the field with Alabama right now like the Bulldogs did.

In 2017, MSU did more than just rack up losses to the SEC’s top three teams. It pummeled the rest of the SEC (including LSU and Texas A&M) by an average of 24 points.

If Mullen chooses to stay at Mississippi State, he’ll get to work with the improved Nick Fitzgerald, who is on his way to potentially 35 touchdowns this season. But don’t get it twisted. Mullen would have much more than an accomplished quarterback. He’d have his best roster yet, and one that could become a legitimate contender.

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What does it mean to be a “contender” in this era of college football? It means that a team is ranked in the top 15 and possibly in the top 10.

What’s to say Mississippi State can’t do that next year?

Shoot, the Bulldogs are practically doing that this year. Another year of the aforementioned Fitzgerald in Mullen’s system would yield even better results.

Even more intriguing with MSU is what it’ll look like with another year of Todd Grantham’s defense. We already saw a huge turnaround in Year 1.

People wrote off MSU after the consecutive blowouts to Georgia and Auburn. Since then, MSU’s only blemish was the nail-biter against Alabama. During that stretch, the Bulldogs allowed 17.7 points per contest. On the season, the Bulldogs rank in the top 10 in FBS in total defense (9th), passing defense (9th) and defensive touchdowns (5th).

A lot of that is because of the outstanding play of the defensive line. That talented defensive line is extremely young, by the way:

  • Jeffery Simmons, sophomore
  • Montez Sweat, junior
  • Fletcher Adams, sophomore
  • Marquiss Spencer, sophomore
  • Kobe Jones, redshirt freshman
  • Braxton Hoyett, junior

That doesn’t include former Georgia and East Mississippi Community College transfer Chauncey Rivers, who took an academic redshirt in 2017. Mullen has relied heavily on transfers in recruiting, but he’s also been landing more prep talent than ever. Mullen is closing in on potentially his top-ranked recruiting class since he arrived at MSU (currently No. 16 nationally in the 247sports class rankings).

Simmons, Jones and Spencer, of course, were MSU’s top three recruits in that 2016 class. Unlike Fitzgerald, there were a lot more teams besides Tennessee Chattanooga that were after those guys.

With the right coordinator in Grantham, MSU’s young defensive line, and really the entire defense, has been carrying its weight in Year 1. That’s why Grantham is a semifinalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant.

In Year 2, one has to think his defense will take another step up. With the exception of J.T. Gray and Dez Harris, the Bulldogs aren’t losing much production on that side of the ball. On the offensive side, Fitzgerald will have three of his top four targets back, as well as the team’s top four rushers.

The question is whether Mullen will be around to see those players grow.

Until Mullen signs yet another extension — it’s coming, right? — one has to think that speculation is only going to continue. It’s natural to assume that the former Florida offensive coordinator would be an ideal fit for the offense-deprived Gators. The same goes for Tennessee, where the Vols would love to land someone as well versed as Mullen is in turning around a program.

Only time will tell, but if Mullen does decide to return to Starkville in 2018, he’ll have the opportunity to lead his best team yet.