Dan Mullen, two wins away from his second straight 10-win season at Mississippi State, is a “serious candidate” at Virginia Tech, sources have told Football Scoop.

The Hokies are expected to announce a hire in the next seven days to follow in the footsteps of local legend Frank Beamer, the program’s all-time winningest coach.

Mullen’s name has circulated for several major openings in recent, but the Bulldogs have incentivized his contract and always given reason to stay. Mullen, 43, is 54-34 overall since taking over in Starkville in December 2008.

He was named the SEC’s Coach of the Year last season by Sporting News after leading Mississippi State to its first No. 1 ranking after a 9-0 start.

Mullen currently makes north of $4 million at Mississippi State, so it would take some convincing from the Hokies. Of the bevy of jobs open in college football at the FBS level however, Virginia Tech is considered in the top half, not to mention the competitive advantage Mullen would have in the ACC compared to the challenging SEC West.