Dan Mullen's departure to the school he once coached, may have shifted the landscape of college football. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and his teammates went to social media expressing mixed opinions. But, students here in Starkville say they aren't surprised.

"I kind of called it because I was actually thinking about it during the Ole Miss game. I was like, 'Well, if we don't win this game, he's probably going to leave'," Jerrius Carter said.

"Man I couldn't believe it. I know he told the team last week that he wasn't going to leave but I kind of saw it coming a little bit, I got to say, with the Florida job opening up," Nathan Roseberry said.

The question now, who will replace Mullen as the new head coach of the Bulldogs? The student body has a candidate in mind and is making their personal choice known to the public.

"Yeah, I think it should be Les Miles. We need Les Miles. I think he's going to bring in a lot of recruits, big-time recruits, and you know, make this thing better than Dan made it," Roseberry said.

You can find posters saying "State Needs Les Miles" posted in buildings throughout the campus. But, some students would like to see another former SEC Coach take over the Maroon & White.

"I think Les Miles. I think he's probably going to come in, but I would like to see Sumlin. Coach Sumlin," Jaylon Ford said.

"Well, they say that talk around the town is really Les Miles. And I see where he could be a help with the recruiting there and you know his prestige on winning. But you know, I would like to see Kevin Sumlin come in and do something with Mississippi," Carter said.

Until the seat is filled, fans will make their pitch to who they feel will continue State's winning culture.

"Man we already have a good program set up. Dan left some things in place, but you know it's time to take it to another level. And I think the 'Mad Hatter' knows how to do that,” Roseberry said.