With the Michigan job being open at the end of the season a foregone conclusion, sources within college coaching are starting to buzz about who may get to lead the storied program and replace Brady Hoke.

Sources floated four names to 247Sports earlier today....

Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh- These are the two every Michigan fan dreams of and talks about. Trouble is, both are NFL coaches who are successful at that level and seem to prefer coaching at that level. Never say never, but put both of these guys in the longshot category.

Dan Mullen- The Mississippi State head coach will see his name attached to nearly every major opening this offseason. Mullen has the Bulldogs ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history and is in the thick of the college football playoff race and could get the Bulldogs back to the SEC Championship Game for the first time since 1998. Imagine Mullen at Michigan and former boss Urban Meyer at Ohio State? Intriguing.

Butch Jones- Jones is a native of Saugatuck, Mich., and prior to coming to Tennessee, he spent the majority of his career in the B1G footprint. Jones can recruit, is a dynamic offensive coach and his ties to the state mean that he understands what being the head football coach at Michigan is all about. Jones has UT on the upswing and just like Mark Dantonio and Brian Kelly before him, enjoyed a great run at Cincinnati prior to heading to a Power 5 conference. Two different college coaching sources said in their opinion, Jones would have strong interest in the position.

Of course, Michigan alum and LSU head coach Les Miles is a name that will come up just as it came up in 2007 when he nearly took the position. Sources close to Miles indicate that given the Tigers talent level that they don't "think" Miles would entertain a return to his alma mater at this time.

Michigan athletics director Dave Brandon also is considered to be on the hot seat and one prominent source tells us that his status is "50-50" and a lot of any potential football coaching search depends on what his status ultimately ends up being.