I live in the second largest media market in the country. During my 50 minute commute, I listen to Dan Patrick and Colin Cowherd. My browser has a tab open to ESPN and Foxsports on start-up. In the afternoon, I listen to LA and SanDiego sports talk stations. Fox Sports becomes the background for my dinner preparation and cleanup and I bounce between ESPN and local coverage until I settle in to watch whatever I have DVR'd.
During this orgy of sports blab, the only time I have heard MSU mentioned has been the general rant about how few Black coaches there are now that "Sly Croom has been let go..blah, blah, blah... right way...blah, blah, blah...Turner Gill." Likewise, the only time Petersen's name hit the sports news was when Bellotti named Chip Kelly his heir apparent. "Bellotti named Chip Kelly as future head coach...blah, blah, blah... widely known that Chris Petersen coveted the Oregon spot... blah, blah, blah... Statue of Liberty play."
Ole Miss get mentioned only as the team that "lucked up and beat Florida in the Swamp," but if I were to base my knowledge of the Mississippi State football situation on "national media," I could easily assume that JWS was still coach.
Another, unscientific measure. If you go to News.Google.com and search "auburn coaching vacancy," you get 121 hits. If you search "mississippi-state coaching vacancy," you get 38.