Few coaches who have had as much success as Les Miles seem to face the kind of constant scrutiny LSU’s head man. It’s not all undeserved, but some of it is out of hand. Miles, for all the complexities he exhibits as a coach, doesn’t seem at risk for losing his job anytime soon.

Miles has a national championship to his name and, while LSU has had a few seasons on the outskirts of contention, this one included, he keeps on winning. LSU is still in the throes of an era that’s seen them prosper like no other. This run started before Miles came to town, but it’s by Miles’ hand that that it’s kept on rolling.

This campaign has certainly not been a banner example of the success Miles has brought to Baton Rouge. Instead of competing for a national championship, the Tigers are competing for a mid-tier bowl game. They’ll have to win on Thursday to finish .500 in the SEC, and win the bowl game as well to just get to nine wins.

Depending on how you look at it, though, that’s a great accomplishment. Of course, the biggest criticism you’ll hear of this year’s team is of how Miles has handled the quarterback situation. Nearly everyone can agree that Anthony Jennings isn’t a long-term solution, barring some incredible improvement in the off-season. Freshman Brandon Harris, who has impressed in some stretches and fallen flat in others when he’s gotten in the game, sits on the bench, with Miles failing to make good on promises to find him playing time.

There’s really no debating that the situation is not good, and that’s being kind. When a team can’t complete 50 percent of its passes, there’s a problem. Despite the glaring lack of a passing offense, LSU still sits at 7-4 with a chance to finish as high as tied for third record-wise in the West is a testament to the job Miles has done.

That’s obviously a double-edged sword, as many would say the team would be looking at a much better record and bowl bid if Harris had been given the reins. The kid, despite his gaudy performances in favorable situations, clearly hasn’t shown the coaching staff enough in practice to warrant taking the starting role from Jennings.

And if Miles did turn it over to his freshman and the team lost some of the close games they’ve pulled out, what would people be saying about LSU sporting a losing record? Just a guess, but it would be just as unkind, if not worse than the complaints you hear now.

The Tigers are coming off a stretch of four-straight 10-win seasons, and they’ve won more than 100 games during Miles first 10 years in Baton Rouge. In that time, he’s put his unique stamp on a program that, before his predecessor, hadn’t seen. Part of the problem might be that predecessor, Nick Saban. It often seems like Miles is competing with the specter of Saban, the “what could have been” had Saban not bolted Baton Rouge for the NFL.

Whatever foundation Saban put down in Baton Rouge, Miles has built upon it, taking it higher than LSU has ever been. This season hasn’t been ideal, but Miles has a young team right in the middle of the most brutal division in college football, with the pieces there to make a big jump next year.

Regardless of the outcome against Texas A&M on Thursday, Miles isn’t going anywhere.