Les Miles did all he could to give Leonard Fournette every opportunity possible to win a Heisman Trophy. He even set the dial of an already run-happy offense to “one-dimensional” in hopes of watching Fournette hoist the prize. Miles already has national champion on his resume and coaching a Heisman Trophy winner would have been icing on the cake in his coaching career.

But injuries incurred within the blocking scheme coupled with defenses overloading boxes prevented that from happening, at least this year.

What about next year?

Will there be a new coach at LSU? It certainly appears likely. If so, what does the future hold for Fournette if that happens?

He’s only been at LSU for two years, so the NFL in 2016 is not an option. Others have tried and failed in court to overturn the NFL’s there-year rule, so it’s doubtful Fournette tries that.

It’s been discussed often that Fournette might simply sit out a year to stay healthy and prepare for the NFL Draft in 2017, where he would surely be a top first-round pick. But that was back when Fournette was trashing defenses and 200-yard games had become commonplace. That was before Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss put an end to those gaudy stats and an end to the Heisman hype.

Now what? Where does Fournette go from here?

Much will be determined by the status of Miles at LSU. If retained, which seems less and less of a possibility with each passing tweet, it would be business as usual for Fournette. Miles finally had his centerpiece to go with a run-based philosophy that only a former offensive lineman in an era of brute force football could fully appreciate.

Very little would change in that unlikely situation, strategically speaking. Obviously, a healthy offensive line and improved quarterback play would relieve much of the burden from his shoulders. But that holds true regardless of who walks the sidelines of Tiger Stadium next season. The LSU line has not been good lately, but injuries and inexperience can be blamed for much of their woes.

Without a doubt, Fournette would be a Heisman favorite again next year.

Would a new coach – or a changed Les Miles – utilize Fournette’s immense abilities in a different way?

Obviously that depends on who the new guy is, but it seems likely that he would have to be someone who brings an updated approach to offense. Perhaps someone more apt to spreading defenses and allowing Fournette more freedom to run in open space as opposed to the quagmire he’s been forced to plod through these last three games.

Whatever the case, it seems unfathomable that Fournette would not remain the focal point of the offense moving forward.

It will be interesting to see what the future holds for both Fournette and for Miles. Both have experienced wild success early on, only to have it all come crashing down in a matter of a few weeks.

For Fournette it’s just a piece of hardware, albeit the most prestigious award in college football, that he’s seen slip through his fingers.

For Miles, however, it’s his job, although the $15 million buyout might cushion the fall.