Joe Alleva may not admit it, but he let Les Miles twist in the wind.

The LSU athletic director did nothing to relieve the pressure on Miles as reports swirled that the embattled coach would be fired at the end of the season. He stood back and watched as Miles fielded constant questions about his future and fought to hold onto his team.

In the end, Miles survived an apparent effort to force his ouster. According to Football Scoop, “political forces” may have intervened and saved the coach, perhaps thanks in part to the Tigers’ 19-7 victory over Texas A&M in Saturday night’s regular-season finale at Death Valley.

Alleva’s choice to announce Miles’ job was safe only a few minutes after the end of the Texas A&M game showed he was well aware of the cloud that he had allowed to hover over Miles and the LSU program during a three-game losing streak.

Where were Alleva and school president F. King Alexander in the previous weeks? Why the sudden hurry to settle the controversy?

Now, the coach has the ball in this back-and-forth tussle. So how will Miles react now that he has a reprieve — at least for another year?

Can Miles maintain or repair relationships with forces at LSU who tried to push him out?

It might all work out. At 62, Miles probably doesn’t want to start another job at a different school.

Despite the job scare, Miles has plenty of incentive to stay at LSU as long as he can. He’s been at LSU for 11 years. He has the infrastructure and resources to win another national championship. All he needs is a passing game.

Leonard Fournette, perhaps the nation’s best player, must wait another year to enter the NFL Draft. And Miles has the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class according to 247Sports.com coming in to add to a roster already stocked with elite talent.

Miles may have the last laugh with his critics. He promised to update the Tigers offense, which shouldn’t be too difficult — if offensive coordinator Cam Cameron or his replacement can develop Brandon Harris into a capable passer or find a transfer or recruit to come in and take the reins of a talented attack with dangerous receivers.

The uncertainty surrounding his program may have cost Miles four-star QB Feleipe Franks, who changed his commitment from the Tigers to Florida. But Miles was reported to have a trip to Florida scheduled Tuesday to persuade Franks to recommit. Franks is reported to want to play for Cameron.

Regardless, it shouldn’t be too hard to recruit a talented quarterback to run an offense with Fournette and receivers including Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre.

Don’t bet against Miles getting the Tigers back on track. And if that happens, can Miles forget the indignities he was forced to suffer this season?

A winning football coach has more power than an AD. The disparity in annual salaries proves that. Miles makes $4.3 million. Alleva makes $725,000 with up to $175,000 more in incentives. Fans don’t chant the names of ADs, though they did boo Alleva on Saturday night.

Replacing a coach who’s posted a 111-32 record, won a national championship and played for another is tougher than replacing an AD.

But Miles probably won’t be bent on revenge. And he probably won’t look for another job to spite LSU. If you believe wide-spread reports — and common sense — he’s turned down Michigan, his alma mater, in the past.

Winning solves problems. Miles has the resources to win. If he can return the Tigers to national title contention, this season’s turmoil will be forgotten. If he can’t, he won’t survive another crisis.