With rumors swirling, LSU's Les Miles told to focus on Texas A&M

LSU head coach Les Miles faces uncertainty about his future as he prepares his Tigers for the regular-season finale against Texas A&M on Saturday night.

LSU Board of Supervisors member Stanley Jacobs released a statement Saturday concerning the fate of Miles with speculation this game could be his last after 11 years in Baton Rouge..

"There has been much speculation that Les Miles is coaching his last game tonight," Jacobs, who is the vice-chairman of the athletic committee on the board and a member since 1997, said in a statement to Gannett Louisiana. "For that to happen, there would have had to have been a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. No recommendation has been made. He is our coach, and I wish him well."

LSU athletic director Joe Alleva told Miles this week that nothing had been decided and to focus on the Texas A&M game, a source told ESPN's Chris Low on Saturday. Alleva told Miles to go beat Texas A&M and give the LSU decision-makers "some ammo." the source said.

A source told ESPN's Joe Schad on Friday that LSU leadership is "heavily in favor" of a change but that a final decision has not been made and that Miles has not been formally informed he will not return.

Another ESPN source said Miles is "very likely" to be let go soon and that Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher is still LSU's primary target to replace him. But according to the ESPN source, there is still "a chance" Miles could return next season, especially if Fisher decides to stay in Tallahassee. Fisher is expected to make a decision about his future in the next couple of days, the source said.

There were conflicting reports of Miles' luncheon meeting with the LSU Gridiron Club on Friday.

One booster source told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that Miles indicated Saturday's game would be his last. According to the report, Miles said he would not be coaching the bowl game and did not stay to answer questions.

However, Miles appeared on the SEC Network later Friday and denied making any suggestion to the Gridiron Club that Saturday would be his last game as coach of the Tigers.

"I had no suggestion that this was going to be my last game in Tiger Stadium," said Miles, speaking of the booster meeting.

LSU's sports information director said Miles used the meeting as an opportunity to thank members of the Gridiron Club if Saturday turned out to be his last game at LSU.

"He was basically using it as an opportunity to thank them because he wasn't sure if he'd be in front of them again," SID Michael Bonnette said. "He by no means resigned or gave any indication of tomorrow being his last game at all."

LSU gave a dismal effort in a 38-17 loss to Ole Miss last Saturday that fueled more speculation about Miles' job status. The third straight loss dropped the Tigers to 7-3 this season.

Miles said Monday that he would not address his future until after the regular season.

Miles has a 110-32 record in 11 seasons with the Tigers and has won 10 or more games seven times. He won the BCS National Championship in 2007 and lost in the national title game in 2011.

Miles' team started 7-0 this season behind the success of star running back Leonard Fournette. But a loss to Alabama on Nov. 7 started a three-game losing streak and LSU has been outscored 99-47 during the skid.

Sources told the Times-Picayune that influential boosters had put together enough money to buy out Miles' contract, which runs through 2019.

The $15 million buyout is payable over eight years and includes an additional $2 million total payable to assistant coaches who have a "Les Miles clause" in their deals.