Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky Football: Could Les Miles Be Coming To Lexington?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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If you ask Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports, the Kentucky football program could soon be led by former LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles.

The Kentucky football program has invested a significant amount of time and money into head coach Mark Stoops. He’s in the process of turning the team around, which includes the renovation of the athletic facilities.

If Stoops doesn’t lead Kentucky to a bowl game in 2016, however, speculation exists that the Wildcats could part ways with the current head coach.

While Stoops is sitting on the hot seat, former LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles has already been burned by it. LSU parted ways with Miles after more than 11 glorious and unforgettable years.

Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports believes that the University of Kentucky is Miles’ most likely destination.

…if Stoops is fired, you have to think Miles would be a name Kentucky is interested in, and Kentucky would be a job Miles is interested in. It’s an SEC gig, but it’s in the SEC East where Miles wouldn’t have to deal with Nick Saban every season, and facing Nick Saban every year is one of the main reasons Miles is currently unemployed.

That would be quite the grab for Kentucky.

Miles led LSU to the 2007 BCS National Championship, the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, and two SEC titles. He accumulated a record of 114-34 at LSU, and went 28-21 during his four seasons with the Oklahoma State Cowboys from 2001 to 2004.

LSU went 7-4 in bowl games under Miles, and Oklahoma State made three consecutive bowl game appearances before he left to coach in the SEC.

Encouraging as that may be, it’d cost Kentucky $12 million to complete a buyout with Stoops.

Having established this, it’s far too soon to start the conversation about who should replace Stoops. Stoops has made Kentucky football a factor on the recruiting trails and upgraded the facilitates to the point of being on par with the SEC powerhouses.

Thus, while the thought of Miles coaching the Wildcats is enticing, it’s not a realistic conversation at this juncture.

Mark Stoops deserves to complete the push for a bowl game before anyone talks about his job security.