HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Les Miles of the LSU Tigers waits near the bench area before the start of their game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 29, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

ESPN announced Wednesday that former LSU coach Les Miles will serve as a guest analyst for ESPNU’s National Signing Day coverage Feb. 1, begging the obvious question: Is a more permanent partnership between ESPN and Miles inevitable?

Even before Miles was fired from LSU in September, fans and writers were speculating that he’d be a great fit on TV. Awful Announcing’s Ian Casselberry reasoned that the colorful coach would be the logical candidate to replace Lee Corso on GameDay, and two months later Football Scoop reported that ESPN was indeed interested in hiring Miles.

Miles has said he would rather coach than work in TV, but he struck out on all the major head coaching positions this offseason and appears headed for a season away from the game. TV may be his fallback plan, but it appears time to put Plan B into effect.

For now, Miles will appear next week on the ESPNU Signing Day Special, where he will share insight into recruiting and probably crack a few jokes. According to an ESPN press release, he’ll be on air throughout the day, joining hosts Matt Schick and Joe Tessitore and analysts Tom Luginbill, Craig Haubert, Mike Bellotti, Mack Brown, Joey Galloway and David Pollack on the network’s Signing Day coverage.

Wednesday could be a test run for Miles and for ESPN, with a permanent gig very much a possibility in the near future.

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.

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