Rare among college coaches these days, LSU’s Les Miles at least doesn’t have to worry about where his team will be playing in the coming years.

In the topsy-turvy game of musical chairs among schools and conferences right now, many coaches don’t have that luxury — including West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen, with the BIg East being on such shaky ground.

“We are firmly and very happily competing in the SEC,” Miles said. “I have not given much thought to it because there is one league (SEC) that everyone wants to join, one league that was based on a geographical print in a tremendously competitive environment.

“I think that is the type of recipe that stands up over time.

“I could have been in a position where every two days or so I would have to meet with the athletic director and discuss which league looks better than that league. That doesn’t happen here.”

In other words, he could still be at Oklahoma State — his job before coming to LSU — where the Big 12 seems to be disintegrating.

“It’s hard for me to fathom that the foundation of the Big 12 isn’t a real quality one,” Miles said. “In other words, that it would not work over time. I would think they would be a conference that would look to add rather than lose members.

“That being said, there’s some great teams there, a very competitive conference, and if it does break up, any number of the schools would be great additions to any conference.”

* WAKE-UP CALL: LSU’s home game next week against Kentucky will have an 11:30 a.m. kickoff for television.

It will mark the first time since Sept. 30, 2006, that LSU plays host to a conference opponent in the time slot. In 2008, LSU played Appalachian State at 10 a.m. due to the threat of Hurricane Gustav.

* HAPPY HOUR: West Virginia’s Milan Puskar Stadium is one of the few college venues that serves beer inside the gates.

“If they serve then I’m sure there’s a little more enthusiasm for play,” Miles said.

Naturally, Miles was asked what he thought of the idea of selling beer in Tiger Stadium.

“If they served beer, here in Tiger Stadium, I feel that the upper decks might not hold it,” Miles said.

He added that such a decision would be up to the athletic director or chancellor (or, more likely, the LSU Board of Supervisors), but added, “”I promise you we’d enjoy playing in front of a Tiger Stadium that occasionally had a beer.”

* RANKED SCHEDULE: LSU is opening the season with three ranked teams in the first four weeks for the first time since 1988 when the Tigers got No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 18 Ohio State and No. 17 Florida.

They did it two other times, 1983 and 1975, but it’s the first time all three of the ranked opponents were played on the road.

In the past, LSU, 2-0 thus far against the ranked opponents, never won more than one of the games.

* UNSUNG HERO: FB James Stampley, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship, doesn’t have a carry this year, but Miles said his blocking been a big part of the running game.

“Guys that are selfless and work hard and want to contribute in any way, you a find a place for them,” Miles said. “Fullback is certainly one of those spots.”

Miles raved about “Stamps” blocking. According to the LSU media guide, Stampley has broken his own face mask 25 times in his four years at LSU.

“Our opponents know who he is,” Miles said.

* TRAPPED: LSU’s 15 tackles for losses against Mississippi State wasn’t a school record, but it was close. The Tigers had 17 in the 1999 game against Auburn.

* RED ZONE: LSU has a streak of 40 straight trips into the red zone where the Tigers have scored at least some points, either touchdown or field goal.

The streak dates back to last year’s game against McNeese.

But Miles wasn’t particularly pleased that the Tigers had to settle for four field goals last week against Mississippi State.

He said the problem was more second down than third down when LSU stalled.

“We didn’t really have that many short-yardage situations,” he said. “When we were in them, we did pretty well. But we were in more third-and-long or third-and-medium situations.”

* WHICH HAT FOR CORSO: ESPN’s Game Day will be on hand for its first-ever appearance at West Virginia — and the first appearance for any Mountaineer game.

But it’s the 16th time the popular morning scene-setter show has been on-site for an LSU game, including this year’s season-opener against Oregon in Arlington, Texas.

LSU is 11-4 in those game.