On Monday Les Miles was still basking somewhat in the afterglow of LSU’s gut-check victory over Alabama, and saw no reason to name a starting quarterback so early in the week.

Then came Tuesday, followed logically by Wednesday.

Nothing.

And now Thursday.

Still … nothing.

“It’s not significant to me for me to name anyone anything,” Miles said of a “quarterback situation” that got more ticklish after Jordan Jefferson came off the bench in relief of Jarrett Lee to direct all of the Tigers’ scoring drives against Alabama.

Translation: you’ll know when the Tigers run their first play Saturday night against Western Kentucky.

Bottom line: it probably doesn’t matter who starts.

Miles made it perfectly clear that there will be plenty of work for both Jefferson and Lee as the Tigers try to sneak their No. 1 ranking through the final three games of the regular season.

“We have two quarterbacks who have contributed significantly to this point in the season,” Miles said. “I think that will continue. I think we will need two and will go forward without making any real determination at this point.”

Lee got rave reviews for “managing the offense” while Jefferson was away on a four-game suspension to start the season, and the patient, fifth-year senior got the bulk of the playing time even after Jefferson returned for the four victories leading up to Alabama.

But Lee, who threw only one interception in the first eight games, was picked off on consecutive throws against the Tide — can you say freshman flashback? — opening the door for Jefferson.

Lee didn’t play in the second quarter after serving up an interception late in the first, and didn’t return again after his one play of the third quarter also went to the wrong address.

Jefferson didn’t exactly light up the Tide, completing 6 of 10 passes for 67 yards, but his running ability (43 yards on 11 carries) was instrumental in cobbling together just enough offense to prevail.

LSU’s most consistent play against the Tide was the option, which Lee doesn’t really run.

“I think we can always turn to how well the quarterbacks (are) playing,” Miles said. “It is always about, in this series of the game, which quarterback gives us the better opportunity. I expect that both quarterbacks will play.”

Both are experienced seniors, and that helps the situation, Miles said, adding that he didn’t feel any need to coddle Lee after his first rough outing of the season.

“He’s more veteran,” Miles said of Lee. “He understands the situation better.

“I don’t really care about ‘getting him back on the horse (that bucked him)’ or the philosophy of ‘let’s make the quarterback comfortable.’

“We need to execute the offense; we need to play. That’s the motivation for Jarrett Lee.

“We’re not soothing or trying to comfort a young ego. He understands football. This is a quality young man. Let’s just prepare and let’s move on to the next game.”

Of course, with LSU as a 41-point favorite over Western Kentucky this week, the better quarterback question might be: how soon does heir apparent Zach Mettenberger get into the game?

LSU head coach Les Miles is trying to downplay the significance of heir No. 1 ranking through who will start at quarterback Saturday against Western Kentucky

Bill Haber