LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt has been officially listed as ‘doubtful’ on the team’s initial injury report, sending shockwaves through the program just days before their massive top-10 showdown against Ole Miss. This isn’t some minor tweak either. CBS Sports is reporting it stems from an upper body injury, and to make matters worse, Leavitt didn’t even throw in Wednesday’s practice. Talk about a gut punch for the Tigers.
The Injury Nobody Saw Coming and Kiffin’s Tough Truth
What makes this ‘doubtful’ status so wild is Leavitt didn’t look injured at all in last week’s win over Louisiana Tech. He went off for 366 total yards and four total touchdowns, even after a rough three-interception first half. Seriously, how do you drop that kind of performance and then suddenly be ‘doubtful’ with an upper body issue? That game against Louisiana Tech was way too close, with LSU leading by only a single possession at halftime thanks to those early turnovers. Head Coach Lane Kiffin didn’t mince words after that one, saying, “Sam’s gotta do a better job taking care of the ball… We made a lot of yards, and we were smooth through that at times, but obviously, the red zone is where you gotta finish drives.” Funny how Kiffin didn’t mention an injury during his media availability this week, right? So far this season, Leavitt’s thrown for 574 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions, but he’s also added 135 rushing yards and five scores with his legs. You can’t deny his impact, even with the ball security issues.
Leavitt’s Injury History and the Backup Plan
This isn’t Leavitt’s first rodeo with injuries, which has to be a major concern for LSU fans. He missed a total of seven games over the last two seasons while at Arizona State: one with ribs in 2024 and six with a foot injury in 2025. Now he’s got an ‘unknown’ status for 2026. This kid has a history, and it’s rearing its head at the worst possible time. So, who’s up if Leavitt can’t go? Landen Clark, a transfer from Elon, is technically No. 3 on the depth chart, but he’s been the first one off the bench in both games this season. Clark was the 2025 CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year, throwing 18 passing touchdowns and rushing for 11 more last season at Elon. Then there’s Husan Longstreet, a five-star prospect and USC transfer who completed 13 of 15 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown as a freshman last year. LSU has options, but losing your starting QB for a top-10 league opener is never ideal.
The SEC’s availability reports are a serious deal, with schools facing big fines for non-compliance. LSU had to release this initial report by Wednesday night, and they’ll keep updating it daily until 90 minutes before kickoff on Saturday. This showdown against Ole Miss isn’t just another game, it’s a critical league opener, and Leavitt’s status is hanging over everything. We’ll be watching for every update leading up to that kickoff.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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