LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt’s official ‘doubtful’ status for this weekend’s massive showdown at Ole Miss just dropped, confirming an upper-body injury that could sideline the Tigers’ most important player. Talk about a curveball right before Lane Kiffin’s anticipated return to Oxford, huh? This news hits hard, especially since Leavitt didn’t even look hurt in last week’s win over Louisiana Tech.
The Leavitt Rollercoaster Continues
It’s wild, right? Leavitt was a no-show for Wednesday’s practice, but then sources confirmed he actually participated in Thursday’s walkthrough. So, what’s really going on? We know it’s an upper-body injury, but Kiffin stayed silent on any injury to his star QB earlier this week. You remember last weekend, right? Leavitt started that game against Louisiana Tech with a brutal three-interception first half. LSU was only up by a single possession at halftime because of those turnovers. But then the dude *rallied* big time, finishing with a ridiculous 366 total yards and four total touchdowns. Kiffin even called him out after that game, saying “Sam’s gotta do a better job taking care of the ball” and “the red zone is where you gotta finish drives.” He definitely wasn’t talking about an injury then, that’s for sure. Leavitt’s season so far has been a mixed bag, with 574 passing yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions, but also 135 rushing yards and five scores through two games. And this isn’t his first rodeo with injuries either, he missed one game in 2024 with ribs and six in 2025 with a foot injury at Arizona State.
Who’s Stepping Up If Leavitt Can’t Go?
So, if Leavitt can’t go or is severely limited, who’s stepping into that high-pressure spot against Ole Miss? All eyes are on Landen Clark, a transfer from Elon. He was the 2025 CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year, which is nothing to sneeze at! He’s technically listed as third on the depth chart, but he’s been the first guy off the bench in both games this season. Last year at Elon, he absolutely lit it up with 18 passing touchdowns and 11 rushing scores. Then there’s Husan Longstreet, a USC transfer who was a five-star prospect, ranked as the No. 32 overall player and No. 4 quarterback in the 2025 class. As a freshman with the Trojans, he completed 13 of 15 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. It’s a tough spot to be in, having your main guy banged up, but at least LSU has some talent waiting in the wings.
This ‘doubtful’ status for Sam Leavitt completely shifts the dynamic for LSU heading into the Ole Miss game. You’ve got to wonder how much that upper-body injury is affecting him, especially with his past injury history. Will Clark or Longstreet get their shot, or will Leavitt gut it out? The Tigers are gonna need everyone to step up big time if they want to get a win in Oxford with their most important player potentially on the sidelines. Saturday night cannot come soon enough to see how this plays out!
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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