LSU is reeling, fresh off an overtime loss at Kentucky, and quarterback Sam Leavitt’s turnover problem is flat-out shocking. The guy has tossed eight interceptions in just six games this season, including one in every single outing, and that’s more than any other quarterback in the entire FBS. Talk about a rough start to the year for a team that had sky-high expectations.
Kiffin’s Crew on the Brink and Leavitt’s Costly Mistakes
Let’s be real, LSU (4-2, 1-2 SEC) is in a place no one expected for Lane Kiffin’s squad. He took over a program with deep pockets, flipped the roster into one of the most talented in the country, and now they’re sitting on two losses at the midpoint. It’s a familiar spot for Tigers fans, just not one they wanted to see under Kiffin. Leavitt’s arm has put up 1,496 yards and 10 touchdowns, but those eight picks are brutal. A third conference loss this weekend would pretty much erase any margin for error in November, with Alabama and Texas still coming to Baton Rouge. You’ve gotta wonder how much longer they can keep throwing picks at this rate.
Mississippi State’s Injury Nightmare and a Familiar Foe
On the other side, No. 16 Mississippi State (4-1, 2-1 SEC) is rolling into this top-25 showdown with its own set of serious headaches. Their sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor, who was deep in the Heisman conversation back in September, finished their game against Alabama with a boot on his right foot. Taylor has been legit this year, throwing for 1,450 yards and an SEC-best 17 touchdowns against only four interceptions. He’s got three scores in the last five games, a stretch not seen since Jayden Daniels in 2023. But he first hurt that foot in the Missouri win, and it showed against the Tide, where he was sacked five times and ended with minus-26 rushing yards before leaving the game. Coach Jeff Lebby isn’t saying if Taylor will play, leaving fans guessing about whether redshirt freshman Parker Puckett or AJ Swann (who spent a season at LSU) will be under center.
It gets worse, too. Running back Fluff Bothwell, who’s got 403 yards and three touchdowns on 74 carries, also ended the Alabama game with a boot on his left foot and had only one carry all afternoon. The Bulldogs were outrushed 179-18 by Alabama, which is just a total disaster. Now they’re facing an LSU defense that, through four weeks, ranked second nationally against the run, allowing only 47.5 yards per game. Yeah, Kentucky did find some cracks last week, with CJ Baxter breaking a 77-yard run and the Wildcats tallying 155 yards on the ground, but still.
This whole matchup is also a personal one for Lebby and Kiffin. Lebby used to run Kiffin’s offense at Ole Miss, and their 2020 attack set an SEC record for total offense in conference play. Kiffin himself called Lebby “a huge part of our success there” and admitted this week, “I don’t like playing against him because they go so fast.”
This Saturday’s showdown is huge for both programs, with LSU desperate to avoid a third conference loss that would crush their November hopes, and Mississippi State needing answers on offense if Taylor and Bothwell can’t go. It’s a top-25 clash where everything feels on the line, especially for Kiffin’s squad.
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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