Nick Saban didn’t pull any punches on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ today, straight-up declaring there’s “absolutely nothing wrong with Sam Leavitt” and putting LSU’s injury report on blast. This came just days before LSU’s massive top-10 clash with Ole Miss on Saturday, and it’s got everyone buzzing about some serious gamesmanship.
Is Leavitt’s ‘Injury’ A Total Smoke Screen?
The whole situation started brewing earlier this week when LSU’s star quarterback, Sam Leavitt, popped up on the SEC availability report with a “doubtful” tag. That raised more than a few eyebrows, considering the guy finished LSU’s win over Louisiana Tech without any obvious injury. Fast forward to Thursday, and Leavitt’s status magically upgraded to “questionable” after reports, including one from On3, said he participated in the team’s walkthrough despite a supposed shoulder issue.
So, is Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin just playing mind games with his former employer, LSU? Nick Saban sure thinks so. When McAfee asked him about it, Saban didn’t hesitate: “Well, if I was a betting man, I would say there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Sam Leavitt.” He went even further, advising defensive players not to “lose your edge because you think he’s not going to play, and then he shows up and plays, and it’s a downer.” McAfee pressed him: “So you’re expecting him to play, whole?” Saban’s response? A definitive “100%.”
The SEC Policy and What It Means For LSU
Saban’s comments aren’t just trash talk, they highlight a real potential issue for LSU. The SEC has clear guidelines on these injury reports. For a player to be “doubtful,” it means he’s “unlikely to play due to significant injury concerns,” with only about a 25% chance of actually hitting the field. And here’s the kicker: the SEC explicitly prohibits “conduct that is found to be misleading.” Manipulating that injury report can lead to some hefty penalties. We’re talking fines ranging from $25,000 to a cool $100,000 for the school if they’re caught with inaccurate or late reports. If Saban’s right, LSU could be in for a world of hurt beyond just the field.
Who Steps Up If Saban Is Wrong?
While Leavitt’s status is definitely trending towards playing, what happens if Saban is, against all odds, wrong? LSU has Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet waiting in the wings. Clark has seen more action as Leavitt’s backup this season. Against Clemson, he went 5-of-7 for 72 yards and a touchdown, adding 23 rushing yards on four carries. In the Louisiana Tech game, he was 2-of-3 for 37 yards, plus a rushing touchdown and 19 yards on three carries. Clark, a three-star transfer from Elon, started all 12 games last season, throwing for 2,321 yards and 18 touchdowns, along with 11 rushing scores and 614 ground yards. Longstreet, a former five-star prospect from the 2025 class, played against Clemson but sat out the Louisiana Tech game.
Saturday’s top-10 showdown between LSU and Ole Miss is already appointment viewing, but now, with Saban’s bombshell, all eyes will be glued to Leavitt’s status. Will he play? Will the SEC step in? This is going to be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply