LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s top-10 clash at Ole Miss due to an upper-body injury and a sore throwing shoulder. The Arizona State transfer was limited in practice and did not throw Wednesday, leaving backups Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet in line if he cannot go.
No. 7 LSU faces a major question mark under center ahead of its Southeastern Conference opener. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has been designated as doubtful on the initial SEC availability report for Saturday night’s rivalry showdown against No. 8 Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, according to Field Level Media.
Leavitt is dealing with a sore throwing shoulder and an upper-body injury that kept him from throwing during Wednesday’s practice session, as CBS Sports reported.
Practice Absence and SEC Availability Designation
The SEC’s mandatory availability report slotted Leavitt into the doubtful category, which under conference definitions means a player has a 25% chance to play and is unlikely to play due to significant concerns. Leavitt did not appear to suffer a glaring injury during last Saturday’s 45-14 home victory over Louisiana Tech, later telling reporters after the game that he was simply just focusing on tonight, getting better, getting the body healthy, while adding that facing Ole Miss would be an incredible opportunity.
“I’m just focusing on tonight, getting better, getting the body healthy,” Leavitt said when asked whether he was looking forward to facing Ole Miss. “But no, it’s going to be an incredible opportunity.”
Sam Leavitt, LSU quarterback
Despite speaking postgame without visible distress, Leavitt missed a scheduled Tuesday media availability session, according to an LSU spokesperson. LSU head coach Lane Kiffin had offered no public hint regarding his starting quarterback’s physical status during his Monday news conference.
Backups Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet Wait in the Wings
If Leavitt cannot take the field, LSU will turn to other options under center for Kiffin’s program. LSU’s backup quarterback appears to be Landen Clark, a transfer from Elon who was the 2025 CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year. Clark is technically listed as No. 3 on the depth chart, but has been first off the bench in both games this season. He has gone 7-for-10 for 109 yards and a touchdown for LSU in mop up duty through two weeks. As for Longstreet, he’s a redshirt freshman who transferred to the Tigers from USC.
Leavitt has appeared in each of LSU’s first two games, completing 62.1 percent of his throws for 574 yards and two touchdowns while getting picked off four interceptions. He’s also rushed for 135 yards and five scores, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt. His turnover struggles surfaced in the first half against Louisiana Tech, where he threw three consecutive interceptions in the first half before finishing with 366 total yards and four total touchdowns. Sam's gotta do a better job taking care of the ball,
Kiffin said in the aftermath. “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. So maybe it was perfect for us that we needed something like that, ’cause it’s a game we play good on offense in games.”
Additional Injury Concerns Across the LSU Roster
Leavitt is not the only key contributor whose status is up in the air for the weekend. LSU linebacker TJ Dottery, the Tigers’ leading tackler, was listed as questionable. Linebacker Tylen Singleton has also been listed as “questionable. With Dottery, Singleton, and others on the report, all of LSU’s linebacker experience is in question entering the game. Meanwhile, reserves Phillip Wright III, Jaiden Braker, and Raycine Guillory are listed as
out.”
The Tigers will need stability on both sides of the ball as Kiffin prepares for the matchup. Both schools have started this year at 2-0. The upcoming SEC matchup carries additional intrigue in 2026, as LSU head coach Lane Kiffin is set to travel to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the first time since leaving Ole Miss to become head coach of the Tigers during the 2025 season. The Rebels opened their 2025 campaign with an 11-1 record under Kiffin and were headed towards a College Football Playoff appearance, although he departed the school to sign a seven-year contract worth $91 million with LSU. Pete Golding took over at Ole Miss following Kiffin’s exit, ending the season with a 13-2 record while advancing to the CFP semifinals.
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