The LSU-Ole Miss game already had many storylines, but Sam Leavitt’s sudden injury status has added another twist. Leavitt was unexpectedly marked as doubtful for Saturday’s top-10 matchup against Ole Miss, despite not showing obvious signs of injury during LSU’s 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech last weekend. The SEC’s earliest injury report noted Leavitt with an undisclosed upper-body injury.
A shocker on the SEC injury report, with LSU starting quarterback Sam Leavitt listed as doubtful. pic.twitter.com/jb7PMrblqR
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 17, 2026
Reports indicate Leavitt did not throw in Wednesday’s practice, raising concerns about his availability. However, the timing has raised questions because there was no obvious injury during Saturday’s game.
This has led to speculation about whether LSU is genuinely dealing with an injury or possibly using the injury report to create confusion for Ole Miss. These are just theories; no evidence suggests LSU is deliberately manipulating Leavitt’s status.
No one on the Ole Miss staff is convinced that LSU QB Sam Leavitt’s “doubtful” status on the injury report is “sincere” or that he’ll miss Saturday’s top-10 clash in Oxford, per @PeteThamel. pic.twitter.com/QP0h7ZxUlN
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 17, 2026
The situation is especially intriguing as LSU head coach Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford for the first time since leaving Ole Miss for LSU. The Tigers and Rebels are ranked No. 7 and No. 8 respectively, making Leavitt’s availability a major storyline.
If Leavitt cannot play, LSU will need to turn to a backup quarterback, with Landen Clark. Meanwhile, additional injury updates later in the week should clarify the situation.
For now, Leavitt’s status remains a key question heading into Saturday night.
