LSU QB Sam Leavitt Listed as Doubtful for Ole Miss Game With Upper Body Injury
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt has been listed as doubtful on the program’s first SEC availability report ahead of Saturday night’s conference opener at Ole Miss. The designation stems from an upper body injury that kept Leavitt from throwing during Wednesday’s practice, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
Leavitt’s Recent Performance and Injury History
The injury news comes on the heels of Leavitt’s rebound performance against Louisiana Tech last weekend. Despite a three-interception first half, he finished with 366 total yards and four total touchdowns. LSU led by only a single possession at halftime after a turnover-filled opening two quarters in Tiger Stadium.
Head coach Lane Kiffin addressed the quarterback’s ball security issues following the win:
“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.”
Notably, Kiffin made no mention of an injury to his starting quarterback during this week’s media availability ahead of the league opener.
Through two games this season, Leavitt has thrown for 574 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions, while adding 135 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. The quarterback has battled injuries throughout his career, missing seven total games over the last two seasons at Arizona State—one game in 2024 due to a rib injury and six games in 2025 with a foot injury.
Backup Quarterback Options Behind Leavitt
If Leavitt cannot play, LSU’s top backup appears to be Landen Clark, a transfer from Elon who was named the 2025 CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year. Though listed as the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart, Clark has been the first signal-caller off the bench in both games this season. Last year at Elon, he threw 18 passing touchdowns and rushed for 11 more.
Also on the roster is Husan Longstreet, a USC transfer and former five-star prospect ranked as the No. 32 overall player and No. 4 quarterback in the 2025 class by 247Sports. As a freshman with the Trojans, Longstreet completed 13 of 15 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
SEC Availability Report Requirements and Timeline
The SEC’s mandatory availability reports are now in their third season. Schools must adhere to specific guidelines for three days leading up to kickoff in conference contests, with nightly updates beginning each Wednesday of game week. Final reports are due 90 minutes before kickoff, and schools face fines ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 for non-compliance, inaccurate reporting, or late submissions.
Coaches must release their initial availability report by 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday and update it daily, with the final report due 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Pre-game player status designations include:
- Available — Fully available (100% chance to play)
- Probable — Likely to play barring setbacks (75%)
- Questionable — Uncertain due to injury or condition (50%)
- Doubtful — Unlikely to play due to significant concerns (25%)
- Out — Will not participate (0%)
On game days, designations shift to “available,” “game-time decision,” or “out.”
Other LSU Players on the Availability Report
Beyond Leavitt, LSU’s initial report lists several other players:
- Out: Wide receiver Phillip Wright III, linebacker Jaiden Bracker, running back Raycine Guillory Jr.
- Questionable: Linebackers TJ Dottery and Tylen Singleton
- Probable: Four players, including Whit Weeks and Trey’Dez Green
LSU’s next injury report update is due Thursday night at 8:10 p.m. ET.
