As Lane Kiffin begins shaping LSU’s roster for his first season at the helm in Baton Rouge, one question looms large: who’s going to be the Tigers’ starting quarterback in 2026? Right now, Michael Van Buren is the only scholarship QB set to return, and while he’s a promising talent, the depth chart is thin-and the stakes are high. That’s why all eyes are on the transfer portal, and one name in particular is starting to gain traction: Sam Leavitt.
Leavitt, who’s currently at Arizona State, is emerging as a potential game-changing addition for LSU. And when you look at the fit, it’s hard not to see the logic.
Lane Kiffin has a well-earned reputation for maximizing quarterback talent, especially through the portal. At Ole Miss, he turned Jaxson Dart into a first-round NFL Draft pick.
Just this past season, he helped Trinidad Chambliss go from a Division II standout to a national name. That kind of track record speaks volumes, and it’s why Leavitt to LSU is a pairing that’s generating real buzz.
Leavitt’s journey has already taken him through some of the game’s most competitive stops. He started at Michigan State in 2023 before transferring to Arizona State, where he truly broke out in 2024.
That season, Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns against just six interceptions, while also adding 443 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. He led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff-a massive leap for a program that had been searching for an identity.
Heading into 2025, expectations were sky-high. Leavitt was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, but a foot injury that required surgery cut his season short.
Still, when he was on the field, he delivered. In just seven games, he threw for 1,628 yards and 10 touchdowns with only three picks, and he remained a threat on the ground with 306 rushing yards and five more touchdowns.
Even in a shortened season, the dual-threat ability was on full display.
If Leavitt is looking to boost his NFL stock, the SEC offers the kind of weekly competition that scouts love. Facing future pros every Saturday is a different kind of proving ground, and LSU could offer him that stage.
And from LSU’s perspective, the need is urgent. The Tigers’ offense struggled in 2025, finishing 15th in the SEC in scoring with just 21.8 points per game.
They didn’t crack 25 points in a single game against an FBS opponent. That’s not going to cut it in the SEC West, and it’s certainly not the standard Kiffin is aiming for.
Enter Leavitt, a quarterback with big-game experience, proven production, and the kind of mobility that can keep a defense honest. Pair that with Kiffin’s offensive mind, and it’s not hard to imagine a quick turnaround in Baton Rouge. The pieces are there for something special-if LSU can land their guy.
The quarterback carousel is spinning, and LSU is in a position where they need to make a move. With Kiffin calling the shots and Leavitt potentially on the market, this is a storyline worth watching closely.