LSU’s quarterback room just got a serious jolt of electricity - and so did the Tigers’ 2026 expectations.
When Sam Leavitt, the former Arizona State signal-caller and top-ranked player in the transfer portal, committed to LSU earlier this month, it wasn’t just another offseason headline. It was a statement.
Leavitt brings both talent and intrigue to Baton Rouge, and he’s stepping into an offensive system that’s made a habit of developing high-level quarterbacks. Now, with a fresh start and a proven coaching staff behind him, the buzz around LSU football is getting louder.
We won’t see Leavitt in live action until September, but the early indicators from the oddsmakers are already rolling in. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Leavitt enters the 2026 season with +1300 odds to win the Heisman Trophy - a solid position that puts him right in the thick of the race.
He’s currently tied with four other notable names: Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin, Dante Moore, and Gunner Stockton. Ahead of him?
Just three - Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Texas’ Arch Manning, and Indiana’s Josh Hoover.
For some LSU fans, seeing Leavitt outside the top three might feel like a slight. But there’s context here.
His 2025 campaign didn’t quite go according to plan. A foot injury forced him to shut things down early, requiring season-ending surgery.
And while modern sports medicine has worked wonders in recent years, bouncing back to full strength - especially at the quarterback position - isn’t always a quick turnaround. Timing, rhythm, footwork - all of it takes reps, and Leavitt will need time to settle in.
There’s also the matter of the offensive line. LSU hit the transfer portal hard this offseason, retooling a roster that needed upgrades.
But as any coach will tell you, talent on paper doesn’t always translate to chemistry in the trenches. The Tigers’ O-line struggled at times in 2025, and if those issues linger into the fall, it could limit what Leavitt is able to do - especially in terms of putting up the kind of numbers that catch Heisman voters’ eyes.
Still, there’s plenty of reason for optimism in Baton Rouge. Lane Kiffin has a well-earned reputation for getting the most out of his quarterbacks, and Leavitt has the tools to thrive in this system.
He’s got the arm talent, the mobility, and the football IQ. What he needs now is protection, continuity, and time to gel with a promising group of playmakers.
And don’t overlook the coaching additions in the trenches. New offensive line coaches Eric Wolford and James Cregg are tasked with stabilizing a unit that could be the key to unlocking Leavitt’s full potential. If they can get that group firing by September, Leavitt’s ceiling shoots way up.
He’ll have help around him, too. LSU’s backfield is loaded with talent, and the receiving corps is deep with upside. Add in a defense that should be good enough to get the ball back in his hands more often than not, and you’ve got the ingredients for a breakout season.
Is Leavitt a lock for the Heisman? No - and that’s not the point.
What matters is that he’s in the conversation, with a real shot to elevate both his game and his team. For LSU fans, that’s more than enough to be excited about heading into 2026.