The buildup to LSU-Ole Miss has already been loud, and Wednesday night added another twist: LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt was listed as doubtful in the SEC’s initial availability report.
That status landed like a jolt because there was no obvious sign Leavitt had been hurt in the Louisiana Tech game. The timing also raises questions about whether something lingered from the Clemson game, where he threw three interceptions.
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
Now the focus shifts to what it means for Saturday and whether this is a real setback or a little Lane Kiffin mind games. Kiffin has never been shy about using every edge available, and listing Leavitt as doubtful would force Ole Miss to prepare for both Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet.
That kind of uncertainty only adds to a week that has already been packed with noise in Oxford. The discussion around police and security presence has been swirling, and Tuesday brought another headline when Ole Miss served former Rebel Princewill Umanmielen with a lawsuit over unpaid buyout fees.
If Leavitt can’t go, the hit to LSU is enormous. Landen Clark would be making a major jump in competition after beginning his career at Elon, while Husan Longstreet would be in line for his first career start after backing up at USC last season.
The game already had plenty of layers, with Lane Kiffin returning to Oxford in his first SEC game as LSU’s head coach and facing former assistant Pete Golding. On top of that, Golding is now coaching Trinidad Chambliss, while Kiffin could be dealing with a backup quarterback in one of the toughest road environments around.
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Lane Kiffin Family Drama Just Added Another Twist To LSU Week
Landry Kiffin picked a familiar college-football backdrop for the launch of her new clothing brand, Fifth Year, rolling out the live sale during the LSU-Ole Miss game. The brand leans into activewear and gameday apparel, built around college colors and traditions, which makes the timing feel especially on-brand for a family that has spent plenty of time around both sidelines.
For LSU fans, the launch adds another layer to a week already shaped by the Kiffin familys connections to both programs. Landrys ties to LSU and Ole Miss give Fifth Year a built-in crossover appeal, and the coincidence of debuting it on game day only sharpened the spotlight around a matchup that was already going to draw attention well beyond the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Suddenly Has A Huge Ole Miss Question At Quarterback
An already important trip to Ole Miss got more complicated for LSU when quarterback Sam Leavitt was listed as doubtful because of an undisclosed injury. Leavitts availability had been one of the biggest factors in how this matchup was being framed, and his status now hangs over everything LSU is trying to sort out before kickoff.
If Leavitt cannot go, Elon transfer Landen Clark is expected to step in and make the start, which would put a lot more on LSUs shoulders in a tough road environment. The betting line has already moved in Ole Misss favor since the news broke, a pretty clear sign of how much this quarterback situation has changed the outlook for the Tigers. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Ole Miss Rivalry Just Picked Up An Ugly Off Field Twist
The LSU-Ole Miss rivalry already has plenty of edge on the field, but now it has spilled into the courtroom in a way that reaches straight into the Tigers roster. Ole Miss has filed breach-of-contract lawsuits against former Rebels Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper after both transferred to LSU, putting a legal wrinkle on what is usually just another bitter SEC football matchup.
Umanmielen was served court papers tied to the lawsuit just before LSUs game against Ole Miss, and he now has to respond with discovery documents as the case moves forward. The suit seeks nearly $1 million in penalties and is aimed at sorting out revenue-sharing obligations between the schools, turning a familiar rivalry into something far messier than a Saturday in Oxford or Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]