Week three of fall camp is here, and LSU’s quarterback situation is already the biggest thing hanging over Baton Rouge.
All the attention is going to land on Lane Kiffin’s debut season, especially with LSU sitting 11th in the 2026 Preseason AP Poll. That ranking raises the heat around a roster that looks very different after the overhaul Kiffin put in place, and it leaves Sam Leavitt right in the middle of the conversation.
Leavitt is the player LSU needs to steady everything, but the next two weeks feel especially important for him. He says he’s fully healthy, yet Monday’s practice offered a reminder that August can wear on everybody. He was seen drinking more water than usual and wiping his face and arms repeatedly, and his timing was off on several deep balls.
That doesn’t mean much on its own in one practice. But for Leavitt, every rep matters because he has not played a full game in a long time.
When LSU opens against Clemson, it will be his first game action since October 25, 2025. He missed spring ball while dealing with a foot injury, and until he’s consistently on the field, the health questions aren’t going away.
Leavitt spoke to AP News about where he stands physically.
"I've been 100% for the past few months. I really don't think about it out on the field at all," Leavitt said. "My health is one thing that I take very seriously, whether it's the food I eat, the way I sleep, the way I recover."
That’s the version LSU has to bank on. Leavitt was the highest-rated quarterback in the transfer portal for a reason, and he was brought in to lead this new group and push LSU back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019.
If he plays at a high level, LSU’s ceiling is wide open. If not, the Tigers could be searching for answers in the SEC before long.
In Other News...
LSU Suddenly Has A Fall Camp Concern Before Clemson
LSUs 12th fall camp practice brought a little more clarity in one spot and a little more concern in another as the Tigers continued their buildup to Clemson. Sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett was back on the field in a non-contact jersey for the first time this preseason, but he still took part in drills and did not appear limited during the media viewing period.
The bigger question came from the absences, with sophomore running back Harlem Berry and junior defensive end Jordan Ross out again after missing the previous days work. For a camp already shaped by the push toward the opener, repeated missed practice time at two key spots is the kind of development LSU will keep watching closely even as junior quarterback Sam Leavitt continued to look sharp and efficient, connecting on several passes including deep throws. [Read more 🡒]
Ed Orgeron Brings A Familiar Jolt Back To LSU
Ed Orgeron is back around LSU in a familiar role, and his return has added a little old-school energy to a preseason camp full of fresh faces. After four seasons away from coaching, Orgeron has rejoined the program as a special assistant to recruiting and defense, and he has already been active in practices. His work has been especially noticeable with the defensive line, where his hands-on approach and long track record in college football have given LSU another experienced voice on a mostly new staff.
For a program that has leaned on change in recent years, Orgerons presence offers something different: familiarity, urgency and a clear sense of what the Tigers have been in the past. He remains known for the kind of passionate coaching style that can light up a practice field, and LSU is also counting on the recruiting edge that helped define his rise through the game. Even without a headline role, he has quickly become one of the more interesting additions around the program this fall. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Has A New Defensive Tackle Battle Fans Need To Watch
LSU is in the final stages of its offseason work with Lane Kiffins debut game against Clemson looming, and one of the more interesting subplots in Fall Camp is developing right in the middle of the defensive front. The Tigers added three defensive linemen last December, and all three true freshmen are now getting meaningful chances to show they belong as LSU sorts through its defensive tackle options.
The competition has become a real camp storyline because the staff is giving significant first-team run to a trio of newcomers, which says plenty about how unsettled the depth chart still is. For a defense that wants to be ready when the season opener arrives, the next stretch of camp will help determine how quickly the line can settle into place and which young tackles can handle the pressure of playing early. [Read more 🡒]