LSU may be headed into one of the biggest games on its schedule with a new face under center.
Sam Leavitt was tagged doubtful on the initial injury report for Sept. 16, putting Landen Clark in position to make his first start for the No. 7 Tigers when they meet No.
9 Ole Miss on Sept. 19 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
CT on ABC.
The matchup also brings Lane Kiffin back into the spotlight. He’s now at LSU after leaving Ole Miss before last year’s College Football Playoff.
Clark has already seen the field in both LSU games this season, and the junior has a background that stretches back to Elon, the FCS program near Greensboro, North Carolina, where he began his college career. Through two games this year, he has completed 7 of 10 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown while adding 42 rushing yards and another score on seven carries.
His production at Elon was much bigger. Last season, Clark threw for 2,321 yards and 18 touchdowns against eight interceptions, finishing with a 56% completion rate.
He also ran for 614 yards and 11 touchdowns. At Elon, he earned CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the Phil Steele Freshman All-America third team in 2025.
Clark is listed at 6 feet tall and 198 pounds, and he’s from Radford, Virginia.
There’s also a question of whether Husan Longstreet could be the one to take over. He was listed as LSU’s backup in the first two games, even though Clark has handled that role most of the season. Longstreet is a 6-1, 200-pound sophomore and a former five-star recruit from Corona, California, who transferred from USC this offseason.
Last season at USC, Longstreet appeared in four games and completed 13 of 15 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 11 times for 76 yards and two scores.
He already got a snap of action in LSU’s opener, hitting his lone pass for 33 yards and adding a 3-yard run.
In Other News...
LSU Ole Miss Rivalry Just Turned Personal For Lane Kiffin
With the Ole Miss-LSU matchup approaching, the buildup has already spilled far beyond the usual trash talk. Landry Kiffin, the daughter of LSU head coach Lane Kiffin and a student at Ole Miss, took to social media to address signs and comments directed at her that crossed a line, adding a deeply personal layer to a rivalry game that already carries plenty of heat.
She also pushed back forcefully against sexual allegations made about her involving an Ole Miss player, saying she has never met the player and criticizing fellow students for the way they handled the moment. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, but the attention around it now includes a reminder that rivalry weekend can turn ugly well before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Fans Face A Real Game Day Risk This LSU Weekend
Ole Miss is getting ready for one of the marquee dates on the home schedule, and the timing could not be less forgiving. With LSU coming to Oxford and a huge crowd expected to pour in, the weekend is shaping up to bring mid-to-upper 90s heat along with the usual traffic, tailgating and long hours outdoors that come with a big SEC game.
Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi and other local hospitals are stepping up emergency staffing in anticipation of heat-related illnesses, a reminder that this kind of atmosphere can turn dangerous fast. Medical professionals are urging fans to hydrate well before kickoff and watch closely for signs of heat exhaustion, especially if alcohol is part of the day, because the combination can make a hot football weekend even riskier. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Heading To Oxford Just Got A Rivalry Warning
Saturday nights matchup between Ole Miss and LSU already had the feel of a high-stakes SEC event, and now the Rebels are adding an extra layer of crowd control before kickoff. Ole Miss Athletics announced that anyone wearing LSU gear or colors will not be allowed in the student section, a move aimed at keeping that part of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium reserved and reducing the chance of trouble in a game that always carries a little more edge than most.
The warning comes after previous tensions between the schools spilled into conflict, including an arrest during a recent baseball series. With kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC, the focus in Oxford is supposed to be on the football, but the student section policy is a reminder that the rivalry can still create issues well before the first snap. [Read more 🡒]