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.
In Other News...
Shane Beamer Addressed What South Carolina Must Fix After SEC Collapse
South Carolinas SEC opener ended with plenty of frustration at home, as the Gamecocks fell 41-34 to Mississippi State after a second-half letdown. Shane Beamer made clear afterward that the way his team played after halftime was the biggest concern, not just the final margin, and he stressed that how South Carolina responds in the days ahead will matter as much as what happened Saturday.
There were still some bright spots to sort through, including the kicking game, where Malik Orsan handled the pressure well in his first game as the starter and connected on all four field-goal tries. Two of those came from beyond 50 yards, a steady showing in a game where South Carolina could not afford to waste points, but the larger issue remains how the Gamecocks correct the slide that cost them a chance to open SEC play with momentum. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Let A Winnable SEC Game Slip Away Fast
South Carolina had Mississippi State right where it wanted it at halftime, up 23-16 and with enough momentum to suggest a winnable SEC game was within reach. Instead, the Gamecocks let it slip in a hurry, with Shane Beamer openly frustrated afterward about settling for field goals instead of finishing drives in the first half.
The collapse came fast once the game flipped back on them. South Carolina managed only five yards in the third quarter while Mississippi State put up 17 points, and LaNorris Sellers two second-half interceptions turned into 10 Bulldogs points. It was the kind of loss that leaves a team thinking about what it had in hand and how quickly it got away. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolinas SEC Opener Suddenly Carries More Weight Than Expected
South Carolinas SEC opener against Mississippi State on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium already had the feel of an early measuring stick, and now it comes with a little more weight attached. The Gamecocks are trying to get to 3-0 for the first time since 2012, which gives the afternoon a different kind of edge for a team that has looked the part early and now has to carry that into conference play at 4:15 p.m.
There is also the matter of who is expected to be on the field. Dylan Stewart, Jacarrius Peak and Carter Miller are all expected to play, giving South Carolina a better shot at starting SEC play with some continuity, while Mississippi State brings in quarterback Kamario Taylor with strong passing numbers and even a spot in the Heisman conversation. For the Gamecocks, it is the kind of opening conference test that can tell them a lot about where they really stand. [Read more 🡒]