The entire college football offseason and the start of the season have been building up for one matchup, and it's finally arrived. Given the way that Lane Kiffin helped build Ole Miss back up as a program, leaving for the LSU job has given the Rebels' faithful every reason to be upset with their former coach. Taking a job with a rival of the Rebels only ensured Lane would one day return to Oxford, and sure enough, it came in his first SEC game as LSU's head coach.
Add to that the way that Kiffin decided to bring members of his staff with him, along with Ole Miss players, and the hype has been over the top for this matchup. Kiffin and LSU spared no expense building this roster, making it one of the most expensive in college football. The only issue is that in the biggest game of the season, and a massive game for Kiffin's legacy, he may be without his biggest asset.
Is it real or is it gamesmanship? Sam Leavitt listed as doubtful for LSU vs Ole Miss
On Wednesday Night, the initial Availability Reports in the SEC were released, and the biggest bombshell ahead of LSU vs Ole Miss is that LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is listed as doubtful for the game.
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
The news comes as a shock as there was no indication that Sam Leavitt left the Louisiana Tech game with an injury. It's possible that Sam Leavitt was banged up in the Clemson game, and it could be the reason why he threw three interceptions.
The question now becomes whether Sam Leavitt is really injured or if Lane Kiffin is trying to throw Ole Miss into a scramble, preparing for either Landen Clark or Husan Longstreet as the starter. You can't put any level of gamesmanship behind Lane Kiffin, and this move would certainly mess with how the Rebels prepare for the game, at least dividing their attention when it comes to game planning.
This week has already started with some fireworks as talks swirl about the police and security presence in Oxford, while Tuesday saw Ole Miss serve former Rebel Princewill Umanmielen with a lawsuit over unpaid buyout fees. Now you can add questions over LSU's quarterback to the mix.
If Sam Leavitt is truly injured and can't play, it deals a massive blow to the Tigers' chances in this game and, in turn, LSU's chances of making the College Football Playoff. Landen Clark is taking a massive step up in competition after starting his career at Elon, while Husan Longstreet would be making his first career start after spending last season as USC's backup.
This game is a matchup filled with countless stories, with Lane Kiffin coming back to town and facing his former assistant Pete Golding, who's now leading the program he helped build back up. While Pete Golding may be coaching one of the best quarterbacks in the country, in Trinidad Chambliss, Lane Kiffin may be coaching a backup quarterback in the most hostile environment possible.
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