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LSU QB Sam Leavitt 'Doubtful' Ahead of Ole Miss Showdown Amid Legal Tensions
Confirmed
In Short: LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is listed as 'doubtful' for Saturday's game against Ole Miss, adding to the intrigue of a high-stakes SEC matchup.
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is listed as 'doubtful' for Saturday's game against Ole Miss, according to LSU's initial injury report. Leavitt, who threw for 574 yards and four touchdowns in LSU's first two games, did not throw during Wednesday's practice, raising concerns about his availability. Leavitt has struggled with injuries in the past, missing seven games in the last two seasons at Arizona State.
Adding to the tension surrounding the game is a legal dispute between Ole Miss and two former players who are now at LSU. The University of Mississippi alleges that offensive lineman Devin Harper and Princewill Umanmielen owe the school $550,000 and $400,000, respectively, for failing to compensate the university as required by their revenue-sharing agreements. Umanmielen, who is LSU's sack leader, has been served legal papers related to the July lawsuit.
Ole Miss has stated that the revenue-sharing agreements included a provision requiring the players to compensate the university if they departed before fulfilling their commitment. The timing of the legal papers being served, first reported by ESPN, has only heightened the intrigue surrounding the game, which is already immersed in hype due to coach Lane Kiffin's decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU last November.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin said during the offseason that Leavitt had been cleared and was at full strength heading into the 2026 campaign. However, the initial SEC availability report has left many fans and reporters questioning the quarterback's condition. If Leavitt is unable to play, the LSU coaching staff must evaluate the backup depth chart, which could have significant implications for the game.
The legal dispute and the potential absence of Leavitt have added another layer of complexity to the already high-stakes game. LSU and Ole Miss are preparing for the biggest SEC showdown of this early season, with the outcome likely to have far-reaching implications for both teams and the broader landscape of college athletics.
What's confirmed
- LSU listed quarterback Sam Leavitt as doubtful on its first injury report ahead of this weekend's game at Ole Miss.
- Leavitt has thrown for 574 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions over LSU's first two games this season, along with 135 yards rushing and five scores.
What's still developing
- The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because university officials have not commented publicly on the lawsuit between Ole Miss and two former players who are now at LSU, and who allegedly failed to compensate Ole Miss for their departure as required by revenue-sharing agreements they signed in early January.
- "The University of Mississippi has a responsibility to enforce its contractual terms, and this position is consistent with the actions of other institutions in the current landscape of college athletics," the Ole Miss statement said.
- Leavitt is dealing with an upper body injury and he did not throw in Wednesday's practice, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reports.
- Leavitt did not appear to be injured in last week's win over Louisiana Tech, where he rebounded from a three-interception first half with 366 total yards and four total touchdowns.
- LSU released its initial injury report Wednesday night ahead of the Tigers’ trip to Oxford.
- This is catching a lot of people off guard, because there really wasn't much prior indication that Leavitt sustained any injury.