LSU upgrades QB Leavitt to questionable for showdown with Ole Miss

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  Alex ScarboroughSep 17, 2026, 08:36 PM ET

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  • Covers the SEC.
  • Joined ESPN in 2012.
  • Graduate of Auburn University.

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable for Saturday's primetime rivalry game vs. Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi.

Leavitt was initially listed as doubtful on the SEC's availability report Wednesday night. On Thursday, he and starting linebacker TJ Dottery, who leads the team in tackles, were listed as questionable.

The exact nature of Leavitt's injury is unclear. He did not appear to be in pain during last weekend's win over Louisiana Tech, and coach Lane Kiffin didn't mention that his star quarterback was dealing with an injury during a Monday news conference.

During his weekly radio show Thursday night, Kiffin didn't address Leavitt's injury, either.

Sources on the Ole Miss staff told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Thursday morning that they weren't convinced Leavitt's appearance on the availability report was sincere.

The SEC's availability report policy defines a doubtful designation as "unlikely to play due to significant concerns" and describes it as a player having a "25%" chance to play.

The conference's reporting policy states that acts of gamesmanship "intended to hide a student-athlete's true participation status for competitive or strategic reasons" are prohibited, as is conduct that could reasonably be construed as "misleading."

The SEC also says schools should take extra precautions to act in good faith when disclosing the status of high-profile athletes, such as starting quarterbacks.

Penalties for inaccurate or late reports range from $25,000 to $100,000 for football and can include "accountability measures" for head coaches. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has discretion to administer penalties as appropriate based on the circumstances.

Leavitt, widely regarded as the top transfer quarterback this past offseason, has scored seven touchdowns in two games (two passing, five rushing). Should he be unable to play, LSU could turn to freshman Husan Longstreet or sophomore Landen Clark.

While Longstreet was listed as the second quarterback on the team's official depth chart, Clark has attempted more passes this season (10 to 1).