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LSU lists QB Sam Leavitt as 'doubtful' on first injury report ahead of top-10 showdown with Ole Miss - CBS Sports
From CBS Sports via USVI News: Leavitt's surprising status -- which CBS Sports reports stems from an upper body injury -- adds another intriguing storyline to Lane Kiffin's anticipated first trip back to Oxford
LSU upgraded quarterback Sam Leavitt from doubtful to questionable on its Thursday injury report ahead of this weekend's game at Ole Miss. After missing Wednesday's practice with an upper-body injury, Leavitt did participate in Thursday's walkthrough, sources confirmed to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz.
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 only led Louisiana Tech by a single possession last weekend at halftime, a result of turnover-filled first two quarters inside Tiger Stadium.
"Sam's gotta do a better job taking care of the ball," Kiffin said in the aftermath. "We made a lot of yards, and we were smooth through that at times, but obviously, the red zone is where you gotta finish drives. So maybe it was perfect for us that we needed something like that, 'cause it's a game we play good on offense in games."
Lane Kiffin made no mention of an injury to his most important player during this week's media availability ahead of Saturday night's league opener. 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.
He's struggled with injuries in the past, missing a total of seven games in the last two seasons at Arizona State.
Sam Leavitt injury history
LSU's backup QB situation
LSU's backup quarterback appears to be Landen Clark, a transfer from Elon who was the 2025 CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year. Clark is technically listed as No. 3 on the depth chart, but has been first off the bench in both games this season. He threw 18 passing touchdowns and rushed for 11 more last season at Elon.
Also on the roster is Husan Longstreet, a USC transfer who completed 13 of 15 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown with the Trojans a year ago as a freshman. He was a five-star prospect coming out of high school, ranked the No. 32 overall player and No. 4 quarterback in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports.
The SEC's availability reports are now in their third season. Schools must adhere to guidelines for three days leading up to kickoff in league contests with updates nightly, beginning on Wednesdays of game week.
Final reports are due 90 minutes before kickoff, and schools are fined for non-compliance, inaccurate or late reporting, ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.
Coaches must release their initial availability report by 8 p.m. on Wednesday of each week and must update it daily with a final report coming 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Player status designations include "available," "probable," "questionable," "doubtful," or "out" before game day. On game days, they're to be marked as "available," "game time decision," or "out."
There are consequences for non-compliance, which includes both inaccurate and late reporting, with fines to the school ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 for football.
Other players listed on the availability report for LSU include wideout Phillip Wright III (Out), linebacker Jaiden Bracker (Out), running back Raycine Guillory Jr. (Out), linebacker TJ Dottery (Questionable), linebacker Tylen Singleton (Questionable), and four players under the probable designation, including Whit Weeks and Trey'Dez Green.
SEC availability designations
LSU's next injury report is due Thursday at 8:10 p.m. ET.
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This article is republished through the USVI News affiliate desk. Reporting, analysis, and viewpoints are those of the original publisher and do not necessarily reflect USVI News.