Is Sam Leavitt playing tonight vs. Ole Miss? LSU QB’s latest injury status ahead of SEC showdown
Sam Leavitt Cleared to Start for LSU Against Ole Miss
Bharatmorningnews.com – LSU will have quarterback Sam Leavitt available when the seventh-ranked Tigers meet the eighth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels in one of college football’s biggest Week 3 games. Leavitt was removed from the SEC injury report before Saturday night’s matchup, ending concerns that he could miss the road contest.
The quarterback’s availability had become a major pregame storyline after LSU listed him as doubtful on its first injury report of the week. That status shifted quickly: he moved to questionable on Thursday before receiving full clearance Friday.
Leavitt’s appearance on the report surprised many observers because he had not visibly left LSU’s Week 2 win over Louisiana Tech with an injury. He also did not indicate after that game that he was dealing with a physical issue.
Back Spasms Appeared to Be the Concern
More clarity emerged later in the week when LSU insider Matt Moscona said Leavitt had been managing back spasms on Wednesday. The issue appears to have been the reason for the initial doubtful designation.
LSU has not publicly detailed when the discomfort began or identified any specific play in which Leavitt was injured. His removal from the final report, however, means the Tigers expect their starter to take the field in Oxford.
The 21-year-old quarterback is coming off an uneven but productive statistical outing against Louisiana Tech. He completed 25 of 38 passes for 344 yards and one touchdown, though he also threw three interceptions.
For LSU, having Leavitt available is particularly important in a matchup that could carry early implications in the SEC race. The Tigers made him a central transfer-portal target and reportedly committed $4.5 million in NIL compensation to secure his move from Arizona State.
An Injury History Adds Context
Leavitt has previously dealt with a significant injury setback. During his time with Arizona State, he sustained a season-ending foot injury last year. Surgery that followed also prevented him from participating in LSU’s spring practices after his transfer.
That recent history added weight to the concern surrounding the midweek injury report. Still, the progression from doubtful to questionable and then fully cleared indicates that the latest issue did not develop into a long-term absence.
LSU’s offense will now enter the Ole Miss game with its first-choice quarterback in place. The Tigers will be looking for Leavitt to build on the passing production he showed against Louisiana Tech while reducing the turnovers that complicated that performance.
High-Stakes Meeting Carries Added Emotion
The game also comes with an additional storyline involving LSU coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin will face Ole Miss for the first time since leaving the program before last season’s College Football Playoff to accept the LSU position.
His departure created friction after he sought to bring several Ole Miss players with him to Baton Rouge. That backdrop gives an already significant top-10 SEC contest another layer of intensity.
With Leavitt cleared, LSU avoids an abrupt quarterback question heading into the matchup. Instead, attention can turn to how the Tigers perform against a highly ranked Ole Miss side in a game that will test both teams early in the season.
Saturday night’s result will not settle the SEC race, but it will provide a valuable measure of where LSU stands. For Leavitt, it is an opportunity to show that the week’s injury uncertainty is behind him and to lead the Tigers in one of their most demanding games to date.
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