'Yeah buddy, I bet he is:' Pete Golding didn't buy it when Lane Kiffin texted him to say Sam Leavitt wouldn't play on Saturday

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

If Lane Kiffin was trying to pull a fast one on Pete Golding, the Ole Miss coach wasn’t buying it.

Golding said Friday on an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” that the his former boss and current LSU coach texted him Wednesday ahead of the release of LSU’s injury report. That report showed starting quarterback Sam Leavitt as “doubtful” to play.

“I got the text before the report went out from Lane ‘Hey our quarterback’s out,’” Golding said. “I’m like, yeah buddy, I bet he is. I’ve been around here a lot of Wednesdays with you man for three-and-a-half years and I said I think our first one we had 42 guys on the on the first-ever SEC injury report on a Wednesday.”

The SEC started mandating injury reports for all conference games in 2024. And while Golding is exaggerating about the number of players Kiffin had on Ole Miss’ injury report ahead of its game against Kentucky, he’s also not kidding that the Rebels had a bunch of players listed.

Ole Miss listed 26 players on that injury report, including fourteen listed as probable.

The morning after LSU initially listed Leavitt as “doubtful,” ESPN reported that no one on Ole Miss’ coaching staff was buying that the quarterback would be out. And Golding’s comments Friday clearly back that up.

Thursday night, LSU upgraded Leavitt to “questionable” after he reportedly participated in the team’s walkthrough practice. If you’re as confident as Golding is about Leavitt’s status, you can plan on seeing him on the field Saturday night.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos