What Sam Leavitt's LSU transfer means for Lane Kiffin's 2026 roster in first major portal win

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What Sam Leavitt's LSU transfer means for Lane Kiffin's 2026 roster in first major portal win originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Lane Kiffin has his QB1: Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt has committed to LSU. Leavitt had also taken visits to Miami, Kentucky and Tennessee, with the latter making a late push for Leavitt before he signed with the Tigers. 

The move sent shockwaves around college football, as Leavitt was considered one of the best quarterbacks in the sport heading into 2025, but was hampered by injuries in his final season for the Sun Devils. Now, one of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal is heading to Baton Rouge to be paired with new head coach Lane Kiffin. 

It will also be Kiffin's first year at LSU. Kiffin just led Ole Miss to their best season in program history before leaving for the Tigers, and did it with a quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, who spent the first four years of his collegiate career playing Division-II football for Ferris State. Now, he gets Leavitt, who threw for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2024 when he was fully healthy. 

Here is more on what Leavitt heading to LSU means for Kiffin and the Tigers. 

MORE: Tracking all of the QB movement in the transfer portal

Sam Leavitt fit with Lane Kiffin, LSU

LSU has its quarterback for 2026. Former Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had no remaining eligibility and graduated, so the team needed a new QB for the 2026 season. When Nussmeier went down with an injury, Michael Van Buren Jr. took over under center. He, too, will not be with LSU next season as he entered the transfer portal and committed to USF. 

Kiffin now appears to have a quarterback project. The college football world just saw what the head coach could do with a player who played four years of Division-II football. Kiffin should now have a better chance of transitioning to his new program, provided Leavitt stays healthy. 

Committed to The Boot

Welcome to Baton Rouge @S_leav10pic.twitter.com/zNiGWksiDH

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) January 13, 2026

LSU was always expected to utilize the portal for its 2026 starting quarterback with one of the best offensive masterminds in the sports. The Tigers would have had to have gotten a commitment from one of the top prospects in the class to think of starting a true freshman with their schedule. LSU's 2026 class currently doesn't include a quarterback. Kamar Brown is a five-star player, but he is listed as an athlete, per 247Sports. 

Leavitt has two years of eligibility remaining if he wants them.

MORE: What would have happened if Lane Kiffin had stayed at Ole Miss?

LSU QB depth chart 2026

The LSU QB depth chart will continue to take shape as the Tigers get more commits, and if they make another effort to get a quarterback before the transfer portal closes. But, the QB1 is solidified for now, with Sam Leavitt coming to Baton Rouge.

For the 2025 season, here are the QBs that LSU had on its roster.

• Garrett Nussmeier — out of eligibility
• Michael Van Buren Jr. — transferred to USF
• Colin Hurley — true freshman, entered transfer portal
• Ju'Juan Johnson — converted to RB at LSU, transferred to Syracuse
• Tre People — true freshman, entered transfer portal
• Emile Picarella III — true freshman

For the 2026 season, here is who projects to be the QBs on LSU's roster.

• Sam Leavitt
• Emile Picarella III
• Landen Clark — redshirt freshman, transferred from Elon

MORE:Where does Lane Kiffin rank among college football's highest-paid coaches?

Sam Leavitt age

Leavitt was born on Dec. 20, 2004. He is 21 years old, and will turn 22 during LSU's postseason after his first year there. 

Sam Leavitt stats

Leavitt started his career at Michigan State, but redshirted after seeing action in only four games. He then transferred to Arizona State where he spent the last two seasons. He led Arizona State to a Big 12 title and the College Football Playoff in 2024.

MORE:Lane Kiffin timeline of controversial exits

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