LSU QB Sam Leavitt upgraded to questionable on injury report for Ole Miss game

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LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable on Thursday’s SEC injury report for Saturday’s matchup between the No. 7 Tigers and No. 8 Ole Miss.

More than the clash between top 10 teams and SEC rivals, Saturday’s game will also be in the spotlight for coach Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford, Mississippi after leaving Ole Miss for LSU before the end of last season.

In a surprising development, Leavitt was listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury by LSU for Wednesday.

Considering that Leavitt was not reported to have suffered any injury during the Tigers’ 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech last week, the quarterback’s status was viewed with some skepticism. Additionally, given Kiffin’s willingness to goof around with the opposition, many entertained the possibility that the coach might be engaging in some gamesmanship.

Ole Miss coaches could be counted among those suspicious that Leavitt might not play, even if he was reportedly limited during Wednesday’s practice and did not throw. On Thursday, Leavitt participated in LSU’s walkthrough session.

Kickoff for LSU at Ole Miss is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night and will be televised on ABC.

Leavitt transferred to LSU with two years of eligibility after two seasons at Arizona State. In his first season in Tempe, the 6-foot-2 QB threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns, leading the Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff berth. Last year, he was limited to seven games after suffering a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury.

In the Tigers’ first two games, Leavitt has thrown for 574 yards, 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions while completing 41 of 66 passes. LSU won both games decisively, including a 51-10 win over Clemson in Week 1.

Adding to the absurdity amid all of the uproar leading up to Saturday’s game, Mississippi’s state auditor Shad White wrote a post on social media expressing his misgivings over Leavitt not playing against the Rebels.

“If Sam Leavitt mysteriously goes from ‘doubtful’ to playing on Saturday, I will audit the entire state of Louisiana,” said White, who is considering a run for Mississippi governor.

White has previously pursued legal action against sports figures, attempting to sue Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre to recoup $826,000 of the $1.1 million he received from Mississippi's Department of Human Services for public appearances that he did not make. The Mississippi Supreme Court eventually ruled that White did not have the authority to file such a lawsuit against Favre.

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