‘SEC Should Fine (Lane) Kiffin,’ ‘Full-Fledged Clown’ — CFB Fans Rip LSU HC After Latest Sam Leavitt Injury Update for Ole Miss Clash

‘SEC Should Fine (Lane) Kiffin,’ ‘Full-Fledged Clown’ — CFB Fans Rip LSU HC After Latest Sam Leavitt Injury Update for Ole Miss Clash

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‘SEC Should Fine (Lane) Kiffin,’ ‘Full-Fledged Clown’ — CFB Fans Rip LSU HC After Latest Sam Leavitt Injury Update for Ole Miss Clash
Sep 5, 2026; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin reacts to a touchdown by quarterback Sam Leavitt (not pictured) against Clemson Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium. © Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Sep 5, 2026; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin reacts to a touchdown by quarterback Sam Leavitt (not pictured) against Clemson Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium. © Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The LSU Tigers turned one of the biggest injury mysteries of Week 3 into an even stranger story Thursday.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt, who was surprisingly listed as doubtful for Saturday’s top-10 matchup with the Ole Miss Rebels, returned to practice after missing Wednesday’s workout because of back spasms. LSU later upgraded him to questionable, and that sequence only intensified skepticism that Lane Kiffin was playing games with the SEC availability report.

Sam Leavitt’s Status Changes Before Ole Miss Clash

The original designation immediately raised eyebrows because Leavitt finished LSU’s 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech without an obvious injury. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that no one on the Ole Miss staff was convinced the doubtful tag was sincere or that Leavitt would actually miss Saturday’s game.

Thursday brought the latest development.

Leavitt participated in practice after back spasms kept him out Wednesday, and LSU’s updated availability report moved him from doubtful to questionable.

That was enough for fans to turn their attention toward Kiffin.

One fan wrote, “The SEC should fine Kiffin’s [expletive] out of principle anyway.”

Another fan added, “He was never not playing lmao.”

A third reaction read, “What a surprise, what a joke.”

The skepticism is understandable, but the distinction matters.CBS Sports reported that Leavitt is dealing with a legitimate injury, while the SEC’s doubtful designation means a player is unlikely to participate because of significant concerns. Questionable means the player’s status is uncertain.

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CFB Fans Turn Frustrations Toward Lane Kiffin

The timing was always going to attract attention since this is Kiffin’s first trip back to Oxford since leaving Ole Miss for LSU.

One fan was quite direct in his criticism, writing, “Lane is really turning himself into a full-fledged clown. What a circus.”

Under SEC policy, schools can face fines for inaccurate or late availability reporting. There is no evidence LSU has violated that policy, and Leavitt’s return to practice does not by itself prove the original designation was misleading.

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The quarterback has been central to LSU’s 2-0 start, completing 41 of 66 passes for 574 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 135 rushing yards and five scores. Hisuncertain status carries extra importance because LSU’s backup options are Husan Longstreet and Landen Clark.

LSU does have some margin for error because its defense has been elite. The Tigers own a 95.7PFN Defense Impact score, No. 1 nationally through Sept. 13.

The latest update makes Leavitt look more likely to have a chance to play than he did Wednesday night. It also guarantees that every change to his status will be scrutinized until the final report arrives before kickoff.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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