LSU QB Sam Leavitt cleared to play against Ole Miss

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is available to play in Saturday night’s top-10 matchup against Ole Miss.

Leavitt was no longer listed on the SEC’s final student-athlete availability report ahead of kickoff, clearing the way for LSU’s starting quarterback to play against the Rebels.

The update comes after a rapidly changing week for Leavitt. LSU initially listed him as doubtful on Wednesday after back spasms kept him out of practice. He returned to practice Thursday and was upgraded to questionable on the Tigers’ updated report.

Leavitt has started LSU’s first two games under coach Lane Kiffin. In the season opener against Clemson, he threw for 230 yards, rushed for 113 yards, and accounted for three touchdowns.

No. 7 LSU is scheduled to face No. 8 Ole Miss at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Oxford.

Leavitt was the biggest surprise on LSU’s initial SEC availability report released Wednesday night. LSU did not specify an injury when it listed the quarterback as doubtful.

Matt Moscona of 104.5 ESPN reported that Leavitt participated in LSU’s Thursday morning practice after missing Wednesday’s workout because of back spasms.

“Back spasms kept him out of Wednesday’s workout, leading to his listing on the initial availability report,” Moscona wrote on X.

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White joked about the possibility of the quarterback playing Saturday.

“If Sam Leavitt mysteriously goes from ‘doubtful’ to playing on Saturday, I will audit the entire state of Louisiana,” White wrote.

Read more: LSU QB Sam Leavitt listed doubtful in stunning development before Ole Miss showdown

The Tigers listed three other players as out: wide receiver Phillip Wright III, linebacker Jaiden Braker and running back Raycine Guillory Jr.

Linebackers TJ Dottery and Tylen Singleton were initially listed as questionable. Singleton has since been upgraded to probable.

Tight end Trey’Dez Green, linebacker Whit Weeks, linebacker Davhon Keys and offensive lineman Aliou Bah were listed as probable. As of Thursday’s update, Green and Weeks were taken off the injury list.

Leavitt has started LSU’s first two games of the Lane Kiffin era. In the season opener against Clemson, he threw for 230 yards and rushed for 113 yards while accounting for three touchdowns.

His status now becomes one of the biggest questions surrounding Kiffin’s return to Oxford.

Kiffin spent six seasons as Ole Miss’ head coach before leaving for LSU following the 2025 regular season. Saturday will mark his first game back at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and LSU’s first Southeastern Conference game under Kiffin.

No. 7 LSU and No. 8 Ole Miss are scheduled to kick off Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m. CT in Oxford.

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