LSU Star QB Sam Leavitt Listed Doubtful for Ole Miss Clash

Oxford, Miss. – The clash between LSU and Ole Miss was already electric, but Wednesday night threw a curveball when Sam Leavitt appeared on the initial SEC injury report. Tension in the air around town spiked fast ahead of Saturday's game. Then came an audible gasp that seemed to ripple through living rooms across the nation.

Lane Kiffin added fuel to the fire by listing starting quarterback Sam Leavitt as 'doubtful' on the official site. That status signals significant concern about his ability to play. The Rebels and Tigers have a history of high stakes, and this latest development only deepens the mystery surrounding the injury.

Sam Leavitt threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns last week against Louisiana Tech, though he did throw three interceptions. By all accounts, things looked normal as the week began in Baton Rouge. That changed quickly when sources told OutKick that Leavitt was held to limited participation on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury.

Would this hold him out for Saturday? Fans and analysts are asking that question now. Lane Kiffin did not mention any specific injury during his Monday press conference after the win over Louisiana Tech, since reporters never asked about it either. Did something happen last weekend that stayed hidden from view during his four-touchdown performance?

The answer might come Thursday night when Kiffin holds his coaches show in Baton Rouge before the team heads to Oxford on Friday afternoon. The SEC and other conferences have issued availability reports for years now, with the first update dropping three days before game day. A second update follows on Thursday, another arrives Friday, and a final report must be filed 90 minutes before warm-ups begin. Teams face fines if they fail to follow these rules.

Schools can be punished for gamesmanship involving these reports. How badly Leavitt is hurt, and whether he will miss the big matchup against Ole Miss, depends on how long Lane Kiffin keeps details under wraps. Being marked 'doubtful' means the player is unlikely to play due to serious concerns, per the SEC handbook. If he were labeled 'questionable,' it would simply mean his status remains uncertain because of injury or condition.

Putting Leavitt near the bottom of their health monitoring suggests LSU worries he might not suit up for Saturday. We will watch this story unfold as drama builds before this SEC showdown returns Lane Kiffin to Oxford.