Glory Be! LSU QB Sam Leavitt Apparently Has Miraculous Recovery From “Doubtful” Status As He Practiced Thursday

By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor

LSU starting quarterback Sam Leavitt practiced on Thursday morning with the Tigers less than 16 hours after LSU coach Lane Kiffin listed him as “doubtful” for Saturday’s game at Ole Miss in his availability report to the Southeastern Conference office on Wednesday.

Lane Kiffin has stretched things on availability reports in the past. Could this be a gamesmanship volley to Ole Miss’ serve of papers to Princewill Umanmielen? https://t.co/UmfMVJpjRg

— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 17, 2026

Leavitt practiced with the team, LouisianaSports.net reported Thursday afternoon from multiple sources and added that he missed Wednesday’s practice due to back spasms.

NEW: Sam Leavitt participated in LSU’s practice Thursday morning, sources confirm.

Back spasms kept him out of Wednesday’s workout, leading to his listing on the initial availability report.@1045espn @LASportsDotNet

— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) September 17, 2026

Kiffin is expected to update Leavitt’s status, possibly to questionable, in his availability report to the SEC office this afternoon or by 7 p.m. Thursday night. Other availability reports are due to the SEC office on Friday and 90 minutes before kickoff on Saturday, which is 6:30 p.m on ABC.

No. 7 LSU (2-0) and No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0) will play their first top 10 match-up in the series since 1962.

What Does Sam Leavitt’s “Doubtful” Designation Really Mean? Could He Still Play At Ole Miss On Saturday?

Leavitt’s injury could possibly be discussed by Kiffin on his weekly coach’s radio show on the LSU Network (98.1 FM in Baton Rouge) on Thursday night (6 p.m. to 7 p.m.), though Kiffin usually avoids discussing injuries.