By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
Sam Leavitt, the No. 1 overall player and quarterback in the transfer portal when he signed with LSU last January from Arizona State, is not off to a very lofty start as a passer so far in the 2026 season for the Tigers.
Leavitt has dropped to No. 14 in the Southeastern Conference and No. 97 in the nation in passing efficiency as No. 10 LSU (2-1, 0-1 SEC) prepares to host No. 23 Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1 SEC) on Saturday in Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ABC).
Passing efficiency ratings include several statistics for the total number. Leavitt has a 127.3 rating based, which is hurt by his five interceptions and only three touchdowns. He has completed 57 of 93 passes for a .612 completion percentage, but his yards per attempt is only 7.8.
Beyond the numbers, though, Leavitt has failed critical eye tests. He keeps missing open receivers, such as tight end Zach Grace in the end zone with 1:03 to play and the Tigers at third and goal on the Ole Miss 6-yard line with a chance to tie the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion. Leavitt’s pass on fourth down was batted at the line and intercepted, and Ole Miss walked away with a 32-24 win at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
“One possession game, and we go all the way down there to third down,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said on Sunday. “We got a guy open (Grace) to try to tie it before going for two. And we miss him.”
Leavitt was not under a heavy rush on that play, but he was for most of the game as he was sacked twice and hurried seven times.
“I know people will watch and see the receivers open and say, ‘Well, Sam missed him, and he’s running around too much,'” Kiffin said. “But when you get rushed like that early that makes the quarterback move around early. I thought Sam really was competitive. He made some great plays, trying to will the comeback.”
Leavitt finished 16-of-27 passing Saturday for 158 yards (5.8 yards an attempt) and one 26-yard touchdown to wide receiver Winnie Watkins Jr. to get LSU within 24-21 with 3:05 to play in the third quarter. LSU had trailed 17-0 in the second quarter and 24-7 at halftime.
Lane Kiffin sounded conflicted after watching so much of what he built at Ole Miss come to fruition Saturday with his old team deconstructing his new one. https://t.co/cFaqS9OSMS
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 21, 2026
“But we’ve been off in the passing game now at the beginning of the last two games,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin said Leavitt’s game could have been hurt because he sat out of Wednesday’s practice with an unspecified injury. Kiffin listed Leavitt as “doubtful” on his availability report to the SEC office Wednesday night before Leavitt returned to practice on Thursday. Leavitt was “questionable” on Thursday before being cleared to play. He appeared very healthy in the game.
“It didn’t help missing practice last week,” Kiffin said. “He actually missed the third down, red zone day (on Wednesday) – the timing of those routes. I believe that practice matters. That didn’t help him, and again the rush early.”
But the main thing that hurt Leavitt’s game was LSU’s poor play on the offensive line. Left tackle Jordan Seaton, the No. 1 tackle in the portal last January and No. 3 overall portal player, did not play commensurate to that ranking. Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles dominated Seaton and LSU left guard Bo Bordelon.
“We’ve got to play better around him,” Kiffin said. “We’ve got to protect him better.”
Kiffin was asked about possible strategy or personnel changes on the offensive line.
“Yeah, we’re going to look at some different things this week up front,” he said. “Because we need to play better and more consistent up there.”
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