LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt was listed as doubtful for the program's much-anticipated rivalry game at Ole Miss on Saturday. Leavitt's injury was not a major talking point prior to injury reports being published on Wednesday, as he completed last week's win over Louisiana Tech. Leavitt also spoke to reporters afterward without appearing to be in pain, with many pointing out how risky it would be to use an injury as some sort of gamesmanship tactic.
The Southeastern Conference's availability report policy defines the doubtful designation as "unlikely to play due to significant concerns" and states acts of gamesmanship "intended to hide a student-athlete's true participation status for competitive or strategic reasons" are prohibited and can carry fines of up to $100,000. Leavitt's primary backups are freshman Husan Longstreet and sophomore Landen Clark. The Tigers were already under a microscope with head coach Lane Kiffin making his return to Oxford, Mississippi.
Kiffin, who spent the previous six seasons as head coach of the Rebels, left the program prior to its run through the College Football Playoff to take the new job that would pay him nearly $13 million per season and has since started 2-0. If he'd like to start 3-0, he could be forced to do it without his starting quarterback and in the most hostile environments of his career.
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