One of the biggest stories in all of college football last season was that former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin would be leaving the Rebels to coach the LSU Tigers. While the news broke in late November, just under two months later, Sam Leavitt committed to become the new man under center for LSU, a match made in football heaven.
For those who may not be familiar with Leavitt, he was a four-star recruit entering college and played in just four games for the Michigan State Spartans. He then transferred before his sophomore season, where he led Arizona State to an 11-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.
That year, he threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 443 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. Although current NFL running back Cam Skattebo was the engine of Arizona State's offense, Leavitt's breakout season should not be overlooked. While he undoubtedly benefited from having the human bowling ball lining up beside him, he showcased elite accuracy and some sneaky athleticism, especially in Arizona State's double-overtime game against Texas. Though his decisiveness could use some work, and he had an injury-riddled season in 2025, the flashes we saw in 2024 give me hope that, in Kiffin's system, he could truly thrive.
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As a play caller, Lane Kiffin loves to incorporate a ton of RPOs (run-pass option), something Leavitt has already experienced a lot of during his time at Arizona State. He has a great ability to get the ball out quick and give the receiver a chance to make a play.
The negatives tend to show up when these guys don't immediately come open. He is prone to panic a bit and get into scramble mode. In these situations, you can see times where he misses open receivers downfield because he's more focused on making a play with his legs. But these are teachable moments that come with experience, film, and proper coaching, something I'm sure Kiffin and staff have already pointed out to him. Plus, LSU kept both of their starting RBs from 2024 and added Dilin Jones from Wisconsin, giving him plenty of depth in the run game to rely on.
In terms of the college football landscape itself, with weaker Oklahoma and Alabama teams this year, it appears the SEC is a little more open for LSU than usual. And as we know, if you can compete in the SEC, you can compete with anyone. If Leavitt can live up to the hype, there's a real chance he and the Tigers can make some real noise in the college football playoff.
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Looking at LSU's schedule, three of their most difficult games vs Clemson, Alabama, and Texas are all on their home turf, giving them a massive advantage in all three contests. My worries would come week three at Ole Miss in what should be an emotional return game for Lane Kiffin and a sneaky late November game in Knoxville vs Tennessee.
That said, even if they drop a game or two along the way, I still expect the Tigers to be firmly in the College Football Playoff picture, with an outside chance of winning the SEC. And if that happens, don't be surprised if Leavitt finds himself firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation come December. While he's not a finished product, learning from a coach who has developed quarterbacks like Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Jalen Hurts, and Jaxson Dart gives me hope that Leavitt can put together a truly special season.
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