“I expect Sam Leavitt to play,” Young said on Adapt & Respond with RJ Young, addressing the injury status. “I don’t expect Leavitt to stay on the injury report, or maybe he does stay on the injury report, and he still plays because whatever was ailing him is no longer an issue, and it’s time to play ball.”
Young also weighed in on Lane Kiffin’s reputation for keeping opponents guessing, noting that the Ole Miss coach “loves to play games” and to manipulate any edge he can gain. The discussion touched on past personnel matters, including a rumored connection to Trinidad Chambliss’s return, which had been reportedly supported by Kiffin before his departure for LSU. Young added, “I don’t trust Lane Kiffin to tell me the truth or to do anything other than try to win a football game.”
The intrigue around the injury report is tied to the SEC’s reporting rules, which do not require teams to explain why a player is listed on the injury report. As a result, much of the situation hinges on conjecture. The game itself carries significant weight: LSU is ranked No. 7 and Ole Miss No. 8, and it marks Lane Kiffin’s first trip back to Oxford since leaving Ole Miss for LSU after the 2025 season.
Sam Leavitt has shown productivity despite some rough moments. Through two games, he has completed 41 of 66 passes for 574 yards with two touchdowns and has rushed for 135 yards and five scores. In the matchup against Louisiana Tech, Leavitt threw for 344 yards on 25 completions from 38 attempts but threw three interceptions in the first half. He was later replaced by Landen Clark, who had also seen limited action earlier in the season during LSU’s win over Clemson. If Leavitt cannot go, Clark would be the likely starter, having completed 7 of 10 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, along with 42 rushing yards and another score.
Ultimately, the debate centers on how teams disclose and use injury information, and how opponents interpret it to gain any possible advantage. Lane Kiffin has already drawn attention this season for his aggressive approach to personnel and strategy, and the upcoming game adds another layer to the broader discussion about transparency and edge-seeking in college football.
The matchup between LSU and Ole Miss promises to be a high-stakes battle, with the added subtext of how the injury report, public skepticism, and strategic gamesmanship intersect on a night when both teams aim to secure a key conference win.
