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Sam Leavitt's Preseason All-SEC Snub Adds Fuel to LSU's Biggest Storyline

Sports Illustrated July 25, 2026

Sam Leavitt’s Preseason All-SEC Snub Adds Fuel to LSU’s Biggest StorylineSkip to main contentSI.COMON SISI

SWIMSUITSI TICKETSSI RESORTSSI SHOPSMY ACCOUNTSUBSCRIBE NOWFOOTBALLBASKETBALLRECRUITINGBASEBALLSI.COMSI.COM TIGERS

FBSI.COM TIGERS BBFOOTBALLBASKETBALLRECRUITINGBASEBALLSI.COMSI.COM TIGERS FBSI.COM TIGERS BBSign InOct 25, 2025; Tempe,

Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) against the Houston Cougars in the second half at

Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectSam

Leavitt’s Preseason All-SEC Snub Adds Fuel to LSU’s Biggest StorylineSam Leavitt has been a major talking point of

LSU football's offseason. Ross Abboud|Share on FacebookShare on XAdd us as a preferred sourceOct 25, 2025; Tempe,

Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) against the Houston Cougars in the second half at

Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectIn this

story:LSU TigersLSU's quarterback situation continues to dominate headlines heading into the 2026 season, and this

week gave fans more fuel to throw on the fire. When the preseason All-SEC teams were released, Sam Leavitt's name

was nowhere to be found among the three quarterbacks selected.The quarterbacks who did make the cut were Texas' Arch

Manning, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss and Georgia's Gunner Stockton. All three are returning starters and proven

commodities. For a player many consider LSU's most important offseason addition, getting left off all three teams

only intensified questions that were already swirling around him.What makes the exclusion even bigger is that Leavitt

sits at No. 10 nationally in FanDuel's Heisman odds, giving him the third-best odds of any SEC player behind only

Manning and Chambliss. The absence from the All-SEC list arrived just days after Leavitt was left off LSU's roster

for SEC Media Days. Combined, the two snubs have turned Leavitt's introduction to the SEC into the late summer's

hot topic for the Tigers.The Media Day Absence Jul 23, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin speaks to

the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

| IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectLSU chose not to bring Leavitt to the conference's preseason kickoff media event,

instead sending linebackers Whit Weeks and T.J. Dottery along with tight end Trey'Dez Green to join Lane Kiffin in

Tampa. For a quarterback billed as the centerpiece of the offense, his absence from the podium raised eyebrows across

the league, especially with the injury questions he's carrying into this offseason. Leavitt, the highest-touted

transfer from Arizona State, had missed most of LSU's spring practices while recovering from foot surgery and was

only recently cleared for full participation in summer workouts. Kiffin did explain that the program didn't want the

injury to become the dominant storyline of his first public and media appearance. The group LSU brought was strong, and

Leavitt likely would have been the next player chosen if there had been room for a fourth. Still, plenty of observers

viewed the decision as a missed chance to introduce one of the biggest questions in college football to them. Kiffin

Defends His Quarterback Jul 23, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin speaks to the press during SEC

Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via

Reuters ConnectKiffin told reporters in Tampa he isn't worried about Leavitt's health anymore, saying his focus

has shifted to Leavitt's transition into LSU's system and the value of in-game experience with new teammates.

That suggests the coach sees the missing All-SEC nod as more about unfamiliarity than talent. Kiffin pointed to

Chambliss as a comparable case, noting Chambliss developed into a star without spring reps or first-team summer work. He

simply made a pointed reminder that preseason snubs haven't stopped other SEC quarterbacks from having big

years. At the podium, Kiffin reiterated his confidence in Leavitt's recovery and stressed that the two still need

time to grow together as player and coach. Kiffin's message has been consistent since arriving at LSU: the doubts

are about reps, not health. Pushing Back on the DoubtersArizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrates his

touchdown run with teammate Jordyn Tyson (0) against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe

on Sept. 7, 2024. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectGreen offered his own endorsement of Leavitt from the podium

Thursday, praising his competitiveness and leadership and calling him "a real quarterback" who wants to be first

in everything. That kind of buy-in is directly contrary to the outside perception being built around Leavitt's

repetitively being overlooked. Kiffin added that Leavitt has already been clocked at 21 mph since spring camp and has

begun flashing in workouts. With LSU now just over 40 days from opening the season against Clemson, the Tigers have a

short runway to prove the All-SEC omission was simply preseason chatter.Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us

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wait while we load personalized content recommendationsPublished Jul 25, 2026ROSS ABBOUDRoss Abboud is a junior at LSU

studying mass communication. Before joining LSU Tigers on SI, Abboud was the Deputy Sports Editor at The Reveille, in

addition to covering recruiting and gymnastics at TigerBait.com. Outside of sports and writing, Abboud is a member of

LSU’s Tiger Band, works at local high school teaching drumlines.Share on XFollow Abboud04RShare on FacebookShare on

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