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Lane Kiffin Faces Growing Calls To Bench $4.5 Million Quarterback Sam Leavitt
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- Lane Kiffin Faces Growing Calls To Bench $4.5 Million Quarterback Sam Leavitt
No. 14 LSU is only trailing No. 5 Alabama by a touchdown at halftime, but make no mistake, Lane Kiffin's squad won't win if Sam Leavitt continues to struggle.
Leavitt has been extremely inconsistent this season for the Tigers. Although he came into this weekend completing 70.3% of his passes for 2,173 yards and 17 touchdowns, he's thrown an interception in all but two games this year.
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Unfortunately for LSU, Leavitt tossed a costly interception with 28 seconds remaining in the first half. The Tigers had a chance to at least put another field goal on the board before heading into the locker room, but Leavitt sailed a pass right into the hands of Crimson Tide linebacker Luke Metz.
Leavitt also missed a wide-open receiver in the first half on a play that should've led to a touchdown. With that being said, fans are begging for LSU to bench him.
However, it's hard for LSU to bench Leavitt when he's reportedly on a $4.5 million NIL deal.
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Tigers Quarterback Sam Leavitt 10, The Ole Miss Rebels take on the LSU Tigers. September 19, 2026; Oxford, MS, USA; at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.SCOTT CLAUSE/USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
"Sam Leavitt is holding and has been holding this LSU offense back all season. I dont care how much money he is making – bench his [expletive]," one fan said.
"You have to bench Leavitt," a second fan wrote on X.
"What is Leavitt doing???? A sack????? And then a Pick????? Please bench him," another fan commented.
"LSU should bench Leavitt at halftime," a social media user said.
Don't expect a QB change (yet).
While it's certainly possible Kiffin turns to Landen Clark in the second half, he didn't suggest that a quarterback change will be made in the third quarter.
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"Obviously, Sam made a poor decision there," Kiffin said. "We got to finish drives a lot better on offense. We're moving it, but we're stalling."
LSU desperately needs a win over Alabama to feel good about its chances of making the College Football Playoff.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Nov 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
