Landen Clark vs. Husan Longstreet: LSU’s Backup QB Options for Ole Miss

LSU’s quarterback question is no longer theoretical. With Sam Leavitt officially listed as doubtful for Saturday’s top-10 trip to Oxford, Lane Kiffin may have to choose between two very different backup plans: Landen Clark’s full-season starting experience and Husan Longstreet’s five-star explosiveness.

That does not mean Leavitt has been ruled out. It does mean LSU must be ready to hand the offense to a quarterback who has never started an SEC game.

Quick Answer

If Sam Leavitt cannot play against Ole Miss on September 19, 2026, LSU could turn to Landen Clark or Husan Longstreet. Clark offers 12 games of starting experience from Elon and has completed 7 of 10 passes for LSU this season. Longstreet, a former five-star USC transfer, brings a stronger recruiting pedigree and explosive dual-threat ability. LSU has not publicly named a replacement starter, so any claim that one has already won the job is speculation.

How Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet compare

Category	Landen Clark	Husan Longstreet
LSU roster listing	6-foot, 198 pounds; redshirt sophomore	6-foot-1, 200 pounds; redshirt freshman
Prior college role	12-game starter at Elon in 2025	Four reserve appearances at USC in 2025
2026 LSU passing	7-of-10, 109 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT	1-of-1, 33 yards
Best verified advantage	Full-game starting and late-game experience	High-end arm talent and open-field mobility

The current LSU statistics above come from Reuters’ September 17 report. Roster measurements and previous-season production come from LSU’s official player biographies.

What Landen Clark brings to LSU

Clark is the more experienced game manager because he has already carried an offense for a full season. LSU’s official Landen Clark biography credits him with 12 starts at Elon in 2025, more than 2,300 passing yards, 18 touchdown passes and 11 rushing touchdowns.

Those numbers matter because Oxford is not the place LSU wants a quarterback learning how to handle the rhythm of an entire game. Clark has already worked through opening scripts, halftime adjustments, late-down decisions and fourth-quarter pressure as a starter.

His running production also gives Kiffin a way to preserve parts of LSU’s quarterback-run package. That would not make Clark a replica of Leavitt, but it could keep Ole Miss from treating every read-option look as an automatic handoff.

The concern is the jump in speed and complexity. Starting in the FCS is meaningful experience, but an SEC road game against a top-10 opponent is a different test. LSU would likely ask Clark to win with discipline before asking him to win with volume.

What Husan Longstreet brings to LSU

Longstreet offers the bigger projection. LSU’s official Husan Longstreet biography lists him as a former five-star prospect who completed 13 of 15 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in four games at USC. He also rushed for 76 yards and two scores.

That limited sample shows why his ceiling is intriguing: he can stress a defense with arm strength and movement. His lone LSU completion in the first two games traveled 33 yards, a small but real example of the explosive element he could bring off the bench.

Spring evidence also leaned toward Longstreet’s upside, though it should not be mistaken for a current depth-chart announcement. Tiger Rag reported that Longstreet threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns in an April scrimmage while Clark threw for 160 yards and one score. Both also threw multiple interceptions, a reminder that upside and volatility can arrive together.

Which quarterback fits the Ole Miss matchup?

If LSU prioritizes command, full-game experience and a lower-variance plan, Clark has the cleaner résumé. If Kiffin wants to preserve more vertical stress and off-schedule playmaking, Longstreet offers the more explosive profile.

The opponent complicates the choice. Ole Miss can pressure the pocket, and LSU has already allowed five sacks through two games. A backup’s best trait may not matter if the Tigers repeatedly face third-and-long in front of a hostile crowd.

That makes protection and early-down efficiency central to the decision. TigerHype’s breakdown of LSU’s pass-protection problems explains why quick throws, protection clarity and avoiding obvious passing situations will matter regardless of who plays quarterback.

A two-quarterback plan is also possible in theory, especially if LSU wants one player to handle a controlled opening package and another to provide a change of pace. But LSU has not publicly announced that approach, and the cleanest preparation usually comes from giving one quarterback the bulk of the meaningful repetitions.

How LSU’s play-calling could change

The smartest adjustment would be subtraction, not reinvention. LSU can reduce the number of full-field reads, use motion to reveal coverage, lean on quick-game concepts and build throws off the run action already in the offense.

Clark’s experience may support a broader menu at the line of scrimmage. Longstreet’s athleticism may invite designed movement throws and selective deep shots. Either way, LSU cannot ask a backup to rescue the offense on every third down.

The larger setting matters, too. The canonical LSU–Ole Miss preview details the crowd, emotion and matchup pressure surrounding Kiffin’s return to Oxford. A calm first quarter may be more valuable to LSU than an aggressive first-quarter statement.

What LSU fans should watch next

The first item is Leavitt’s official availability designation. Doubtful is not the same as out, and the SEC report can change as game day approaches.

The second is whether LSU gives any public clue about the backup order. Until Kiffin or the program names a replacement, Clark and Longstreet should both be treated as legitimate options rather than a confirmed QB2 and QB3.

The third is the opening script. If a backup starts, LSU’s first 10 to 15 plays will reveal whether Kiffin trusts him to attack downfield or wants the game built around the run, screens and controlled reads.

For the broader 2026 picture, follow TigerHype’s LSU Football season hub for schedule, roster, rankings and ongoing injury updates.

LSU Backup Quarterback FAQ

Who would start for LSU if Sam Leavitt cannot play against Ole Miss?

LSU has not announced a replacement starter. Reuters reported that either Landen Clark or Husan Longstreet could start if Sam Leavitt is unavailable, so the decision remains unconfirmed.

Which LSU backup quarterback has more starting experience?

Landen Clark has more starting experience. He started all 12 games for Elon in 2025, while Husan Longstreet appeared in four reserve games for USC.

What has Landen Clark done for LSU in 2026?

Through LSU’s first two games of the 2026 season, Landen Clark completed 7 of 10 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

What college production does Husan Longstreet bring?

Husan Longstreet completed 13 of 15 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown at USC in 2025, added 76 rushing yards and two scores, and completed a 33-yard pass in his early LSU action.