Sam Leavitt Could Sit vs. McNeese. LSU Has a Real Backup-QB Decision.
LSU finally got the version of Sam Leavitt it had been waiting to see against Texas A&M. Now the smartest move may be to resist the temptation to immediately ask for another full game from him.
Quick Answer
LSU has not announced whether Sam Leavitt will start against McNeese. Lane Kiffin said Monday that Leavitt became limited by a hamstring issue against Texas A&M and that the staff was weighing whether to hold key players out. Kiffin did not commit to Landen Clark starting, but Clark has already become the clear first option when LSU turns to its bench.
Kiffin's latest comments were reported by Louisiana Sports. The decision is less about whether LSU can survive one Saturday and more about what shape the quarterback room needs to be in when the Tigers return to SEC play.
Why LSU can think beyond one game
The context matters. LSU is 3-1, coming off a 35-6 win over Texas A&M, and hosts a 2-3 McNeese team before traveling to Kentucky on October 10. After McNeese, every remaining regular-season game is against an SEC opponent.
The official LSU schedule shows Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas still ahead. That is the part of the calendar Kiffin has to manage, not just the next four quarters.
Leavitt's Texas A&M performance made the choice more interesting. He threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns and helped LSU turn a close first half into a rout. The objective now is to preserve that trajectory, not squeeze every possible snap from a quarterback who is less than 100 percent.
What LSU already knows about Landen Clark
Clark is not an emergency option LSU has never seen. Kiffin said Monday that the transfer has consistently found ways to create plays when he enters games. Through four games, Clark has completed 7 of 15 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Against Texas A&M, the more revealing number came on the ground: nine carries, 41 yards and two touchdowns. That mobility gives LSU a different offensive menu if Clark starts or plays an extended role against McNeese.
The challenge is separating useful production from late-game production. A full first-team script would let LSU learn more about how Clark handles protections, third down, timing throws and a complete sequence of possessions.
Where Husan Longstreet fits
LSU's official 2026 roster also lists Husan Longstreet in the quarterback room. Longstreet gives the Tigers another high-upside option, but Clark has received the more meaningful reserve work through the opening month.
That makes Saturday potentially valuable even if Leavitt dresses. LSU could use the game to get Clark extended work, create a smaller package for Longstreet and leave Tiger Stadium with a clearer emergency plan before SEC play resumes.
Why this cannot become a throwaway offensive week
Resting a starter is not the same thing as lowering the standard. LSU's offense still needs clean operation, early-down efficiency, ball security and explosive plays. The opponent changes; the habits cannot.
TigerHype's LSU–McNeese game guide lays out the basic matchup. The more important quarterback question is whether LSU can leave the night healthier and more prepared than it entered it.
If Clark starts, the ideal outcome is not merely a comfortable score. It is LSU discovering which parts of Charlie Weis Jr.'s offense carry over cleanly with Clark and which parts need to be adjusted before a road SEC game.
What it means for Kentucky
Kentucky is the reason this decision has weight. LSU gets no second nonconference tune-up after McNeese. The Tigers go directly back on the road, and the quarterback position cannot be managed as though October begins a week later than it actually does.
If Leavitt can use McNeese week to recover without losing rhythm in practice, LSU could gain something more valuable than one additional start: a healthier QB1 and a more experienced QB2 at the same time.
The bottom line
Kiffin has not announced a starter change, and TigerHype will not turn uncertainty into a fake headline. The verified situation is simpler: Leavitt is dealing with a hamstring issue, LSU is considering how cautious to be, and Clark has earned enough trust to make the conversation real.
For a team already absorbing significant injuries elsewhere, that is exactly the kind of decision that should be made with November in mind.
Sam Leavitt vs. McNeese FAQ
Is Sam Leavitt playing against McNeese?
LSU had not announced a final decision as of September 29. Lane Kiffin said he was considering whether to hold Leavitt out after the quarterback dealt with a hamstring issue against Texas A&M.
Who is LSU's primary backup quarterback?
Landen Clark has been LSU's most-used reserve quarterback through the first month of the 2026 season, while Husan Longstreet is also on the roster.
What has Landen Clark done for LSU in 2026?
Through four games, Clark has completed 7 of 15 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed nine times for 41 yards and two touchdowns against Texas A&M.
When does LSU play McNeese?
LSU hosts McNeese on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 6:45 p.m. CT in Tiger Stadium on SEC Network.
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