Nick Saban thinks there's 'absolutely nothing wrong' with Sam Leavitt for Ole Miss vs LSU

Sam Leavitt was listed on LSU 's injury report this week in the latest of many twists and turns surrounding Lane Kiffin's return vs Ole Miss football in Oxford on Sept. 19 (6:30 p.m., ABC).

Add Nick Saban to the list of those who doubt Leavitt is injured.

"If I was a betting man, I would say there's absolutely nothing wrong with Sam Leavitt ," Saban said on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Sept. 18. "So, I would be psychologically telling the defensive players that this doesn't matter. 'Sam Leavitt is going to play, he's going to be the best, we've got to stop him. Don't lose your edge because you think he's not going to play.' And then he shows up and plays, and it's a downer."

Saban will be in Oxford on Sept. 19 as part of ESPN's "College GameDay" crew. Actor Morgan Shepherd , a huge Rebels fan, will be the guest picker.

LSU's star quarterback was upgraded from doubtful to questionable on Sept. 17, and there will be two more injury reports released before No. 9 Ole Miss (2-0) faces the No. 7 Tigers (2-0). One will be released on the evening of Sept. 18 and another 90 minutes before kickoff.

Lane Kiffin roast before Ole Miss-LSU at The Lyric in Oxford, MS. See our best photos

Leavitt didn't appear hurt in LSU's victory over Louisiana Tech on Sept. 12, and Kiffin hasn't addressed it. There have been media reports that Leavitt is dealing with a shoulder issue.

Some believe Leavitt's placement on LSU's injury report is a mind game from Kiffin before his highly anticipated return to Ole Miss . Kiffin went 55-19 with the Rebels from 2020-25 and left for LSU right before Ole Miss entered the 2025 College Football Playoff.

The SEC defines a questionable designation as a player being "uncertain to play" or having a 50% chance to play. The conference's reporting policy states that acts "intended to hide a student-athlete's true participation status for competitive or strategic reasons" or acts that can reasonably be interpreted as "misleading" aren't allowed.

The SEC also says schools should take extra measures to act in good faith when disclosing the status of notable players, such as starting quarterbacks. Penalties for inaccurate reports range from $25,000 to $100,000 in football and can include "accountability measures" for head coaches. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey can administer penalties based on the circumstances.

Leavitt has passed for 574 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing for 135 yards and five touchdowns. He'll compete in a high-profile quarterback matchup with the Rebels' Trinidad Chambliss — who's passed for 561 yards, five touchdowns and one interception — if he plays.

Nick Coppola covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA Today Network. Email him at ncoppola@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @Nick_Coppola__ and like his Facebook page at Nick Coppola, Clemson Sports .