Leavitt Protects Ball in Two Straight Wins
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw no interceptions against Mississippi State and Auburn after throwing one in each of the first six games.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw no interceptions in games against Mississippi State and Auburn, after throwing at least one interception in each of the first six games of the season. The turnaround has come as the team works to reduce its reliance on running plays.
Why it matters
Clean games from the quarterback can shift a team's offensive identity and reduce turnovers that often decide close contests. Head coach Lane Kiffin's staff has identified over-reliance on running as a problem to address for balance.
Leavitt threw for 289 yards and four total touchdowns against Mississippi State and 387 yards and three passing touchdowns against Auburn without an interception. Through the first six games he had thrown at least one pick in every outing, so the two-game streak is a clear break from the prior pattern.
The players
Sam Leavitt
Sam Leavitt is LSU's starting quarterback, whose turnover count and passing production are central to the team's offensive direction.
Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin is the head coach of LSU Football and has overseen the team's effort to balance its offense between the run and the pass.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide is a Southeastern Conference football program known for a strong defense and is LSU's next opponent.
The details
Many of Leavitt's successful plays came from taking off on his own as a runner, and the coaching staff has flagged that reliance as a problem to fix. Leavitt's next test comes against Alabama.
Timeline
Leavitt threw interceptions in each of the first six games of the 2026 season.
Leavitt had his first interception-free game against Mississippi State.
Leavitt threw for 387 yards with no interceptions against Auburn.
LSU's next game is against Alabama.
Season Trajectory
Leavitt's interception-free stretch against Mississippi State and Auburn breaks a six-game pattern that had defined LSU's early season. The next stretch of the schedule, starting with Alabama's defense, will show whether the change holds against stronger competition in the SEC.
Leavitt's clean games matter for fantasy and betting lines that weigh quarterback turnover risk. Fans tracking LSU's offensive balance can watch whether the team keeps its run-heavy approach reduced in the coming weeks.
The takeaway
Turnover control is one of the clearest signals of a quarterback settling into a team's offense, and Leavitt's next game against Alabama will show whether the early-season improvement is durable.
What happens next
LSU plays Alabama in its next game, the first major test of whether Leavitt's turnover improvement holds against a top SEC defense.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Football coverage from Baton Rouge.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reveille.
