Leavitt Rallies Past Auburn to Claim Rank 17
The LSU quarterback threw for a season-high 388 yards in a 38-17 victory, capping his second consecutive game without an interception.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
An overturned interception call saved LSU from an early stumble on Wednesday night at Auburn.
In the second quarter, Sam Leavitt threw a pass that Auburn safety Eric Winters appeared to catch while diving. The replay official reviewed the play and ruled the ball hit the ground before Winters secured it. That decision allowed the Tigers to keep the drive alive. Leavitt completed eight of his next ten passes, leading a 14-play, 95-yard march that put LSU ahead 17-3.
Leavitt played through a tight hamstring that limited his mobility. Despite the injury, he finished the 38-17 win with a season-best 388 passing yards. He threw for no interceptions, marking his second straight game without a turnover. The previous week, he also kept the ball secure in a win over Mississippi State.
Head coach Lane Kiffin credited the team for staying on schedule despite Leavitt's missed spring practice. Kiffin told Leavitt he was "lucky" to escape the early miss against Auburn. "This is where we planned on being," Kiffin said. He noted that it would have been ideal to start the season at this level, but the slow ramp-up was expected given the quarterback's time away.
The performance moved Leavitt from 24th to 17th in the CBS Sports quarterback power rankings for the week ending October 28. He joined a list led by Darian Mensah of Miami, who remains first. Mensah threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-23 win over Pittsburgh. Braden Atkinson of Oregon State sits second, leading the nation with 2,604 passing yards.
Other quarterbacks moved in the opposite direction. Jayden Maiava of USC dropped from 10th to 15th after throwing two interceptions in a 24-7 loss to Wisconsin. He averaged just 5.1 yards per attempt in that game. Keelon Russell of Alabama climbed from 11th to 9th after throwing for 311 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Texas A&M.
The rankings reflect a mix of consistency and performance against specific opponents. Leavitt's streak of clean games contributes to his climb. He has completed 63 of 83 passes for 677 yards and seven touchdowns in his last two outings.
LSU will take a bye next week. The team will prepare for a trip to Alabama in Week 9.
