Sam Leavitt’s transfer-portal recruitment became one of the biggest quarterback stories of the 2026 offseason, and his decision to visit LSU after leaving Kentucky without a commitment represented a major development in the race for the former Arizona State star.
Leavitt entered the transfer portal as one of the most coveted quarterbacks available. Kentucky quickly emerged as an important contender, hosting him in Lexington for an extended visit. The Wildcats made a strong pitch under new head coach Will Stein and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, hoping Leavitt could become the centerpiece of their rebuilding effort. However, Leavitt left Kentucky without announcing a commitment.
That opened the door for LSU.
The Tigers were particularly attractive because of new head coach Lane Kiffin and the offensive system he was preparing to implement in Baton Rouge. LSU needed a proven quarterback following Garrett Nussmeier’s departure and Michael Van Buren Jr.’s decision to enter the transfer portal. Leavitt represented exactly the type of experienced, dynamic quarterback LSU wanted.
Leavitt’s résumé made the interest understandable. During the 2024 season at Arizona State, he helped guide the Sun Devils to the Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. He threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding six interceptions in 13 games. His 2025 campaign was interrupted by a foot injury, but he still produced 1,628 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games.
The LSU visit on January 5-6 became a crucial moment in his recruitment. LSU’s combination of SEC competition, offensive resources, Kiffin’s reputation and NIL opportunities gave the Tigers a compelling case. At the time, LSU appeared to be battling Kentucky and several other programs for Leavitt’s services.
For Kentucky, Leavitt leaving without committing was disappointing but not necessarily disastrous. The Wildcats had demonstrated that Stein could attract an elite transfer quarterback, even if the final decision went elsewhere. Kentucky ultimately moved in another direction and landed Nebraska transfer Kenny Minchey.
The bigger story, however, was what happened next. Leavitt continued evaluating his options, including visits to Tennessee and Miami, before eventually choosing LSU. ESPN reported on January 12 that LSU had signed Leavitt, making him a major addition to Kiffin’s first roster in Baton Rouge.
In hindsight, the visit described by A Sea Of Blue was the turning point. What initially looked like another uncertain stop in Leavitt’s recruitment became the beginning of his path to LSU.
For the Tigers, the move addressed one of the most important questions on their roster. Leavitt arrived with proven production, mobility and experience against high-level competition. LSU is now counting on those qualities to translate to the SEC and help push the program back into national championship contention.
The recruitment also illustrates how quickly the transfer portal can change a program’s fortunes. Kentucky had Leavitt on campus first, but LSU ultimately made the stronger closing argument. The Tigers’ successful pursuit gave Kiffin a quarterback capable of becoming the face of his new era at LSU.
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