LSU football placed quarterback Sam Leavitt as “doubtful” ahead of the Ole Miss showdown. Yet the Rebels aren't buying the update via Lane Kiffin. And neither is one prominent college football insider.

Leavitt's health rose as the second-biggest topic next to Kiffin's return ahead of the SEC showdown in Oxford. But college football insider for ESPN Pete Thamel isn't convinced Leavitt will sit.

“I think we're gonna file this one under chicanery,” Thamel shared during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.  “Lane Kiffin has a long and colorful history of taking liberties on injury reports. There's still widespread expectation that Leavitt will start Saturday.”

"I think we're gonna file this one under chicanery..

Lane Kiffin has a long history of taking liberties on injury reports..

Sam Leavitt was limited in practice yesterday but there's still a widespread expectation that he will start and play on Saturday" ~ @PeteThamel #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/XALn4oCMoS

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 17, 2026

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Thamel included that Kiffin has a history of being “creative” with his injury reports during his time at Ole Miss. Hence why he's in the population of believing Leavitt won't sit.

“The truth will reveal itself on Saturday night. These are the games that Lane Kiffin likes to play and Ole Miss knows that,” Thamel added.

Tensions immediately are boiling between Ole Miss and LSU amid Kiffin's return. Saturday brings back the former Rebels head coach who pulled off a controversial exit. Kiffin accepted the LSU head coaching job while the rival Rebels were putting together a College Football Playoff run. Although Kiffin revealed he hoped to stay with Ole Miss through the postseason before leaving for LSU. Yet the school and Kiffin officially severed ties in late November 2025.

Ole Miss's Kiffin hate plans to hit never-before-seen levels before Saturday's kickoff inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. A large law enforcement presence is imminent before the game.