Leavitt's Turnover-Proof Stretch Propels LSU to No. 17 in QB Rankings

Sam Leavitt climbed seven positions in the CBS Sports quarterback power rankings released on October 28, 2026, landing at No. 17 after completing two consecutive games without throwing an interception.

The ranking shift follows a 38-17 victory over Auburn in Week 8, where the LSU quarterback threw for a season-high 388 yards. In the previous week against Mississippi State, Leavitt also avoided turnovers. Across those two contests, he completed 63 of 83 passes for 677 yards and seven touchdowns.

Leavitt entered the Auburn game with a fragile streak. Early in the second quarter, he threw an underhand pass that appeared to be caught by Auburn safety Eric Winters. The play initially looked like a break in his turnover-free run. However, the replay official overturned the call, ruling the ball hit the ground before being touched. This decision allowed the drive to continue. Leavitt completed 8 of 10 passes on the ensuing 14-play, 95-yard march that put LSU ahead 17-3.

The Auburn defense never fully regained control after that sequence. Leavitt managed the ball effectively for the remainder of the game despite suffering from a hamstring issue that limited his mobility in the pocket. He finished with 24 completions on 34 attempts. The performance marked a notable improvement for the player who was ranked No. 1 among transfers in the offseason but struggled with consistency early in the season.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin acknowledged the luck involved in the early drive. He told Leavitt he was "lucky" to escape the miscue. Kiffin also noted that the team's trajectory aligned with their expectations given Leavitt's absence from spring practice. "This is where we planned on being," Kiffin said. He added that progress would be slower because Leavitt missed the spring season.

Leavitt is not yet at 100 percent health. He missed all of spring practice and still carries a minor hamstring concern. Nevertheless, his efficiency has improved. He is currently the No. 17 ranked quarterback in the FBS according to the CBS Sports list. His ranking surpassed that of Jayden Maiava of USC, who fell to No. 15 after a loss to Wisconsin.

The next scheduled contest for LSU is a bye in Week 9. The team will return to action against Alabama. Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell is currently ranked No. 9. Russell completed 19 of 30 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Texas A&M last week. The Crimson Tide are second in the SEC in passing yards.

The power rankings also show movement at the top. Darian Mensah of Miami remains at No. 1 after a 52-23 win over Pittsburgh. Braden Atkinson of Oregon State holds the No. 2 spot, leading the country in passing yards with 2,604. Gio Lopez of Wake Forest sits at No. 3. Drew Mestemaker of Oklahoma State moved up four spots to No. 4 following a 57-24 win over Colorado.

Leavitt’s rise is part of a broader shift in the rankings. Several quarterbacks moved up or down based on Week 8 results. Kevin Jennings of SMU is on a three-game streak without an interception and sits at No. 19. Noah Fifita of Arizona is at No. 11 after a 39-3 win over Iowa State. The list reflects current performance over the last several weeks rather than season-long totals.

Leavitt’s improvement in limiting mistakes has been the primary driver of his recent success. He has not thrown an interception since Week 6. The next test will come when LSU hosts Alabama, providing an immediate measure of whether his current form holds against a top-10 opponent.