Leavitt's Turnaround Propels Him Into Top 20 QB Rankings

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt climbed seven positions in the CBS Sports quarterback power rankings, landing at No. 17 following a decisive 38-17 win over Auburn in Week 8. The surge follows a stretch where Leavitt completed two straight games without throwing an interception.

In the second quarter of the contest, Leavitt attempted a throw to his right that appeared to be intercepted by Auburn safety Eric Winters. The replay official reviewed the play and determined the ball hit the turf, saving Leavitt's streak. He capitalized on the extended drive, connecting on eight of his next ten passes to lead a 14-play, 95-yard scoring drive that put LSU ahead 17-3.

Despite dealing with a tight hamstring, Leavitt finished the game with a season-high 388 passing yards. He kept the ball away from Auburn's defense for the remainder of the contest. His performance in this game, combined with his previous outing against Mississippi State, resulted in 63 completed passes, 677 total yards, and seven touchdowns across two weeks with zero turnovers.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin credited Leavitt's improvement to patience and development. Kiffin noted that the quarterback missed the entire spring season and was not at full health during the early part of the fall. "This is where we planned on being," Kiffin said, adding that the progress would naturally be slower given Leavitt's absence.

The ranking update places Leavitt behind established leaders like Miami's Darian Mensah and Oregon State's Braden Atkinson. Mensah holds the top spot after throwing for 387 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-23 win over Pittsburgh. Atkinson remains second, leading the nation in passing yards with 2,604 and touchdowns with 24, despite a Week 8 bye.

Other quarterbacks saw movement in the opposite direction. USC's Jayden Maiava dropped from 10th to 15th place. He suffered a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin where he was intercepted twice, a first for him this season. His yards per attempt fell to a career-low 5.1 in that contest.

The list continues to reflect the depth of the sport, with players like Houston's Conner Weigman holding steady at No. 7 and Alabama's Keelon Russell jumping from 11th to 9th after a 311-yard performance against Texas A&M. Leavitt's steady climb marks a shift from his earlier reputation for turnovers to a more reliable presence in the LSU offense.