The LSU offense for 2026 is coming together. On Monday, former Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt committed to the Tigers after a heated 3-team battle between LSU, Tennessee, and Miami (FL). Leavitt is ranked as the No. 2 quarterback on the market according to Saturday Blitz’s rankings, and gives LSU's offense a wide range of exciting possibilities under Kiffin's direction.
Lane Kiffin finally lands his quarterback with a long-awaited portal coup
LSU's 2026 offense got another big boost on Monday afternoon when standout running back Caden Durham announced that he is returning to LSU for his junior season. The move comes as a bit of a surprise, as Durham decided to enter the transfer portal a few weeks ago. However, Tiger fans are fired up to learn that he will return to Baton Rouge in 2026. Durham has amassed over 1,600 total yards and 11 touchdowns through 2 seasons with the Tigers.
LSU standout running back Caden Durham is withdrawing from the transfer portal and returning to the Tigers, he tells @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 12, 2026
Durham (@CadenDurham29), who is repped by @blakebaratz of @TeamIFA, has posted 1,609 scrimmage yards the last two seasons at LSU. pic.twitter.com/kobeB75KWx
LSU's offense for 2026 is coming together
Getting a quarterback of Leavitt's caliber was priority No. 1 for Kiffin. The former Arizona State gunslinger owns a dynamic dual-threat skill set, and brings 2 seasons of starting experience to LSU. He is viewed as a potential First Round draft talent, and gives the LSU offense a high ceiling in Kiffin's first year at the helm of the program.
Durham returning is also a welcome sight for Tiger fans. Durham was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 8 running back in the portal before announcing his return to Baton Rouge. He has 2 years of eligibility remaining, and figures to remain a large part of LSU's offense moving forward.
Durham has been LSU's leading rusher in each of the last 2 seasons, and despite battling several injuries in 2025, still paced the Tigers with 505 rushing yards and 4.6 yards per carry. In his career, the Oklahoma City native has compiled 1,258 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 351 receiving yards and a pair of receiving touchdowns.
It will be interesting to see how Kiffin and new RB coach Kevin Smith approach LSU's running back room in 2026 with Durham returning and former 5-star recruit Harlem Berry coming off a solid freshman campaign. Berry finished the 2025 season with 491 yards and 4.7 yards per carry to go along with 2 rushing touchdowns. With Durham battling injuries, Berry saw the bulk of the workload down the stretch, seeing double-digit carries in 5 of his final 6 games.