The college football transfer portal has been open for more than a week now, and Lane Kiffin is still looking for his QB1 for his first season in Baton Rouge. Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt remains his top priority at the moment, even though Leavitt left his LSU visit earlier this week without a deal in place.
LSU the team to watch as Ole Miss WR Winston Watkins enters the transfer portal
Leavitt visited the Tennessee Volunteers on Friday, and Kiffin wasn't about to let that visit to the way Josh Heupel wanted. Kiffin crashed the party in Knoxville, taking to social media to post a picture from inside the Knoxville airport on Friday afternoon. Matt Moscona of ESPN 104.5 Baton Rouge confirmed that Kiffin was, in fact, in Knoxville to see Leavitt.
Multiple sources confirm Lane Kiffin is, in fact, in Knoxville to see QB Sam Leavitt.
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) January 10, 2026
Leavitt left LSU without committing while the Demond Williams situation was unfolding. Multiple reports have Leavitt set to visit Miami after Tennessee.
Kiffin trying to close his portal QB.…
Sam Leavitt remains undecided as Kiffin goes all-in
It remains to be seen whether or not Kiffin's unorthodox move to visit Leavit in Knoxville will pay off. Perhaps Kiffin can take solace in the fact that Leavitt left his Tennessee visit without a deal in place to play for the Volunteers, but he is now on the move to visit another Power 4 program.
Leavitt is expected to visit Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes over the weekend. Miami clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Thursday with a thrilling 31-27 victory over Ole Miss. The title game between Miami and Indiana is set for Monday, January 19.
Garrett Nussmeier is out of eligibility, and both Michael Van Buren and Colin Hurley departed LSU via the portal, leaving Kiffin with zero scholarship quarterbacks currently on the roster for 2026. After missing out on Brendan Sorsby and with Leavitt still undecided, desperation may be setting in for Kiffin.
Kiffin's handling of Leavitt's portal recruitment has been bumpy, with the Demond Williams situation taking place during Leavitt's visit to LSU. Leavitt remains the top transfer QB still available on the market, and if he doesn't choose LSU, it could be a crushing blow for Kiffin and the Tigers.