In our summer series looking at opposing quarterbacks and offenses for Arkansas football, you have seen a number of familiar names. LaNorris Sellers, Arch Manning, Gunner Stockton, and Austin Simmons enter 2026 with ample SEC football experience. It’s going to be tough to beat any of them. Sam Leavitt doesn’t have SEC experience, but Arkansas will have a difficult task against him as well. Yahoo! Sports has more:
“Billy Tucker of espn.com ranked Leavitt as the third best newcomer for the 2026 college football season. Tucker said ‘Leavitt is the centerpiece of Lane Kiffin’s No. 1-ranked transfer portal class and a major addition for a Tigers team with CFP expectations. After leading Arizona State to a Big 12 title in 2024, Leavitt is capable of elevating the offense in Kiffin’s first season. With improved talent around him and Jordan Seaton anchoring the offensive line, LSU is counting on Leavitt to stabilize and maximize the offense during its championship push. In 2024, Leavitt accounted for 29 total touchdowns during Arizona State’s Big 12 title and CFP run, throwing for 2,885 yards while adding 443 rushing yards. He brings dual-threat ability and toughness, which he displayed in a 319-yard performance against Texas Tech while playing through injury before ultimately undergoing foot surgery. Leavitt is an aggressive, confident passer who thrives off-platform while keeping his eyes downfield under pressure. Those traits should fit naturally within Kiffin’s offensive system. Despite a 61% career completion percentage, his arm talent, mobility and playmaking instincts give him first-round NFL upside if he stays healthy and continues improving his efficiency.”
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Sam Leavitt has shown he can perform on a big stage at Arizona State. Some will say that SEC pressure is different from Big 12 pressure, and it’s true that being QB1 at LSU is an intense experience not everyone can or does handle. However, Leavitt now has the benefit of having Lane Kiffin as his coach. Not that Kenny Dillingham wasn’t really good at Arizona State — he was — but Kiffin is unquestionably a top-tier quarterback coach in modern college football. There should be a scheme and a line of attack in place to help Leavitt succeed.
The Arkansas defense will spend much of its season going up against loaded offenses with proven, established quarterbacks. Sam Leavitt’s lack of SEC experience won’t really exist by the time Arkansas faces him. Leavitt will have endured a lot of SEC battles by then, so the summer reality of Leavitt lacking SEC chops might not even be all that relevant when the Hogs line up across the way from him.
