LSU football officially inked transfer portal quarterback Sam Leavitt on Monday night. Lane Kiffin has his QB1.

Lane Kiffin's LSU rebuild reflects a unique intersection with HBCU football and Power Four programs in the NCAA transfer portal era.

Traditionally, the Tigers have played four nonconference matchups each season. But because the SEC decided in August to add a ninth league battle to their teams’ schedules, LSU and its peers will now face only three nonconference teams in 2026 and beyond.

Check out LSU football's 2026 full schedule here. See when Lane Kiffin returns to Ole Miss for the first time.

But the return of the quick, twitchy speedster is a significant move for the LSU Tigers with Kiffin securing his one-two punch for the 2026 season with both talented running backs returning on the roster. Along with Durham back in the mix, Berry has also inked a new deal with the program and has re-signed with LSU.

LSU football is in a precarious spot at the quarterback position for next season. It is relying solely on the transfer portal to fill both the starter and backup roles for the 2026 season because every scholarship quarterback on the roster has either entered the portal or is out of eligibility.