LSU QB Sam Leavitt surprise doubtful ahead of Ole Miss game - ESPN

In a surprising turn of events, LSU on Wednesday night listed starting quarterback Sam Leavitt as doubtful for Saturday's much-anticipated rivalry game at Ole Miss.

The exact nature of Leavitt's injury is unclear. He completed last week's win over Louisiana Tech and spoke to reporters afterward without appearing to be in pain. LSU coach Lane Kiffin did not mention that Leavitt was dealing with any injuries during a Monday news conference.

Considering the intensity of the rivalry, there is a chance the surprise doubtful listing could involve some midweek gamesmanship.

The SEC's availability report policy defines a doubtful designation as «unlikely to play due to significant concerns» and describes it as a player having a «25% chance to play.»

The conference's reporting policy states acts of gamesmanship «intended to hide a student-athlete's true participation status for competitive or strategic reasons» are prohibited, as is conduct that could reasonably be construed as «misleading.»

The SEC also says schools should take extra precautions to act in good faith when disclosing the status of high-profile athletes, such as starting quarterbacks.

Penalties for inaccurate or late reports range from $25,000 to $100,000 for football and can include «accountability measures» for head coaches. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has discretion to administer penalties as appropriate based on the circumstances.

Linebacker TJ Dottery, who leads the team in tackles, was listed as questionable.

Leavitt, widely regarded as the top transfer quarterback this past offseason, was a two-year starter and former Big 12 Freshman of the Year at Arizona State before joining LSU following Kiffin's hiring.

Leavitt had a strong debut in which he accounted