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Is Sam Leavitt Being Played By Lane Kiffin?

Originally posted on Heartland College Sports
By Pete Mundo | Last updated Jan 7, 2026 11:27 AM ET

What a weird time we are living through with the college football transfer portal. Players are leaving programs left and right, many will find homes, some will get paid much more than NFL players, and others will be left wondering if they should have never left. You have to wonder if there is some buyer’s remorse going on right now with former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt.

Leavitt was courtside at the LSU basketball game on Tuesday night alongside head coach Lane Kiffin, when reports began to surface that LSU was a prime reason for Washington quarterback Demond Williams announcing on social media he was going to enter the transfer portal, days after re-signing with the Huskies.

It’s been reported that Williams is being targeted by Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers. Well, this created an awkward moment for Leavitt on Tuesday, and the memes were running wild.

"Does that say Demond Williams hit the portal? " (Sam Leavitt)

"Well it's been fun kid, it's time you head out" (Lane Kiffin) pic.twitter.com/AjAPV76uNi
— Brad Tejeda (@TejedaBrad) January 7, 2026

I mean, you can’t help but laugh. But it’s the environment we’re in. You have alleged tampering by LSU with Washington’s quarterback who just resigned. You have Sam Leavitt looking for a new home, with potential dwindling options as Texas Tech and Kentucky, two potential landing spots, have found other quarterbacks, and a situation that it making everyone, Kiffin, Williams and Leavitt, look bad.

Now as for Leavitt, he’s scheduled to make a visit to Tennessee on Wednesday, according to On3, as his search for a new home continues.

But such is the world we live in today in college football, where quarterbacks can sit courtside with who they think might be their next head coach while learning said coach might actually be targeting someone else who supposedly just resigned with their team on a multi-million dollar deal. What a time to be alive as a college football employee and fan!

This article first appeared on Heartland College Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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