LSU’s aggressive approach to the transfer portal has once again placed the program at the center of the college football conversation, both financially and competitively. On the popular college football YouTube show “Crain & Cone,” analyst Jake Crain brought on Matt Moscana, who covers LSU football, to break down the Tigers’ roster status and debate whether LSU should be viewed as a transfer portal winner or loser.
LSU Emerges As the Clear Transfer Portal Winner
The conversation opened with one of the biggest moves of the portal cycle: LSU landing elite offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, widely considered one of the top-rated linemen available. Seaton, who many believed was choosing between Oregon and LSU, ultimately committed to Baton Rouge, a destination Seaton was viewed as having always wanted to go to from the start.
That addition pushed LSU’s projected roster valuation to around $40 million, placing the Tigers at the very top tier of college football spending as the transfer portal window closes. It’s also a key reason Lane Kiffin accepted the LSU job, as the program’s NIL infrastructure now gives him access to resources few schools can match.
With roster construction addressed, the conversation shifted to one of the most important storylines for LSU entering spring football: the health of quarterback Sam Leavitt.
Sam Leavitt’s Health Remains a Question Mark
Moscana provided a cautious outlook on Leavitt’s availability after injuries derailed his 2025 season and ultimately cut it short. “They’re hopeful that he’ll be able to do maybe some 7-on-7, some throwing, but to expect Leavitt to go through full spring practice, that’s I think far too ambitious,” Moscana said.
LSU’s plan is to take a slow, methodical approach with its most valuable asset. For both the team and Leavitt himself, rushing the recovery would do more harm than good. When healthy, Leavitt has already shown he can be one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the country, and LSU wants him back at peak form, not merely available.
That patience could pay massive dividends under Lane Kiffin, widely regarded as one of college football’s premier offensive minds. His track record backs it up. During his time at Ole Miss, Kiffin’s offenses never finished outside the top 20 in PFSN CFB Offensive Impact Grades from 2020 onward.
Just as impressive has been his development with quarterbacks. Matt Corral became an NFL draft pick with the Carolina Panthers, Jaxson Dart rose into a first-round selection by the New York Giants, and Trinidad Chambliss finished this past season as a top-five graded quarterback nationally according to PFSN. That history should be music to Sam Leavitt’s ears.
After finishing 10th nationally in PFSN QB impact grade in 2024, Leavitt took a noticeable step back in 2025, dropping to a 79.7 grade (62nd nationally). Injuries clearly stalled his development and limited his effectiveness, making it difficult to judge his true ceiling last season.
If Leavitt returns closer to his 2024 form under Kiffin’s guidance, LSU’s $40 million roster investment could look like a bargain. A healthy, fully unlocked Sam Leavitt, paired with an elite offensive line and Kiffin’s system, puts the Tigers firmly back into College Football Playoff contention for 2026.
And if that happens, the patience shown this spring, even if it feels “too ambitious” to some, will have been well worth it.
