
LSU’s SEC Ambitions Rest on Sam Leavitt’s Health
LSU’s return to SEC dominance hinges on quarterback Sam Leavitt’s ability to stay healthy, as the team leans on a potent receiving corps and expert warnings from analyst Matt Moscona.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Sam Leavitt across Football.

LSU’s return to SEC dominance hinges on quarterback Sam Leavitt’s ability to stay healthy, as the team leans on a potent receiving corps and expert warnings from analyst Matt Moscona.
Arizona State and the University of Arizona are reshaping their football trajectories as ESPN's 2027 projections highlight contrasting paths fueled by roster management, quarterback performance, and emerging talent.

With a top‑ranked transfer portal class and a healed quarterback, LSU enters the 2026 season as a +900 long shot to capture the SEC crown, but a demanding schedule and offensive‑line concerns could shape the outcome.

Alabama’s quarterback room, featuring Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, is poised to become one of the SEC’s most productive units in 2026, according to analyst Spenser Davis.

Georgia and Texas headline the conference’s outlook, while Florida, Missouri and a handful of rebuilding teams promise intrigue across the SEC.
LSU’s quarterback room for the 2026 season features three new transfers — Sam Leavitt, Husan Longstreet, and Landen Clark — each navigating injury, limited experience, and the pressure of a high‑stakes preseason competition.

With Georgia’s recent championship pedigree and Texas’s rising momentum, analysts rank the 16 SEC teams into five tiers, spotlighting key coaches, player storylines and the impact of new head coaches across the league.

Bill Connelly's SP+ ratings place Texas Tech at the top of the projected Big 12 order for 2026, with quarterback Brendan Sorsby eligible after a brief suspension. The outlook also highlights rising contenders, new head coaches and pivotal player storylines across the conference.

A look at the five quarterbacks poised to dominate the 2026 season, from Arch Manning’s health‑driven resurgence to Sam Leavitt’s challenge at LSU.
The SEC enters the 2025 season with a stacked slate of teams, from Georgia’s No. 2 preseason spot to Auburn’s sleeper potential, while quarterback eligibility battles loom large.

A look at the programs expected to surge, those likely to stumble, and the storylines that will define the upcoming season.
Lane Kiffin's up‑tempo system promises a high‑scoring offense at LSU, but quarterback health, roster turnover and five elite defensive fronts will determine whether the Tigers can translate practice explosiveness into consistent game‑day production.

LSU's aggressive roster moves and high-profile hiring have ignited optimism and debate as the program eyes a potential playoff run.
Sportsbooks have set Kentucky’s 2026 win total at 4.5, sparking debate among bettors about the team’s prospects under new head coach Will Stein.

A look at the ten programs generating the most buzz ahead of the 2026 season, from LSU's transfer additions to Oregon's returning quarterback and Virginia Tech's new direction.
Projected to win just 6.5 games, the Sun Devils face a tough slate, quarterback uncertainty, and a London debut, but returning veterans and a long‑term contract for Dillingham offer hope.

Analysts outline three daring forecasts that could reshape the conference landscape, highlighting Ole Miss' first championship run, Texas A&M's revenge over LSU, and Florida's potential eight‑win breakthrough under new coach Jon Sumrall.

The 2026 SEC season is shaped by three headline storylines that could redefine the conference’s power structure.

Coach Kenny Dillingham is reshaping Arizona State’s football program through targeted in‑state recruiting, a $20 million community funding boost, and the Golden Ticket initiative that has already attracted top talent like Jake Hildebrand.

A look at the players whose stats and marketability should have earned them a place on the game’s iconic cover.

Virginia Tech's quarterback competition has a clear frontrunner in Ethan Grunkemeyer, whose collegiate background and personal connections could reshape the team's attack.
Coach Josh Heupel is already turning his attention to the 2026 slate, even though the Volunteers have yet to name a starter under center. Among the most scrutinized opponents is Georgia Tech’s Alberto Mendoza, who enters his first season as a starter after serving as the backup to his Heisman‑winning brother. He will be charged with running a fresh offensive scheme in Atlanta. Texas brings a fresh storyline with Arch Manning slated for his first road test in Knoxville, a game that will pit the heir to a football dynasty against a Volunteers defense that remains a work in progress. Auburn’s Byrum Brown adds a dual‑threat dimension, having posted over 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards last season, a combination that could test Tennessee’s secondary. Alabama’s quarterback situation remains unsettled, with junior Austin Mack and former five‑star recruit Keelon Russell battling for the snap. The Crimson Tide will visit Neyland on October 17, a date that could shape the early narrative of the SEC season. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, once a top prospect for the No. 1 overall draft pick, struggled to find his footing in 2025, making his performance a potential turning point for the Gamecocks. LSU’s Sam Leavitt could instantly transform the Tigers into a playoff contender, a prospect that adds another layer of intrigue to the Volunteers’ schedule. Beyond the traditional powers, Tennessee will also face home‑grown talent in the portal: Kentucky’s acquisition of Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey, a Hendersonville native, and Texas A&M’s return of Nashville native Marcel Reed. Vanderbilt may even start five‑star freshman Jared Curtis, a Nashville Christian star, further deepening the local storylines. All of these quarterbacks bring distinct challenges, and Heupel’s early preparation reflects a desire to stay ahead of the curve as the Volunteers aim to translate their momentum into another strong season.

A look at five college football players whose transfers and emerging talents could dramatically influence the 2027 NFL Draft landscape.
The Crimson Tide’s quarterback room for 2026 features two inexperienced signal callers, but the program’s focus on development rather than immediate results could reshape the SEC landscape.