Miami is getting mentioned in the same breath as Oregon and LSU in the early buzz around Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt, one of the biggest names in the portal as the window officially opened on Friday.
On3's Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong have indicated that Miami, Oregon and LSU have emerged as the primary contenders for Leavitt.
"Miami, Oregon and LSU are really the three"@PeteNakos update on transfer QB Sam Leavitt 👀
— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) January 2, 2026
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Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt is looking for a new football home
In 2024 at Arizona State, Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 61.7% of his passes. He also ran for 443 yards and five more scores.
His 2025 season was shorter and more complicated. Leavitt played in seven games before season-ending surgery, finishing with 1,628 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, plus 306 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. The injury dominated his year as a lingering foot issue eventually required Lisfranc surgery.
The chatter around Leavitt has been persistent. Earlier reports had Oregon, Indiana, LSU and Miami as schools to watch, and Texas Tech and Kentucky have also popped up in the mix.
Miami's pitch to Sam Leavitt
Sam Leavitt is looking to elevate his game, compete for a championship and position himself for the NFL in the future. Miami's pitch will be able to check off all three of those boxes — and they'll most likely be willing and able to pay top dollar.
Miami can pair Leavitt with freshman WR sensation Malachi Toney in the pass game, give him a reliable RB room that will include first-round CFP hero Mark Fletcher, and offer him a program that is built in the trenches.
In the past two years the success for QB's transferring into Miami is undeniable. Cam Ward ended up being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and Carson Beck has repaired his on-field image.
The Canes are also gearing up to play in the CFP semifinals against Ole Miss after beating the defending national champions and Texas A&M. That's more winning than most teams can claim. And with those three selling points in place, Miami has put themselves in solid position for Leavitt.