Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut couldn’t have started any better than it did on Saturday night. In a rain delayed opener at Tiger Stadium, number 11 LSU dominated Clemson in every stat, piling 644 total yards of offense behind standout performances from quarterback Sam Leavitt and running back Dilin Jones. The defense got the job done on their side, giving up just 10 points in the game. A sellout crowd in Death Valley also created too much pressure for Clemson to get anything going all game.
Before the game, heavy rain and lightning delayed play, pushing kickoff back nearly two hours. Once the game finally got underway, LSU wasted no time showing off Kiffin’s new up tempo attack. Fans saw the run game return to the offense, and you could tell early that Clemson was not going to be able to stop it all night.
Clemson actually struck first with a field goal after forcing a turnover on the first drive of the game when Leavitt’s dropped pass was intercepted, giving them great field position. That was about as good as it got for Dabo Swinney and the Tigers. Jordan Ross’ 30 yard pick six made it 17-3, and the LSU offense never looked back. Leavitt showed off his wheels with touchdown runs to put the Tigers up by four scores late in the second quarter, taking a commanding 31-3 lead into halftime.
The star transfer quarterback delivered from the jump. Leavitt finished the game with 230 passing yards and 113 rushing yards, accounting for three total touchdowns with two on the ground and one through the air. He and running back Dilin Jones, who also racked up 113 rushing yards, led LSU’s ground attack. It was a statement game for Leavitt, who transferred in this year after helping Arizona State reach the College Football Playoff in 2024. A foot injury cut his 2025 season short, which he had completed his last surgery on back in April this year to remove pins and screws.
Things only got worse for Clemson as the game played out. Leavitt connected with Ole Miss transfer Winston Watkins Jr. on a wide open 32 yard touchdown in the third quarter, and Jones added a 12 yard score to push the lead to 44-3. The Tigers worked on the two point conversion since they were up big, but nothing came from it. Lane Kiffin then gave Leavitt the rest of the night off, turning things over to backup Landon Clark, who found Phillip Wright III for a wild 30 yard touchdown pass in the fourth. Clemson’s only touchdown of the game didn’t come until very late in the fourth.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was far from happy, telling the media, “The best thing about that game is it’s over.” He pointed to their run defense as the core issue, saying his team “did a really poor job of setting the edge.” The result ended up being Clemson’s worst loss in about three decades. For Kiffin, it was exactly what he needed to get any fans that didn’t believe in him on his side.
LSU stays home to host Louisiana Tech on September 12th just before a massive early season test. A road trip to Ole Miss for the Magnolia Bowl on September 19th, also being aired on College GameDay. Lane Kiffin and the Tigers proved that they are ready for anyone they face this year, and certainly are living up to the hype.
— Eric Palmer, TigerSources