LSU opened the 1981 season against No. 4-ranked Alabama and six-time national champion coach Bear Bryant in Tiger Stadium at night on ABC national television, losing 24-7.
There was a top five matchup in 2011 when the No. 4 Tigers beat No. 3 Oregon, 40-27, in Dallas on ABC national television at night.
In a top 10 pairing in 2023, No. 5 LSU lost, 45-24, versus No. 8 Florida State in Orlando, Florida.
Defending national champion LSU opened the 1959 season on national NBC television during the day and beat Rice, 26-3.
There is not a top five, top 10 or even top 20 matchup on tap Saturday at Tiger Stadium when No. 11 LSU hosts No. 23 Clemson at 6:30 p.m. on ABC national television.
But this is the biggest and most hotly anticipated season opener in LSU football history for several reasons – more significant than poll numbers or the opponent. Because this season is just going to be different. And here’s why:
1.) Lane Kiffin, a rock star head coach wanted by four programs (LSU, Ole Miss, Florida and Florida State) last season, yet polarizing and hated by pockets of fans and media across the country, makes his debut as LSU’s coach. Somehow, LSU’s donors cobbled together a $90 million contract over seven years for Kiffin just after incurring a $54 million buyout debt for fired coach Brian Kelly. LSU’s master donor base really needs him to win big pretty soon.
2.) The largest roster restoration and makeover in the history of LSU football also debuts with no less than 60 new players – 41 via the NCAA Transfer Portal last January and 19 from the traditional recruiting of high schools and junior colleges. The portal class features three No. 1 transfers at their position in the country – junior quarterback Sam Leavitt at approximately $4 million a year, junior offensive tackle Jordan Seaton at approximately $3 million a year and senior edge Princewill Umanmielen in the $1 million range. In all there are 11 players ranked in the top 12 at their position. The cost of the entire roster was between $40 and $50 million. LSU’s master donor base really needs some return on their investment. At least, the investment is not just for this season. Slightly more than half of the class – 21 to be exact – are sophomores and freshmen.
3.) ESPN’s College GameDay has been to LSU on countless occasions. But the iconic Saturday morning show will be at LSU for the first time for a season opener. And LSU broke a Tiger Stadium record this week for most credentialed media members and celebrities at approximately 900. With the national TV audience, more eyes will be on this LSU season opener than any previous one in history.
4.) The most non-football buildup to a season opener in LSU history is finally over – for now. Temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and lawsuits have buried the usual August frenzy of football-strong stories leading to kickoff for Tiger fans. Therefore, they are that much more hungry for some football outside the courtroom. And LSU decided late Friday not to add two primary parts of all the legalese – former NFL roster members Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris – to its roster. That will serve as a temporary rejuvenating order for LSU fans everywhere.
5.) For the first time in LSU football history, the Tigers actually have a true, progressive, play calling genius offensive coordinator as head coach. LSU’s greatest coach, Nick Saban, was a defensive coordinator. Other great LSU coaches Charles McClendon and Bill Arnsparger were defensive coordinators. Les Miles was an offensive coordinator, but he was not a play caller as he was an offensive line coach. Kiffin is the state of the art as far as offensive masterminds. He doesn’t call plays anymore, but he sure as hell directs them through his prized pupil going back to their time together at Alabama. That is offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who called the plays for Kiffin during his last few years at Ole Miss and will this year. This will be the most up tempo offensive by an LSU team that Tiger fans have ever seen. But the cool thing is that Kiffin and Weis love to run the ball, and LSU will have a strong run blocking offensive line for the first time since 2019. But Kiffin’s heartbeat is with the passing game and developing quarterbacks.
6.) LSU fans are starved for championship contending football – something that has not happened since the national title in 2019. And the natives are getting restless and want a temporary restraining order on all temporary restraining orders.
“Excited for it to finally be here,” Kiffin said Wednesday on the SEC teleconference, speaking for his entire fan base, whether he realized it or not. “This has been eight months we’ve been here – at least. All leading up to this first performance. Our fans are really excited, the state. Our university has put a lot (of money) into us. And trusted us with a big time job to turn around LSU football to get it back to where they want it to be. I don’t take that lightly. So, that’s why we’ve worked the way that we have. That’s why we’ve competed in every area to give our fans the best performance, starting with the first performance on Saturday.”
Step right up, and don’t be shy.
“Showtime’s real man, it’s a performance,” Kiffin said. “And we want a performance where we win, and so that people want to come back and that the stadium’s always full. And people are fighting to get into the stadium.”
You can say that again.
So, just freakin’ kick if off already before everyone in Tiger Stadium and throughout Louisiana start hyperventilating.
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