By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
The Lane Kiffin era is just hours away from kicking off at LSU, and the excitement, drama and expectations are building in Baton Rouge as the Tigers prepare to host Clemson (6:49 p.m., ABC).
The morning anticipation culminated on the 500th road broadcast of ESPN’s “College GameDay” live from LSU’s campus at 9 a.m. today. A brief lightning delay could not stifle an already electric atmosphere that featured performances from celebrity guest picker Lainey Wilson, a $1 million field goal attempt and an F-15 Eagle flyover by the Louisiana Air National Guard.
Then LSU swept the GameDay panel’s predictions for the headline matchup between the Tigers.
Former Michigan star and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard led off the picks.
“There’s no way you’re going to come in here with an inexperienced quarterback and go up against this defense that a scout told me has at least four first rounders that (coordinator) Blake Baker has,” Howard said. “I think that Clemson loses this game big to LSU tonight.”
LSU is an 11-point favorite.
Former LSU and Alabama national championship-winning head coach Nick Saban of ESPN commended Clemson’s improvement after a 7-6 season 2025 before siding with the Bayou Bengals.
“LSU has too much firepower,” Saban said. “They got a good defensive team. Sam Leavitt is a good quarterback. Trey’Dez Green is a mismatch guy (6-foot-7 tight end). If they can run the ball and create balance on offense, they’re going to be one of the best teams in the country.”
Then, it was Wilson’s turn to support her home team.
“Do you see what I’m wearing,” the country music singer from Baskin in north Louisiana said of her LSU shirt and purple and gold tiger-print chaps.
ESPN talk show superstar Pat McAfee closed out the picks with loud praise of Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s national championship pedigree, but he said the Clemson defense had no chance of stopping LSU.
“I think Lane Kiffin with Sam Leavitt and Trey’Dez Green at 6-foot-7, 243, this guy is unbelievable.” McAfee said. “I think he goes crazy. I think the defense goes crazy.”
GameDay veteran Kirk Herbstreit took a page out of LSU president Wade Rousse’s book and abstained because he will be commentating ABC’s broadcast of the game.
Wilson backed the Tigers to win the Southeastern Conference this season while the rest of the panel split between Texas and Georgia. Howard and Saban went with the Longhorns, while McAfee and Herbstreit picked the Bulldogs. Wilson also picked LSU to win the national championship over the Miami Hurricanes.
“If there’s one thing I know about Louisiana, they ain’t scared of a hurricane,” Wilson said.
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