By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
Clemson needed a judge’s ruling to temporarily restrain LSU on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
But not even a friendly local Pickens County judge in Clemson, South Carolina, could have stalled LSU’s quick death offense and suffocating defense in the No. 11 Tigers’ case closing, 51-10 slam gaveling of No. 23 Clemson in front of 102,321. It tied LSU’s most lopsided win over a ranked opponent as the No. 2 Tigers beat No. 9 Virginia Tech, 48-7, in 2007, in Tiger Stadium.
LSU (1-0) clearly did not need former NFL roster members Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who were cut from Cleveland and New Orleans recently and have enrolled at LSU via the new NFL portal, courtesy of an eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA and a preliminary injunction by a Baton Rouge judge Thursday, freeing them to join LSU’s roster.
“What would’ve it been like if they let us use those two NFL players, too?” LSU coach Lane Kiffin cracked. “I’m glad we played well, because if we wouldn’t have, that (the two NFL players) would’ve been the whole story.”
Kiffin decided to hold off on putting Wright and Harris on his roster, though, for the time being as Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey has been doing a slow and steady burn over the controversy for weeks now. And Kiffin and LSU need to keep a good relationship with the league office. But who needs the court delays, appeals, possible stays and headaches now?
I don’t think LSU needs any NFL players.
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 6, 2026
Not with the way the Tigers performed in this – LSU’s greatest season opening performance in history against a ranked team. LSU was better on this night than against Virginia Tech 19 years ago and better than the No. 4 Tigers when they blew out No. 3 Oregon, 40-27, in Dallas to open the 2011 SEC championship season.
LSU was more electric on Saturday night than the lightning storm that delayed the start of the game from 6:49 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. And Kiffin – not a couple of camp players – was the story as he staged the greatest debut by an LSU head coach in history. LSU’s performance made it seem like Kiffin has been here for five seasons. And he did that with 60 new players – 41 from the portal and 19 from his prep recruiting class – who looked like they have been here for years.
“It was awesome,” Kiffin said. “How electric the campus was before the game. I felt like I was back at Mardi Gras. It was pretty awesome. It was pretty electric. That’s what LSU’s supposed to be. That’s the LSU swagger. It’s hard to play here as an opponent.”
Clemson proved that and then some like no other brand name in recent history. This two national champion from 2016 and ’18 and playoff team just two years ago looked like the worst of the directional schools. The Tigers slashed through Clemson and danced all around those Tigers like lightning on a lake.
It was over before the half as LSU took a 24-3 lead on an 8-yard twisting, turning, cutting run by Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt with 7:54 still go in the second quarter to climax a 72-yard drive in nine plays. Consider Leavitt’s right foot that required surgery last season 100 percent. Apparently about to go out of bounds on the touchdown, he planted hard and cut on a dime with the right foot to cover the last four yards for the touchdown.
It was a sight to see, like most everything from this completely rejuvenated LSU offense from the sick tub of goo it was just a year ago. Leavitt rushed for 113 yards on 12 carries and the two TDs while completing 16 of 28 passes for 230 yards and a 32-yard touchdown to wide receiver Winnie Watkins for a 38-3 lead midway in the third quarter. Watins, an Ole Miss transfer with Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., caught seven passes in all for 110 yards.
LSU has a real live running game with a tailback for the first time since the 2019 season as Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones powered to 113 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns.
The statistical onslaught by Kiffin’s attack was monstrous and comical:
– LSU outgained Clemson, 644 yards to 145.
– The Tigers outrushed Clemson, 309 to 40.
– In first downs, LSU had a school record 38 to 8.
“Pretty self-explanatory,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Best thing about that one is it’s over. Just a poor performance. We just never really gave ourselves a chance. And at the end of the day, you’re not going to win if you can’t stop the run.”
Clemson also couldn’t run.
As the second quarter drew to a close, LSU led a sickly Clemson offense, 162-0 in rushing yards. That’s not a typo – 162-0 in rushing yards. The Tigers had 15 first downs to one at the time and 248 total yards to 43.
But Leavitt added another touchdown for a 31-3 lead with 1:10 to go in the first half on a 13-yard scramble. He finished with 100 yards rushing on 11 carries with the two scores while completing 9 of 19 passes for 123 yards.
LSU finished the half with a 21-1 advantage in first downs, 213-4 in rushing yards and 336-54 in total yards. But Kiffin – much like his mentor and former LSU coach Nick Saban – was not satisfied.
“We’ve got to make adjustments,” he said at halftime. “We’ve got to play better in the second half. We can’t give away the ball like on that first turnoverr. This game should be 38-0.”
Clemson’s only points came after a Leavitt pass bounced off wide receiver’s Malik Elzy’s hands and into those of cornerback Ashton Hampton at the LSU 33 on a ball that should’ve been caught by Elzy. Four plays later, Nolan Hauser kicked a 49-yard field goal to give Clemson a 3-0 lead with 13:28 to go in the first quarter.
That concluded the Clemson highlights for the night, and LSU was just getting warmed up. Meanwhile, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney already looked demolished.
The Tigers picked up right where they left off in the third quarter, and Kiffin had his 38 when Leavitt threw deep for Watkins for the 32-yard touchdown and 38-3 advantage. Leavitt hit 4-of-5 passes on the drive for 60 yards with a 13-yard run.
He was 3-of-3 on the next drive for 47 yards with Jones scoring on a 12-yard run for a 44-3 lead with 3:24 to go in the period. That was LSU’s third touchdown over its three previous drives.
Through three quarters, LSU’s domination of Clemson was comical – 507 yards to 73, 30 first downs to four and 277 rushing yards to zero.
And this was against a ranked team, not Northwestern State.
This is going to be an extremely fun year, and it doesn’t look like the thunder and lightning will cease any time soon.
“I’m happy for our fans,” Kiffin said. “I’m happy for our university. I’m happy for the players. I’m happy for all of them.”
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