LSU’s highly anticipated debut of the Lane Kiffin era fairly quickly proved worth the wait — even with its added two hours and change.
The storm clouds, heavy rain and lightning delays finally settled down. And, after a costly initial miscue, so did the Tigers.
No. 11 LSU (1-0) and often Tiger Stadium behind it roared to a 51-10 dismantling of Clemson that marked one heck of a first impression with a resurgent run game and disruptive defense particularly highlighting the festivities.
“That was a really good job by our players,” Kiffin said. “With all the questions about how would they be with what most people think are distractions, and they did a great job. I mean, you think about you come out, a quality ACC team, and screw up the first series and give ’em the ball and give three points, and then you go on a 51-0 run after that. That’s a lot of players’ focus. That’s a lot of players doing a really good job.”
The Tigers marched the ball up and down the field for a program-record 38 first downs and 644 yards, the most since Sept. 28, 2024, against South Alabama and most against a Power-Four opponents since Nov. 11, 2023, against Florida.
LSU hadn’t scored more than 25 points last season against an FBS opponent until its 38-35 Texas Bowl loss to Houston and hadn’t scored 50 against an FBS opponent since Nov. 18, 2023, against Georgia State or against a Power-Four opponent since Nov. 11, 2023 against Florida.
Clemson’s defeat marked the worst in coach Dabo Swinney’s 19 years leading the other Tigers, surpassing 37-point margins by West Virginia in the 2012 Orange Bowl and Florida State at home in 2013.
Running back Dilin Jones and quarterback Sam Leavitt needed just a handful of possessions to surpass any of the Tigers’ complete-game rushing performances last season.
Jones, the transfer from Wisconsin, showcased his decisiveness and strength and balance through contact with 23 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns, including the team’s first of the season.
Leavitt, the Arizona State transfer who returned this summer from a Lisfranc injury, looked great scrambling his way to 113 yards and two scores on 12 carries as he and his receivers worked through some early kinks before finding more rhythm en route to a 16-for-28 night for 230 yards, one touchdown and an early interception.
“Looked like Lamar Jackson,” Jones smiled about Leavitt’s running ability. “I feel like it helps everybody. It helps out the receivers. He can roll out, still pass it. He can roll out, score. And then now, with the read-option, they’ve gotta play Sam too, so it helps out a lot.”
Clemson junior cornerback Ashton Hampton intercepted Leavitt on the night’s second play from scrimmage.
The LSU defense began its lights-out performance by allowing just 2 yards and a 49-yard Nolan Hauser field goal out of the field position, though.
And Jones, Leavitt, Kiffin, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and company gradually got cooking.
The Tigers went 9-for-19 with an interception through the air in the first half, but found a better rhythm after the break to go 13-for-17 with two touchdowns the rest of the way.
Sophomore wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr., an Ole Miss transfer was the most consistent weapon down the field with seven catches for 110 yards and a score, and junior tight end Trey’Dez Green caught four passes for 58 yards
“Impressive first night by guys,” Kiffin said. “Sam Leavitt started a little slow and then played really well, which he’s done all camp, so that was good to see. A lot of credit to our players, our assistant coaches, really good game plans.”
LSU scored on six of their next eight possessions, including a 49-yard field goal by Arkansas transfer Scott Starzyk and Jones’ goal-line, direct-snap touchdown to cap the next two drives.
The defense stretched the lead to 17-3 on a beautifully dialed-up third-down play by coordinator Blake Baker on which linebacker Whit Weeks blitzed the middle and edge rusher Jordan Ross dropped back into the snatch to snatch a 30-yard pick-six.
“It definitely felt good,” Ross said. “Our defensive coordinator, Baker, drew it up perfectly. We ran through it at practice all the time. Like they’d say, ‘Big two, little two,’ and I just came up with the pick and scored a touchdown.”
Leavitt scrambled for 8- and 13-yard touchdowns in the second quarter, then dropped a nicely thrown downfield ball into a wide-open Watkins for a 32-yard strike midway through the third.
Jones out-ran a couple defenders, then powered over another couple for another 12-yard score to balloon the margin to 44-3.
And reserve quarterback Landen Clark, the transfer from Elon, hit former Destrehan star Phillip Wright III outside to unload his elite speed for the 30-yard score, the first of his college career, and spark a three-reception, 70-yard fourth quarter.
Clemson finally broke into LSU’s onslaught of 51 unanswered points with an 11-yard run by David Eziomume against reserve defenders in the final minutes.
The late score marked Swinney’s team’s only trip to the red zone the entire contest.
LSU only allowed its guests 145 yards, including 40 rushing, and just one third-down conversion in 13 attempts.
Weeks and veteran edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, who transferred from Ole Miss, each finished with six tackles, and 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, respectively.
Junior safety DaShawn Spears (Denham Springs) and linebacker T.J. Dottery, another key Ole Miss transfer, each had five tackles and 0.5 behind the line to further help lead the balanced effort.
Ross added four tackles, including two for loss and a sack, and a hurry to his interception, and veteran edge rusher Dylan Carpenter (St. Amant) had a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
And a slew of other players such as sophomore cornerback D.J. Pickett with his lockdown coverage and sophomore defensive tackle Dominick McKinley (Acadiana) with a particularly disruptive series of plays to force a three-and-out rose to the occasion in various ways and at different times.
This article will be updated further…
