Lane Kiffin’s LSU tenure began with a statement Saturday night as No. 11 LSU overwhelmed Clemson 51-10 in Baton Rouge. Sam Leavitt accounted for 343 total yards, throwing for 230 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 113 yards and two scores. Dilin Jones added 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Winston Watkins Jr. caught seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina finished 10 of 16 for 83 yards and an interception.
Kiffin also addressed the unusual circumstances surrounding LSU’s roster following the game. Former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris were left off the roster for the opener amid an ongoing eligibility dispute between LSU and the SEC. Kiffin had joked during a halftime television interview, “Imagine if we had pro players,” as LSU held a 31-3 advantage.
LSU took control after Clemson opened the scoring with a field goal, scoring 31 unanswered points before halftime. Jordan Ross returned a Vizzina interception 30 yards for a touchdown, and LSU entered halftime with a 31-3 lead. The Tigers finished with 644 total yards and 38 first downs while holding Clemson to 145 yards and eight first downs. The game was delayed nearly two hours by lightning before kickoff.
LSU returns to Tiger Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 12, to face Louisiana Tech at 6:30 p.m. CT. The Tigers then travel to Ole Miss on Sept. 19 before hosting Texas A&M on Sept. 26. Clemson will make its home debut Sept. 12 against Georgia Southern at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by a Sept. 19 home matchup with North Carolina and a Sept. 25 trip to California.
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