Clemson and LSU were set to open their season at 6:49 p.m. CT, but Mother Nature beat them to the punch.
By 5:45 p.m. CT, the game had already been pushed into a weather delay before kickoff, leaving both fan bases - especially the LSU crowd in Baton Rouge - waiting for the first snap.
A lightning strike outside Tiger Stadium forced the stoppage, and under NCAA rules that usually means a 30-minute delay. In this case, there was no exact restart time on the board.
ESPN reported the game would not begin until 8:00 p.m. CT at the earliest.
The delay didn’t seem to rattle the LSU students in the stands. Even after the lightning hit, they stayed put, waving towels and hanging on for the night game atmosphere Tiger Stadium is known for.
One post from the scene captured the mood: “NASTY lighting strike just outside the stadium. How do the #LSU students respond?
Hide and shelter?
Nope.
With cheers and towels. #JustDifferent pic.twitter.com/8bMEhHBHbo”
The wait has already been a long one for LSU fans, who spent the offseason anticipating the start of the Lane Kiffin era. With kickoff slipping later and later, they were also reminded that many of them were already up early for College GameDay, when lightning in the area forced the crew inside for a stretch of the show.
The matchup brings together two teams trying to bounce back. LSU comes in ranked No. 11 in the country after an offseason full of changes, beginning with the decision to hire Lane Kiffin. Clemson, meanwhile, is trying to recover from a shaky season of its own, and Dabo Swinney is feeling pressure to get the Tigers back to the top of the sport.
In Other News...
LSU Brings A Roster Controversy Into Clemson Showdown
A roster wrinkle has followed LSU into its showdown with Clemson, with a judge granting an injunction against the NCAA that opened the door for more than 40 athletes to be eligible this season. Among them are LSU players DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris, and their status has become part of the pregame conversation as the Tigers get ready for one of the weekends biggest games.
Lane Kiffin did not include Wright and Harris on LSUs initial 103-man roster submitted by the deadline, though he could still add them later. Speaking on ESPNs College GameDay before the Clemson matchup, Kiffin addressed what he called a difficult decision, adding another layer of uncertainty to a game already carrying plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson's Opener Turned Into A Nightmare For One Brutal Reason
A delayed kickoff did little to ease the kind of opening Clemson wanted to avoid, and LSU made sure of it once the game finally got going. Clemson briefly nudged ahead 3-0, but the Tigers from Baton Rouge quickly took control and never looked back, rolling to a lopsided win behind an offense that piled up 644 total yards and a defense that kept Clemson bottled up for most of the night.
It was the sort of performance that turned a marquee opener into an early-season warning sign for Dabo Swinneys group. Clemson was held under 100 yards for much of the contest before finding a little more room late, while LSU kept stacking plays on both sides of the ball and added a pick-six from Jordan Ross to deepen the damage. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons LSU Opener Comes With A Roster Standoff Still Hanging
LSUs season opener against Clemson already has enough intrigue on the field, but there is another layer hanging over the matchup before either team snaps the ball. The Tigers did not list former NFL players DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris on their Week 1 roster for the game, even after a recent court ruling went in their favor, leaving a notable personnel question in place as the season begins.
Clemson had warned LSU that putting the players on the field could run afoul of contract terms, and LSU still has room to add them later in the season if it chooses. For now, the situation leaves one more unresolved subplot around a game that already carries plenty of attention, especially with both players having previously played for Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. [Read more 🡒]