Clemson’s trip to Baton Rouge turned into the kind of night that lit up social media for all the wrong reasons.
No. 11 LSU rolled to a 51-10 win on Saturday night, and the Tigers had already built a 31-3 halftime cushion before things really settled into full-blown blowout territory. With the game in the primetime spotlight during the first full week of college football, the reaction online came fast - and most of it was aimed at Clemson, Dabo Swinney, and a roster that didn’t hold up under the pressure.
A lot of the chatter centered on Swinney and the idea that he hasn’t adjusted with the times. At the same time, LSU’s side of the story drew plenty of attention too, especially with Lane Kiffin bringing in a completely new roster, a new quarterback, and a coaching staff in one offseason.
Former Clemson players weren’t exactly blown away by what they saw from their old program.
“Softest Clemson O-Line and D-Line play I have ever witnessed.”
The offensive line became a major target as the game unfolded. It was beaten repeatedly, and the criticism got especially sharp on the left side.
Clemson entered the season with four of five starters back up front, but the one returnee, Harris Sewell, had shifted to center and was making his first career start there. In front of more than 102,000 hostile fans, the group never found its footing.
“Bold blocking scheme there on a 3rd down pic.twitter.com/nUsNrm4kkL”
The postgame conversation also drifted toward the broadcast interviews and sideline moments that became part of the night’s entertainment. Kiffin, as usual, gave social media something to chew on after joking during his halftime interview about the NFL players on his roster.
“Lane Kiffin halftime interview, leading Clemson 31-3:"Imagine if we had pro players." 😭pic.twitter.com/FUILA0Qhhb”
“Lane Kiffin basically just said the mock game they had was more competitive than Clemson. Wow. pic.twitter.com/zqKD7ajlzE”
Another clip that made the rounds came from ESPN’s Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge interviewing an LSU cheerleader who did push-ups after every LSU score on Saturday night. Even in a game where the result was long decided, the off-field moments kept drawing attention.
“Yeah, we got killed tonight. You know, that also happened to this one guy, and he was back three days later.
Proved ‘em all wrong. Things can turn fast.”
Clemson now turns to Georgia Southern next weekend, then North Carolina and a trip to Cal to open ACC play. If Swinney’s team can get moving again, Miami at home looms as the final shot to climb back toward the top of college football.
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Clemson's Opener Turned Into A Nightmare For One Brutal Reason
The opener had already been pushed back by weather, and once LSU and Clemson finally got going, the night only got rougher from there. LSU rolled to a 51-10 win, piling up 644 yards while the Tigers struggled to find any rhythm on offense and were held under 100 yards until late in the game.
Sam Leavitt was a major part of the surge, producing both on the ground and through the air as LSU kept Clemson on its heels from the start. Jordan Ross added to the damage with an interception return for a score, turning a lopsided opener into the kind of result Clemson will be talking about for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Turns Clemson Opener Into The Kind Of Spectacle LSU Wanted
The Clemson opener drew a little extra star power on the LSU side, with Lane Kiffin showing up alongside two of the most recognizable Tigers supporters in Livvy Dunne and Theo Von. Dunne, the former LSU gymnast who helped the program win a national championship, and Von, the Louisiana native and LSU alum, both brought the kind of off-field attention that has become part of the modern college football experience.
For Clemson fans, the game itself was the main attraction, but LSUs presence added another layer to the night. Kiffin has crossed paths with both Dunne and Von before through social media and media appearances, which only made the sight of the three together feel like a familiar bit of theater, the kind of spectacle that can turn even an opener into a talking point beyond the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Fans Just Got A Wild Viral Moment Before Kickoff
Before kickoff in LSUs season opener against Clemson, a video making the rounds online captured a woman in LSU attire being escorted by law enforcement through a crowd near Tiger Stadium. The footage quickly became one of the stranger early storylines of the night, but it left plenty of room for interpretation because it did not show what led to the escort in the first place.
Lane Kiffins debut as LSUs head coach then took center stage once the game got underway, and the Tigers from Baton Rouge finished the night with a win over Clemson. Still, for fans heading into and out of the stadium, the viral pregame scene added an unusual footnote to a matchup that already had plenty of attention before the first snap. [Read more 🡒]