Lane Kiffin didn’t duck the LSU roster controversy on Saturday. He went straight at it.
With College GameDay in Baton Rouge for the Clemson-LSU matchup, Kiffin addressed the decision to leave tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris off LSU’s 105-man roster after a Thursday injunction against the NCAA opened the door for more than 40 athletes to be eligible this season.
The ruling from Judge William Jorden meant both players could still be added later because they are enrolled at LSU, but Kiffin chose not to put them on the roster by Friday’s deadline. He kept the Tigers at 103 players instead.
“That wasn’t easy,” Kiffin said. “As much as I feel for the players, I believe that you fight for what you believe in, and I believe these kids have an opportunity to play.
Just like all the other kids around the country that are winning court cases and being put on rosters. But at the same time, I’m the head coach of LSU, and I had to make a decision that is for the big picture of LSU and the LSU football program.”
He repeated the same core point in a shorter statement on the broadcast: "That wasn't easy. As much as I feel for the players … I had to make a decision that is for the big picture of LSU."
The timing only added to the pressure around LSU’s opener under Kiffin. The Tigers are looking for their first win for him, and Clemson is arriving with every reason to spoil the day.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the call.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Clemson May Face A Brutal LSU Test Without A Key Starter
Clemsons buildup to a marquee season opener against LSU has included one of the more important questions any offensive staff can face this time of year: who protects the edge when the lights come on? Dabo Swinney is waiting on final confirmation on right tackle Collin Sadler, whose injury status has left the Tigers assessing their best option before a game that will demand clean footing and steady blocking from the start.
Easton Ware appears to be the next man up if Sadler cannot go, and that would put a redshirt freshman into his first Clemson start at a spot where mistakes tend to be punished quickly. For an opener with that kind of physical pressure, the Tigers would prefer to have their veteran presence available, but for now the uncertainty lingers and the depth chart at right tackle remains one of the key details to watch. [Read more 🡒]