College football opens with a heavyweight collision in Baton Rouge next fall, and the ticket market is already giving fans a look at just how big LSU vs. Clemson is shaping up to be.
LSU will host Clemson in Week 1 of the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Tiger Stadium.
Tickets are available now on StubHub, and the current get-in price for the game is $175. North/South seats start at $235, while East/West seats begin at $500.
The matchup brings together two programs that know each other well, even if this one carries a fresh feel. It’s the season opener, and it’s also the first showdown for Lane Kiffin at his new program. The teams met last season in Clemson, where LSU came away with the win, but the game many fans still remember is the 2020 CFP National Championship, when LSU claimed its latest title.
Here’s a look at both teams’ 2026 schedules:
LSU opens with Clemson, then faces Louisiana Tech on Sept. 12 and travels to Ole Miss on Sept. 19. The Tigers also have Texas A&M, McNeese, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas on the slate, with several kickoff times still to be determined.
Clemson’s schedule starts with the trip to LSU, followed by Georgia Southern on Sept. 12 and North Carolina on Sept. 19. The Tigers also play Cal, Miami, Charleston Southern, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Duke and South Carolina, with multiple start times still listed as TBD.
In Other News...
Clemsons LSU Opener Just Got A Twist Dabo Didnt Need
Clemsons buildup to the LSU opener picked up a little more intrigue this week with a roster wrinkle that could affect the Tigers first major test of the season. Former Browns tight end DaeQuan Wright has reportedly been waived by Cleveland, and if he clears waivers, he has an agreement in place to suit up for LSU in 2026, thanks to a new NCAA rule that allows certain players to return to college football after going pro.
Wrights path has already taken him from Virginia Tech to Ole Miss before his brief NFL stop, and the possibility of him landing back in the SEC gives LSU another experienced piece to consider down the line. For Clemson, the bigger issue is the same one it has had from the moment the opener was announced: preparing for a matchup that could look a little different by the time it arrives, with LSU continuing to explore ways to add proven talent to the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson May Need Dietrick Pennington More Than Fans Realize Up Front
Dietrick Penningtons move from the offensive line to the defensive line is one of those roster changes that can look minor at first glance but carry real weight once the season starts. Clemson is planning to use him on both sides of the ball in 2026, and Dabo Swinney has made clear the Tigers want his size available in the tightest spots, especially when the field shrinks and the game gets physical near the end zone.
For Clemson, the broader point is about depth as much as versatility. Pennington gives the staff another option at defensive tackle after NFL departures thinned that room, and his usage in short-yardage and goal-line situations suggests the Tigers believe he can help immediately without needing a full-time switch. The only real question now is how much more the staff asks of him once the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson's LSU Opener Will Spotlight Dabo's Biggest College Football Fight
Clemsons season opener against LSU already carries plenty of weight on the field, but it also arrives with a bigger backdrop that has long bothered Dabo Swinney. The Tigers head coach has been vocal about his concerns with the current college football system, especially the transfer landscape and what it can mean for academics, and this matchup offers a fresh look at the kind of roster churn that now shapes elite programs.
LSU has continued to add experienced pieces ahead of next season, including former Ole Miss tight end DaeQuan Wright, who is expected to join the program after being waived by the Browns, and Notre Dame edge rusher Junior Tuihalamaka, who is back with a fifth year of eligibility. For Clemson, the opener is more than a marquee nonconference test. It is another reminder of the fight Swinney has been pushing for as the sport keeps leaning further into movement, flexibility and a system he clearly believes has lost its balance. [Read more 🡒]