After more than two hours of waiting, LSU finally got its first look at the Lane Kiffin era - and the Tigers rolled out a rebuilt lineup from the opening snap against Clemson.
Sam Leavitt, the Arizona State transfer, took the first rep at quarterback. In front of him, LSU lined up with Jordan Seaton at left tackle, Bo Bordelon at left guard, Braelin Moore at center, Aliou Bah at right guard and Weston Davis at right tackle. The skill group featured Eugene Wilson III, Malik Elzy and Winston Watkins Jr. at receiver, with Dilin Jones and Trey’Dez Green moving from the backfield into an empty look.
That opening possession didn’t last long. On the second play, Leavitt tried to fit a throw to Elzy, but the pass was intercepted when it drifted behind the target. From there, the starting defense took the field.
Up front, Princewill Umanmielen and Clemson transfer Stephiylan Green were on the edges, with freshman Deuce Geralds inside. Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery handled linebacker duties, while DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland were at corner. Dashawn Spears lined up at STAR, and Ty Benefield and Tamarcus Cooley held down safety.
LSU also dipped into its sub packages early. On Clemson’s first third down, Ja’Keem Jackson entered as an extra defensive back, Ross came off, and Spears rushed off the edge in his spot.
When LSU’s offense came back out, Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown replaced Elzy, but the rest of the group stayed intact. Leavitt then led a 10-play, 59-yard march that featured a 21-yard strike to Green and a 14-yard run by Watkins on consecutive snaps. Scott Starzyk finished the drive with a 49-yard field goal, giving LSU its first points of the season.
The defense kept rotating on the next Clemson series. Auburn transfer Malik Blocton checked in for Geralds, and Dylan Carpenter replaced Ross to start the drive. Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina found Bryant Wescoe Jr. for 22 yards, but Weeks slammed the door on a third-and-2 run near midfield and forced the game’s first punt.
The offense kept adding bodies as the night went on. Hawaii transfer receiver Jackson Harris got his first action on LSU’s third possession, and Jones didn’t leave the field until the 6:39 mark.
Central Florida transfer Stacy Gage briefly spelled him before Jones returned to finish the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Starzyk’s extra point pushed LSU ahead 10-3.
Defensive tackle Dominick McKinley then made his first appearance as the “Bayou Bandits” opened their third series, and five-star freshman edge rusher Lamar Brown got his first collegiate snap on the drive’s first third down, lining up on the interior. Ross dropped into coverage from defensive end, jumped a Vizzina throw toward the left hash, and took it 30 yards for a touchdown.
Brown came back in at defensive end for Umanmielen and helped LSU force another three-and-out to close the first quarter with the Kiffin era starting at 17-3.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffin's LSU Debut Already Has Fans Debating The Program's Image
Lane Kiffins first night as LSUs head coach at Tiger Stadium came with plenty of attention before he ever settled into the sideline routine. Against Clemson, he arrived with a headline-friendly group of celebrity guests that included LSU alums Livvy Dunne and Brooks Nader, along with comedian Theo Vonn, while also taking a brief moment to meet five-star tight end recruit Ahmad Hudson. For a program that has never shied away from theater, the opening scene looked built for big-stage college football.
Still, the reaction around Kiffins debut quickly became part of the story. Social media lit up with mixed responses, and some fans took issue with the presentation, questioning the image LSU was putting forward and Kiffins comfort in the role of college football villain. For all the buzz around the entrance, the more interesting debate may be how much of this is showmanship LSU wants tied to its new coach, and how long that image will shape the conversation around the program. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fan's Viral Pregame Escort Stole Attention From A Massive Night
Before LSU even kicked off its season opener against Clemson, a separate scene near Tiger Stadium was already pulling eyes away from the football. Video circulating from the pregame crowd showed a woman dressed in LSU-themed clothing being escorted by law enforcement through the area, an image that quickly spread as fans tried to make sense of what had happened.
The footage leaves one key detail unresolved, since it is not clear whether she was arrested or simply removed from the scene. It was a strange prelude to a massive night for LSU, one that marked Lane Kiffins debut as head coach and ended with the Tigers beating Clemson on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffins LSU Debut Turned Tiger Stadium Into A Full-Blown Spectacle
Lane Kiffins first home game as LSUs head coach already felt bigger than a standard season opener, and the buildup around Clemson made Tiger Stadium look more like the center of the college football universe. LSU officials confirmed the game drew the largest media and celebrity presence in stadium history, a striking reminder of how quickly the new era in Baton Rouge has become appointment viewing.
Kiffins walk down Victory Hill only amplified the scene, with Livvy Dunne, Theo Von and Brooks Nader among the notable names in the crowd as cameras and credentialed media packed the venue. It was the kind of arrival that can overshadow the football for a night, and at LSU the question now is how long that spotlight stays this intense once the first kickoff is over. [Read more 🡒]