Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut comes with a built-in stress test, and the early blueprint for solving Clemson may already be sitting in plain sight.
When Clemson visits Baton Rouge, it won’t just be the first game of the Kiffin era. It will also be another shot at the kind of matchup that brought out the best from LSU a year ago, when the Tigers went on the road and beat Tom Allen’s defense 17-10. That game took a second-half surge - a 14-0 run - but it also gave LSU a clear look at what can bother Clemson’s structure.
There’s plenty of uncertainty on both sides this time around. Dabo Swinney is back for his 19th season, but Clemson will have a new offensive coordinator in Eric Morris and an offense with some different faces. On the other side, LSU has its own questions, from how Kiffin’s offense will look in Baton Rouge to whether returning defensive coordinator Blake Baker has added anything new.
Still, the more interesting piece may be LSU’s own offensive identity. The Tigers do not need to reinvent themselves to make this game work. In fact, the best path against Clemson’s 4-2-5 look is the same kind of approach Kiffin has leaned on before: fast tempo, wide receiver splits, and constant stress on every inch of the field.
That matters because Kiffin’s Ole Miss teams were built to move quickly and stretch defenses horizontally and vertically. LSU may not have the exact same personnel, but the roster construction points in a similar direction. The wide receiver room has been stocked with players who can threaten deep and create yards after the catch, and quarterback Sam Leavitt brings a downfield element of his own.
Leavitt’s 2024 season at Arizona State showed exactly why that matters. Pro Football Focus gave him an 86.6 grade on throws of 20 yards or more downfield, even though he completed only 32.1 percent of those attempts. Of his 56 throws that traveled at least 20 yards, 13 were charted as “big-time throws.”
That kind of vertical threat, combined with the pace and spacing of the offense, is what can force Clemson into uncomfortable choices. Load the box, and the back end becomes vulnerable to explosive plays. Stay lighter up front, and the run game has room to breathe.
That’s the tension LSU needs to create again. The pieces are new, and this is Weiss Jr.’s first chance to use them in game action, so there will be some adjustment.
But the core formula does not need to change. If LSU executes, the answer to Clemson may be less about surprise and more about leaning into exactly what this offense is built to do.
In Other News...
LSU Suddenly Has A Fall Camp Concern Before Clemson
LSUs 12th fall camp practice brought a little more clarity in one spot and a little more concern in another as the Tigers continued their buildup to Clemson. Sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett was back on the field in a non-contact jersey for the first time this preseason, but he still took part in drills and did not appear limited during the media viewing period.
The bigger question came from the absences, with sophomore running back Harlem Berry and junior defensive end Jordan Ross out again after missing the previous days work. For a camp already shaped by the push toward the opener, repeated missed practice time at two key spots is the kind of development LSU will keep watching closely even as junior quarterback Sam Leavitt continued to look sharp and efficient, connecting on several passes including deep throws. [Read more 🡒]
Ed Orgeron Brings A Familiar Jolt Back To LSU
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For a program that has leaned on change in recent years, Orgerons presence offers something different: familiarity, urgency and a clear sense of what the Tigers have been in the past. He remains known for the kind of passionate coaching style that can light up a practice field, and LSU is also counting on the recruiting edge that helped define his rise through the game. Even without a headline role, he has quickly become one of the more interesting additions around the program this fall. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Has A New Defensive Tackle Battle Fans Need To Watch
LSU is in the final stages of its offseason work with Lane Kiffins debut game against Clemson looming, and one of the more interesting subplots in Fall Camp is developing right in the middle of the defensive front. The Tigers added three defensive linemen last December, and all three true freshmen are now getting meaningful chances to show they belong as LSU sorts through its defensive tackle options.
The competition has become a real camp storyline because the staff is giving significant first-team run to a trio of newcomers, which says plenty about how unsettled the depth chart still is. For a defense that wants to be ready when the season opener arrives, the next stretch of camp will help determine how quickly the line can settle into place and which young tackles can handle the pressure of playing early. [Read more 🡒]