Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut opened with plenty of noise and not much comfort.
After a lightning delay pushed kickoff back two hours, the Tigers finally got going against Clemson just before 9 p.m., only to watch starting quarterback Sam Leavitt throw an early interception on the second play of the game. Leavitt’s pass hit his receiver’s hands and popped straight to Clemson defender Ashton Hampton, handing the Tigers excellent field position right away.
Tiger Stadium felt the tension almost immediately after months of buildup.
LSU’s defense steadied things on the next series, though. Clemson managed only two yards on a three-and-out, and the drive ended with Nolan Hauser converting a 49-yard field goal.
LSU answered with a drive that showed a little more life. The Tigers moved 59 yards down the field, but the possession stalled once they reached Clemson territory, leaving Scott Starzyk to drill a 49-yard field goal of his own and tie the game at 3-3.
The buildup to this matchup had already left plenty of people sour on LSU football. Kiffin’s controversial exit from Ole Miss to take the job, along with his push to bring in NFL players to bolster the roster, had turned a lot of neutral observers against the Tigers. That backdrop made Clemson an easy team to pull for in the lead-up to kickoff.
Clemson may not be the powerhouse it was in the late 2010s with Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence, but Dabo Swinney still has a seasoned team that can stand toe-to-toe with just about anybody. LSU may find that out the hard way tonight.
The game is on ABC.
In Other News...
Former Notre Dame Defender Just Entered LSUs Eligibility Fight
Junior Tuihalamakas football path has taken another turn, with the former Notre Dame defensive lineman now on LSUs roster and expected to play after being granted an extra year of eligibility by the courts. For Irish fans who remember him as part of the defensive front in South Bend, it is another reminder of how much roster movement and eligibility uncertainty continues to shape college football well beyond the transfer portal.
LSU, meanwhile, is taking a more cautious approach with two other players in a similar position. DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris have also been granted a fifth season of eligibility, but they have not been added to the roster yet because of concerns about possible SEC sanctions. Both remain enrolled and could still be moved onto the roster later in the season, which leaves the Tigers waiting on a situation that could ripple through the conference. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Herbstreit Just Gave Notre Dame Fans A Huge Reason To Dream
A preseason prediction like this always grabs attention, but it hits a little differently when it comes with real bracket detail. During ESPNs College GameDay broadcast, Kirk Herbstreit not only put Notre Dame in the mix for a serious playoff run, he slotted the Irish as a No. 3 seed on his way to a national championship picture built around wins over Texas and Georgia.
Herbstreit went even further by calling Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr his preseason Heisman Trophy favorite, a nod that adds another layer to the optimism around the program. The final step in his projection sends Notre Dame into a title game against Indiana, and while the road there is only hypothetical for now, it is exactly the kind of forecast that gives Irish fans plenty to talk about before the season even gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Is In The Mix For A Recruit Fans Need To Watch
Grant Bowen has quickly become one of the more intriguing recruiting names in Illinois, and Notre Dame is right in the thick of it. The Elmhurst Immaculate Conception standout has drawn more than 30 college offers thanks to his work as both a tight end and an edge rusher, a rare combination that has made evaluators across the country take notice. 247Sports lists him as the No. 102 player nationally and the No. 6 prospect in the state, which helps explain why his recruitment has moved so fast.
Notre Dame jumped in with an offer on January 30, and the Irish offensive staff has shown strong interest since then. For a program that likes to identify versatile athletes with room to develop, Bowen fits the kind of profile that can stay on the radar deep into the cycle. His two-way ability gives schools plenty to sort through, and it should make his next steps worth following closely for Notre Dame fans. [Read more 🡒]