Paul Finebaum didn’t waste much time deciding what LSU’s 51-10 blowout of Clemson meant.
By Sunday morning, the SEC Network host was ready to stamp the Tigers as a real national title threat after the Lane Kiffin era opened in Baton Rouge with a demolition job on Dabo Swinney’s team.
On SportsCenter, Finebaum pointed to how thoroughly LSU controlled the game after the opening minutes and said the performance changed the conversation around the Tigers’ season outlook.
“It was nice to see real action on a football field instead of TROs and subpoenas and all sorts of machinations of the legal system,” he said. “But one thing I do take away really, I came away thinking LSU is now a national championship contender, because they looked every bit the part.
We were debating before the season if they were 8-4 or 9-3, can Lane get them to the Playoff at 10-2? There’s no question now.
This was not a difficult task. Clemson is a middling team.
But they will see Ole Miss in a couple of weeks. Texas A&M, Alabama - all the usual suspects.
“They were almost perfect. They played around with their food in the first couple of minutes, but I came away really sad about the future for Dabo Swinney and Clemson.”
LSU wasted no time making its presence felt Saturday night in Baton Rouge, and Finebaum believes the win did more than just start Kiffin’s tenure with a flourish. It pushed LSU into a different tier.
The next big question is how far Kiffin can carry the Tigers in 2026.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Opener Brings An Early Depth Concern Fans Didn't Want
Texas A&Ms season opener against Missouri State is already offering a first look at the Aggies depth, and not in the way fans would have hoped. Safety Tawfiq Byard and wide receiver Madden Williams are both not dressed out for the game, leaving the staff to adjust its rotation before the first snap of the year.
Byard, a Colorado transfer who was expected to factor into the defensive mix, gives the secondary an early test, while Williams, a true freshman receiver lower on the chart, is unavailable on offense. The Aggies will have to lean on other options to absorb those snaps, including Chance Collins at safety, as the opener becomes an early reminder that roster depth matters fast in a season like this. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Is Suddenly In Position For A Statement Recruiting Flip
Texas A&Ms recruiting momentum is getting another test this weekend, with the Aggies hosting Florida State defensive back commitment ZaKari Johnson while they take on Missouri State. Johnson, a four-star prospect ranked 296th nationally, pledged to the Seminoles about two months ago, but the Aggies have stayed in the mix and are making him a priority as they work to build on what is already the top-ranked 2027 class.
For Texas A&M, this is the kind of visit that can matter well beyond one player. The staff has been active in pursuing recruits committed elsewhere, and Johnson gives them another chance to show a top national target what life in College Station could look like. Whether the visit simply keeps the door open or pushes things further, it is another sign that the Aggies are trying to turn their recruiting pitch into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Already Has A Secondary Concern Fans Didn't Expect
Texas A&M opened the season with a small but notable wrinkle in the secondary, as safety Tawfiq Byard was not dressed out for the matchup with Missouri State. The Colorado transfer was brought in to add depth on the back end, not as a full-time starter, but his absence still left the Aggies without a piece they expected to have available in the first game.
Byards status raised immediate questions because there was no injury report to explain why he was sidelined. For a defense trying to settle into the year, even a reserve piece matters, especially in the secondary where depth can disappear fast if the first wave of adjustments starts early. Whether this is a one-game situation or something more lingering, it was not the start Texas A&M fans expected to see from a player who figured to help stabilize the rotation. [Read more 🡒]