BATON ROUGE, La. — The Lane Kiffin era at LSU opened with a performance that gave Tiger Stadium plenty to celebrate.
No. 11 LSU overwhelmed Clemson 51–10 on Saturday night, pairing an explosive offense with a defense that left the visitors searching for answers. A weather delay pushed back the start, but LSU quickly made the opener worth the wait. Sam Leavitt accounted for three touchdowns as the Tigers began their season 1–0. Associated Press game report
Leavitt threw for 230 yards and a touchdown while adding 113 yards and two scores on the ground. Running back Dilin Jones matched his quarterback’s rushing total with 113 yards and two touchdowns of his own.
Winston Watkins Jr. supplied another major weapon, catching seven passes for 110 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown reception. LSU finished with a staggering 644 yards of offense, compared with Clemson’s 145, and held a 38–8 advantage in first downs. The Clemson Insider’s postgame report
Those numbers describe an offense that gave Clemson several problems at once. Leavitt’s mobility added another threat alongside Jones, while Watkins provided production through the air.
Defense helps turn the game into a rout
Jordan Ross delivered one of the night’s biggest plays with a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown. LSU led 17–3 after that score, and Leavitt’s two second-quarter rushing touchdowns helped stretch the halftime margin to 31–3. Associated Press game report
LSU’s dominance continued after the break. The Tigers finished with 309 rushing yards while allowing only 40, underscoring the difference between the teams on the ground. Tiger Rag’s game analysis
What this means for LSU
One game cannot establish how LSU will handle an entire SEC schedule. It can, however, reveal the possibilities when the running game, quarterback play and defense contribute together.
That is the strongest takeaway from this opener. LSU gave future opponents several things to prepare for, and the Tigers now have a clear standard to pursue: reproduce this execution when the games become closer and the pressure increases.
For an opening night under a new head coach, this was a convincing first step.
Tiger fans: What impressed you most—Leavitt, the running game or LSU’s defense? Leave your thoughts in the comments and follow Tuff Tiger Talk for more LSU discussion.
