LSU Tigers Start Lane Kiffin Era With 51–10 Drubbing of Clemson

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The LSU Tigers kicked off the Lane Kiffin era with an environment (and dismantling) reminiscent of 2019 as they steamrolled the Clemson Tigers by a score of 51-10. It was the single worst loss of Dabo Swinney's tenure at Clemson.

While everyone was excited about what this passing attack would look like with Sam Leavitt under center and Charlie Weis Jr. calling plays, it was the ground game and defense that truly dominated this game.

That's not to say that Leavitt had a poor showing as a passer, just not as clean as the other phases. He was excellent on the ground, proving that any foot issues are indeed long past him. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound playmaker showed off his speed and the ability to take contact, maybe a little too eagerly. He had success in both designed and improvised rushes.

Leavitt went 16-of-28 through the air for 230 yards with one touchdown to one interception. The pick was on a pass that was behind Malik Elzy and bounced off his hands into the defenders'. Both Leavitt and Elzy need to be better on that play.

Dilin Jones was the real breakout star, though, proving why this coaching staff is giving him an apparent workhorse role this year. He had 23 rushes for 113 yards and two scores. Jones showcased excellent vision, patience and the motor to fight for yards through contact. He also stepped up as a blocker. It sure feels like the former Wisconsin Badger might not leave the field very often.

Stacy Gage came off the bench first and had eight rushes for 10 yards. Harlem Berry and Caden Durham combined for three carries and nine yards, confirming the reports that Jones and Gage had won the coaches over in camp. As impressive as any single rushing performance was the blocking both up the middle and on the outside. This just looked like a very well-coached unit.

The LSU defense was equally impressive in this game. Clemson never got comfortable, swapping back and forth between quarterbacks a couple of times. That was the goal going into this game. Take the five-star receivers out of this game, which they did. T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco combined for six catches and 60 yards.

Blake Baker had his playmakers flying around the field, impacting the game as much as possible. Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery looked like potentially the best linebacker unit in the nation, while Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross brought consistent pressure off the edge.

Ross takes the defensive player of the game award, filling up the stat sheet: four tackles, one sack, two TFLs and a pick-six. He delivered on the five-star potential that he showed out of high school, but not over two years with the Tennessee Volunteers.

It was a statement win for Kiffin and the Tigers. This team is real. Perhaps Clemson is a bad team this year, but that can't be an excuse for the level of which LSU just executed on their game plan. 

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