LSU-Clemson Preview: Lane Kiffin Era Begins Saturday Night In Death Valley

Who: Clemson at No. 11 LSU
When: Saturday, September 5
Kickoff: 6:49 p.m. CT
Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge
TV: ABC
Radio: LSU Sports Radio Network

The wait is finally over.

After an offseason filled with roster changes, transfer portal additions and plenty of headlines, the Lane Kiffin era at LSU officially begins Saturday night when the No. 11 Tigers host Clemson in Tiger Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 6:49 p.m. CT on ABC, with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on the call. ESPN’s College GameDay will also be in Baton Rouge, broadcasting from The Quad earlier in the day with Louisiana native Lainey Wilson serving as guest picker.

All eyes Saturday night will be on new LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt, who arrives in Baton Rouge after going 16-4 as a starter at Arizona State. Leavitt threw for more than 4,000 yards and added more than 900 yards on the ground during his time with the Sun Devils.

He’ll have plenty of weapons around him.

LSU added receivers Eugene Wilson III, Winston Watkins Jr., Jayce Brown and Malik Elzy through the transfer portal, while Trey’Dez Green and Phillip Wright III return. The Tigers also have several options in the backfield with Caden Durham and Harlem Berry joined by transfers Dilin Jones and Stacy Gage.

Up front, LSU’s rebuilt offensive line is highlighted by transfer tackle Jordan Seaton and returning center Braelin Moore.

Defensively, coordinator Blake Baker returns for his third season and has a talented group led by linebacker Whit Weeks. LSU added several impact players through the portal, including safety Ty Benefield, linebacker TJ Dottery and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen.

The Tigers also return DJ Pickett, PJ Woodland, Dashawn Spears and Tamarcus Cooley in the secondary, while highly touted freshmen Lamar Brown, Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson could make an immediate impact along the defensive front.

Clemson will counter with fourth-year junior Christopher Vizzina at quarterback. Vizzina has appeared in 14 games during his career but has made just one start. He’ll have experienced targets in Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore, while sophomore Gideon Davidson is expected to lead the Clemson backfield.

Defensively, Clemson returns linebacker Sammy Brown, who led the Tigers with 106 tackles last season while adding five sacks.

LSU leads the all-time series against Clemson, 4-1, including a 17-10 victory in last year’s season opener at Clemson.

Saturday night, the rematch moves to Baton Rouge.

And after eight months of rebuilding the roster and preparing for his first season at LSU, Kiffin finally gets his first chance to show what his version of the Tigers will look like.

Geaux Tigers!

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