Clemson’s 2026 football season got off to a rough start Saturday night as No. 11 LSU rolled past the Tigers 51-10 at Tiger Stadium.
After a lengthy weather delay, Clemson actually struck first when Nolan Hauser connected on a 49-yard field goal. But the early 3-0 advantage didn’t last long. LSU answered with 17 straight points in the opening quarter and carried a commanding 31-3 lead into halftime.
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt led the way in Lane Kiffin’s debut as head coach, throwing for 230 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 113 yards and two scores. Running back Dilin Jones added 113 yards and two touchdowns, while Winston Watkins Jr. caught seven passes for 110 yards and a score. LSU piled up 644 yards of total offense.
It was a completely different story for Clemson. Starting quarterback Christopher Vizzina finished 10-of-16 for 83 yards with an interception before freshman Tait Reynolds saw action. Clemson managed only 145 total yards, and its only touchdown came late in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard run by David Eziomume.
The 51-10 loss drops Clemson to 0-1, while LSU starts the Kiffin era at 1-0. It was also LSU’s second straight victory over Clemson after winning 17-10 in Clemson last season.
