The Tigers roared out of the gate at Death Valley Stadium, where Lane Kiffin made his first public appearance as LSU’s head coach in a commanding 51-10 victory over Clemson in the season opener.
A Dominant Opening
Quarterback Sam Leavitt commanded the offense with a dual-threat display, amassing 230 yards through the air and 113 on the ground while accounting for three total touchdowns—two rushes and one pass.
Running back Dillin Jones added his own fireworks, charging for 113 yards and becoming the first Tiger to post two 100‑yard rushing performances in a single game since 2023.
The early lead materialized quickly, with Nolan Hauser’s 49‑yard field goal followed by a one‑yard touchdown rush from Jones, and a 30‑yard interception return by Jordan Ross that set the tone at 17-3.
Later, after a brief intermission, Landen Clark entered the game and connected with Phillip Wright on a 30‑yard touchdown pass, extending the margin to 51-3 before the final whistle.
Additional scoring drives included a 32‑yard strike to Winston Watkins Jr. and a 12‑yard rushing touchdown by Jones, pushing the lead to 44-3 before the Tigers pulled away completely.
The Tigers now turn home for their next test against Louisiana Tech on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT, a matchup that will test the momentum built in the opener.
Kiffin addressed the media after the game, acknowledging the strong start while emphasizing the work ahead as the program looks to build on this promising beginning.