LSU opens Lane Kiffin era with 51-10 rout of Clemson
LSU gained 644 yards and led 31-3 at half-time after a lightning delay in Kiffin’s first game as head coach.
No. 11 LSU began Lane Kiffin’s tenure with a 51-10 victory over Clemson on Saturday night, overcoming a lightning delay that pushed the start back nearly two hours.
LSU established control early, running 23 plays for 140 yards in the opening quarter and building a 31-3 half-time lead. The Tigers finished with 644 yards of offence, while Clemson managed one first down in the first half.
Sam Leavitt contributed two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown. Jordan Ross added a 30-yard interception return for a score, while Dilin Jones rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
The match followed a dispute over the eligibility of former Mississippi players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who had spent time with NFL teams. A Louisiana court granted the pair a preliminary injunction allowing them to pursue a fifth year of eligibility, but LSU left both off its official roster and Kiffin did not use them.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney described his team’s performance as poor and said it struggled to stop LSU’s running game, particularly quarterback runs. Yahoo Sports reported that the result was Clemson’s worst loss in about 30 years.
