Sept. 6, 2026, 2:01 p.m. CT
The Lane Kiffin Era at LSU couldn’t have gotten off to a better start, as Kiffin’s No. 11-ranked Tigers humiliated Clemson 51-10 inside Tiger Stadium, which was still at full capacity despite a two-hour-long lightning delay. While LSU didn’t play a perfect game, it was still the type of awe-inducing performance that is going to make many think Kiffin’s first season in Baton Rouge could be a special one. There were plenty of standouts on both sides of the ball. LSU’s transfers lived up to the hype.
Some returning players made big impacts, too. Here are this week’s big winners from LSU’s domination over Clemson. Dilin Jones: LSU’s top running back The offseason conversations about Dilin Jones being LSU’s best back wasn’t talk or some type of means to motivate returning backs Harlem Berry or Caden Durham, Jones was the real deal last night.
The Wisconsin transfer had his best game of his collegiate career, eclipsing 100 yards for the first time with 113 off 23 carries and found the end zone twice. Jones averaged just a tick under five yards a carry (4.9) and his yardage wasn’t inflated by one especially long run. Jones’ longest rush was for 15 yards, so he truly steamrolled Clemson’s defensive front. For all the hoopla about Kiffin’s offenses being up-tempo and bombs away, the offense is truly predicated on running the ball and Jones showed he can be the Kewan Lacy type of bell-cow running back that leads LSU to the CFP.
Whit Weeks: The Tip of the Spear Donning his new No. 7 jersey, Whit Weeks looked like the All-SEC linebacker that he was in 2024.
Weeks was fast, brought his usual amount of energy, and, most importantly, looked healthy after that nagging ankle injury. Weeks tied for the team lead with six tackles, and was credited with 1.5 TFLs and a quarterback hurry. Together he and TJ Dottery ought to be the best linebacker tandem in not just the SEC, but maybe the country. Blake Baker: Chaos Reign There’s a reason why Lane Kiffin worked so hard to keep Blake Baker from taking the Tulane or Memphis head coaching job: he’s arguably the best defensive coordinator in the college ranks and this unit he’s put together looks like it could be his best one yet. Baker’s defense held Clemson to 54 yards of offense in the first half, and 71 of Clemson’s 145 total yards of offense came on its final drive of the game. Clemson was 1-13 on third downs and averaged 1.5 yards per rush. If Baker wants to hold out for a Power 4 head coaching job this upcoming cycle, he’ll be at the top of every AD’s list with a few more performances like that.
Sam Leavitt: Right Foot Forward If there were any lingering concerns about the health of Sam Leavitt’s surgically repaired right foot, he put all of those questions to bed Saturday night. Leavitt moved like he did in 2024 at Arizona State and ended up tying Dilin Jones for the team lead in rushing with 113 yards. Quarterbacks running with the ball is another staple of the Kiffin offense, be it Trinidad Chambliss, Jaxson Dart, or Jalen Hurts, and Leavitt’s skillset looks to be merging perfectly with Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr.’s philosophy.
