LSU defeats Clemson in 51-10 season opener

LSU secured a 51-10 victory over Clemson on Saturday night in the opening game for both programs. LSU dominated both sides of the ball, forcing Clemson to make a quarterback change at halftime. Clemson struggled to generate offense, finishing the first half with negative four rushing yards and failing to contain the LSU defensive front. The loss represents the largest margin of defeat for Clemson under Dabo Swinney. While Swinney has begun incorporating the transfer portal into his recruiting strategy, the Tigers showed little improvement from their 7-6 campaign in 2025. LSU coach Lane Kiffin saw his new roster overcome questions about team chemistry to claim a decisive result.

• 4:59 AMYahoo Sports — What happened to Clemson? Frustration with Dabo Swinney grows as Tigers look unimproved in loss to LSU