BATON ROUGE, La. — Clemson has a new but old offense. LSU has a new head coach, who lately is in the news more for what is happening in the courtroom than anything that is happening on the field.

This is the start of the 2026 season for Clemson and LSU, as the ACC’s Tigers make their first ever trip to Tiger Stadium and Baton Rouge to take on the LSU Tigers.

People want to name this game the “Battle of the Death Valleys”, given both programs’ stadiums share the same moniker, but the intrigue surrounding this year’s matchup has nothing to really do with this subject.

All week, the only news coming out of LSU has been about what is happening in the courtroom and will Lane Kiffin go against the SEC and everyone else in college football and play former NFL players who were allowed to return to college due to an injunction granted from a Louisiana judge on Thursday.

At Clemson, the talks centers around the Tigers’ new starting quarterback in Christopher Vizzina and the return of offensive coordinator Chad Morris. With Morris calling the plays, can Clemson come into Baton Rouge and surprise LSU?  

Clemson at No. 11 LSU

• Kickoff: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (EST)
• Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.
• TV: ABC
• Spread: LSU is favored by 10.5 points
• Total: 50.5 points
• Series: LSU leads 4-1

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

For Clemson, pride is at stake. No one expects Clemson to win this game, as most around the country think LSU is going to win. However, Clemson has not faired well in season openers in the last five years, losing four of those five games. In all four losses, including three straight, the ACC’s Tigers have scored a combined 23 points. Not that anyone is for moral victories in Tigertown, but Clemson needs to show some fight in Baton Rouge and put itself in position to steal a victory on the road.

KEY MATCHUP

Clemson’s chance to win this game comes down to its offensive line. Can Clemson hold off an LSU defensive front that is supposed to be better with the additions of Princewill Umanmielen at defensive end, as well as Jordan Ross. Dominick McKenley is the only returner from last year’s defensive line at LSU. Clemson will have an entirely new offensive line with Brayden Jacobs starting at left tackle and Elyjah Thurmon at left guard. Harris Sewell moves over from right guard to center, while Collin Sadler is likely to start at right tackle. Who will start at right guard. That is still up in the air. There are a lot of question marks on both sides in this matchup, which is what makes it the most intriguing matchup of the game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

This will be Christopher Vizzina’s first start on the road. How will the Clemson quarterback handle the pressure? There will be more than 102,000 LSU fans screaming at him and trying to throw him off his game. LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker will throw all kinds of different looks at him to try and confuse and intimidate him. Vizzina’s poise, or lack thereof, will determine the outcome of the game.

LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green enters his third season with LSU having already set the program record for career receiving TDs by a tight end with 11. Last year, Green set the single-season LSU mark for TD receptions by a tight end with seven. His 11 career TD receptions broke the previous mark of 10 held by Richard Dickson (2006-09) and Brad Boyd (1972-74), while the seven TD catches in 2025 topped the previous mark of five held by Dickson (2008 and 2007) and Robert Royal (2000).

THIS AND THAT

Clemson is 22-17 against SEC foes under Dabo Swinney. The Tigers are 16-11 against the conference in the College Football Playoff era, including a 13-6 mark in regular season play. Clemson’s 22 wins against SEC opponents under Swinney include wins against South Carolina (10), Auburn (4), Alabama (2), Kentucky (2), Texas A&M (2), Georgia (1) and LSU (1). Clemson also has two wins against Oklahoma under Swinney prior to Oklahoma’s move to the SEC.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Clemson went out and made changes on the offense by bringing back Chad Morris to run things. Even with a first-time quarterback in Vizzina, there seems to be a renewed sense of confidence in the offense that was lacking last season. Morris was brought in to run the football. Can the ACC Tigers establish that against LSU. Though Tom Allen is back for his second year to run Clemson’s defense, the defense went and brought in 10 new players from the transfer portal. Most of them will start against LSU. How much better will Clemson be on defense? LSU is new too with a new head coach, a new quarterback and a new offense, along with 60 new players, including 48 from the transfer portal. Never has an opener had so many unknowns.

Prediction

LSU 31, Clemson 20