After months of recruiting, transfers, controversy and nonstop hype, we finally get to see what Lane Kiffin’s LSU Tigers actually look like.
The Lane Kiffin era officially begins Saturday night.
And LSU certainly isn’t easing him into the job.
Clemson is coming to Death Valley.
No. 11 LSU will host Clemson on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, giving Kiffin one of the biggest stages possible for his first game as the Tigers’ head coach.
College GameDay will also be in Baton Rouge for its historic 500th road show, making LSU the center of the college football world for Week 1.
It’s hard to imagine a bigger debut.
Kiffin arrived at LSU after one of the most controversial coaching moves we’ve seen in years, leaving Ole Miss after leading the Rebels to an 11-1 regular season and their first College Football Playoff appearance. LSU eventually handed him a seven-year, $91 million contract to bring his high-powered offense to Baton Rouge.
Now comes the part that actually matters.
Winning football games.
Expectations at LSU are completely different from almost anywhere else in college football.
Ed Orgeron won a national championship.
Les Miles won a national championship.
Nick Saban won a national championship.
LSU didn’t bring Kiffin to Baton Rouge just to win nine or 10 games every year.
They brought him there to win another one.
And he certainly has plenty to work with.
Kiffin completely reshaped LSU’s roster this offseason, including bringing in quarterback Sam Leavitt and assembling one of the country’s most talented transfer classes.
The excitement surrounding the program has followed.
LSU reportedly renewed 98% of its season tickets and received another 40,000 ticket requests, while student tickets sold out in only five hours.
People in Baton Rouge are clearly ready for the Lane Kiffin era.
Now he has to deliver.
Clemson presents an immediate opportunity to make a statement. LSU went into Clemson last season and won 17-10, but both programs ultimately finished a disappointing 7-6.
This time, everything feels different.
New quarterback.
New offense.
New head coach.
Massive expectations.
And 102,000 people waiting to see what Lane Kiffin can do at LSU.
We’ve talked about this move for months.
Saturday night, we finally get some answers.
The Lane Kiffin era at LSU is officially here.
