Saturday’s college football slate features a marquee matchup as No. 11 LSU welcomes Clemson to Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
The Tigers are entering a new era after LSU moved on from Brian Kelly and hired Lane Kiffin following the 2025 season. Kiffin arrives in Baton Rouge after leading Ole Miss to sustained success in the SEC and now immediately faces one of the biggest tests of his LSU tenure.
LSU will have to navigate the opener without two former NFL players who had hoped to suit up for the Tigers. Tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris were left off the 103-player roster for the Clemson game despite a Louisiana judge issuing a preliminary injunction that temporarily cleared the way for them to play. Both players previously played for Kiffin at Ole Miss and recently spent time in NFL camps.
How to Watch Clemson at No. 11 LSU
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- TV: ABC
- Live Stream: ESPN Unlimited
- Streaming Options: YouTube TV, Fubo and other live-TV services carrying ABC
LSU Tigers Roster Overview
Lane Kiffin makes his LSU debut Saturday after taking over the program following Brian Kelly’s departure. Kiffin brings an offensive-minded approach to Baton Rouge and inherits a team looking to improve after going 7-6 in 2025.
The Tigers will face Clemson without Wright and Harris after LSU elected not to put either player on its opening-day roster. The decision came amid an ongoing legal dispute involving the NCAA, SEC and athletes who previously signed professional contracts.
The roster situation has added another layer to an already highly anticipated opener, but LSU’s focus will ultimately turn to winning Kiffin’s first game as head coach.
Clemson Tigers Roster Overview
Dabo Swinney enters another season at Clemson looking to rebound from a 7-6 finish in 2025.
Christopher Vizzina will make his first season-opening start at quarterback after spending his first three seasons behind Cade Klubnik. Vizzina has appeared in 14 career games and made one previous start, against SMU in 2025, when he completed 29 of 42 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns.
Clemson will also lean on running back Jay Haynes and receivers TJ Moore and Tyler Brown as it tries to spoil Kiffin’s debut and leave Baton Rouge with a marquee road victory.
Saturday marks the second game of a home-and-home series after LSU won 17-10 at Clemson in 2025, after the Tigers won 42-25 in the 2019 CFP National Championship game.
College Football Conference Predictions
Athlon Sports predicts the finishing order for teams in the following conferences:
- ACC
- American
- Big 12
- Big Ten
- Conference USA
- MAC
- Mountain West
- Pac-12
- SEC
- Sun Belt
