Lane Kiffin made sure to get a zinger in as his LSU squad demolished Clemson in their season open at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU’s night started poorly as quarterback Sam Leavitt threw an interception on the second offensive play of the game, allowing Clemson to take an early 3-0 lead. It was all LSU from that point on.
The home Tigers outscored their visiting feline 31-0 for the rest of the first half, taking a 31-3 lead into the break. During his halftime interview, Kiffin still had the interception on his mind.
“We’ve got to make adjustments,” Kiffin said. “We’ve got to play better in the second half. We can’t give away something like the first turnover. It should be, whatever, 38-nothing.”
As he was walking away, Kiffin had a parting message for ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe when he thought the interview was already over
“It took me everything to not say, ‘Imagine if we had pro players.'”
"Imagine if we had pro players." 😅
— ESPN (@espn) September 6, 2026
Lane Kiffin is not holding back. pic.twitter.com/OzHEZqw1UW
ESPN knew better than to stop rolling the cameras with Kiffin on the mic, and the broadcast’s patience was rewarded.
The LSU head coach was, of course, referencing his ongoing battle with the SEC and NCAA over a pair of former pro players whom Kiffin recruited to play for the Tigers this season. None of them were on LSU’s roster for the contest, but it remains to be seen if Kiffin will bring them on later in the season.
Some would argue that Saturday’s result was actually a case against LSU bringing in former pro players. 11-seeded LSU already outclassed Clemson without the help of Dae’Quan Wright or Zxavian Harris. But all that mattered to Kiffin was that his Tigers ended Saturday with a demonstrative win.
