LSU’s first major scrimmage of fall camp gave Lane Kiffin and his staff their best look yet at what the 2026 Tigers might become.

The results were not perfect, and Kiffin did not pretend they were. But after roughly 170 plays Saturday, LSU emerged with several encouraging developments. The first team defense controlled much of the early action, the offense responded later, young players continued to push for meaningful roles and Kiffin made it clear that the intensity of camp is only increasing.

With Clemson coming to Tiger Stadium on September 5, LSU is moving beyond installation and evaluation. Kiffin and his staff are beginning to determine which players they can trust when the season begins.

The Defense Won the First Round

The biggest takeaway from the scrimmage was the performance of Blake Baker’s defense.

Kiffin said the first team defense played extremely well, specifically praising its ability to generate pressure while holding up in coverage. That combination is exactly what LSU needs from Baker’s unit this season.

The offense had difficulty early but improved as the scrimmage progressed. That may actually be an encouraging outcome for both sides. LSU’s defense established itself against the first team offense, while the offense showed enough resilience to adjust and respond.

The size of the scrimmage also mattered. LSU ran approximately 170 plays, giving coaches a substantial amount of film to evaluate. Kiffin indicated that roughly half of the work involved live tackling, creating a much better test than ordinary practice periods.

For a roster filled with transfers and young players competing for roles, this was an important checkpoint.

Kiffin Is Turning Up the Pressure

Kiffin did not follow the scrimmage by easing off his players.

Monday’s practice was another physical test in the Baton Rouge heat. Kiffin discussed deliberately creating extended drives and keeping players on the field without substitutions, forcing them to continue performing while fatigued.

There is a purpose behind it.

Kiffin wants LSU prepared for the situations that decide games. An offense may have to sustain a long drive without ideal substitutions. A defense may be trapped on the field by tempo. Players who look explosive when fresh have to prove they can maintain their technique and decision making when exhausted.

The conditioning work also connects directly to LSU’s depth.

Kiffin emphasized the importance of developing backups who are capable of entering games without creating a major drop in performance. With a demanding schedule ahead, LSU cannot expect its starters to play every meaningful snap.

Kiffin is not simply searching for 22 starters. He is trying to build a roster of players he can trust.

Harlem Berry Is Becoming More Physical

One of the most encouraging individual developments involves running back Harlem Berry.

Berry’s speed has never been questioned. He arrived at LSU as one of the most explosive young players in the country. What Kiffin wants to see is the rest of his game develop.

That appears to be happening.

Kiffin said Berry is beginning to run more physically and revealed that the young back broke a long touchdown run during Saturday’s scrimmage. Kiffin also cautioned against expecting young players to immediately dominate at the college level, emphasizing the adjustment required when players move from high school to major college football.

The physicality may be the most important part of Berry’s development.

Everyone knows what can happen if Berry reaches open space. If he also becomes a runner capable of consistently handling contact between the tackles, LSU suddenly has another dimension in an already talented backfield.

With Dilin Jones and Caden Durham also competing for carries, Kiffin has several very different weapons available at running back.

Roman Mothershed Is Creating Opportunities

Roman Mothershed was another player Kiffin discussed positively.

With Trey’Dez Green receiving some workload management, Mothershed worked on routes with the tight ends. Kiffin praised his recent play and noted that he has been making big plays.

That does not necessarily signal a permanent position change. It does demonstrate the type of versatility Kiffin values.

Kiffin’s offenses have always benefited from players who can line up in different places and create uncertainty for defenses. Green already presents that type of problem because of his unusual combination of size and receiving ability.

If Mothershed can provide another versatile option, Charlie Weis Jr. and Kiffin gain another piece they can move around formations to create favorable matchups.

Kiffin Has Plenty of Confidence in Charlie Weis Jr.

One of the more interesting portions of Kiffin’s press conference involved LSU’s offensive communication system and his relationship with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.

Kiffin discussed the value of helmet communication with quarterback Sam Leavitt. The system allows the staff to do more than simply send in a play. Coaches can communicate additional information to Leavitt before the communication shuts off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock.

Kiffin specifically praised Weis and his ability to communicate with quarterbacks.

That relationship matters because LSU’s offense will depend heavily on how quickly Leavitt masters the system. Kiffin and Weis have years of experience working together, while Leavitt is learning their offense for the first time.

The communication system gives LSU an opportunity to help its quarterback process what he is seeing before the snap.

Kiffin also showed his familiar sense of humor when discussing praise for Weis and the offense, joking about giving his coordinator some “rat poison.”

Behind the joke was a serious point. Kiffin clearly trusts Weis and believes the offensive system they have built together can succeed against SEC defenses.

Preseason Rankings Mean Very Little to Kiffin

Kiffin also addressed LSU’s preseason ranking and showed little interest in celebrating it.

His message was simple. Preseason rankings do not determine what happens during the season.

That position is especially understandable in modern college football. Transfer portal movement can dramatically change rosters between seasons, making preseason evaluation more difficult than ever.

LSU is a perfect example.

Kiffin inherited a program coming off a disappointing season and then reshaped significant portions of the roster through the transfer portal. Leavitt arrived from Arizona State, Jordan Seaton came from Colorado and LSU added experienced talent at several other positions.

The roster may look impressive on paper.

Kiffin still wants to see what it looks like when the games begin.

The Freshman Defensive Linemen Are Exciting and Risky

LSU’s young defensive linemen have generated plenty of attention during fall camp, but Kiffin offered an important dose of perspective.

Talent is not the same thing as experience.

Kiffin discussed the difference between relying on freshmen and having fourth or fifth year players who have already experienced college football. Older players have spent years developing physically, learning how to prepare and understanding the demands of a full season.

LSU’s freshmen may be talented enough to contribute immediately. The challenge is getting them ready to perform consistently against experienced opponents.

That development becomes even more important because LSU does not have the luxury of slowly easing into the season.

Clemson is the opener.

If LSU’s young defensive linemen are going to play significant snaps, they need to grow up quickly.

Special Teams Jobs Will Be Earned

Kiffin also made an interesting point about how LSU will approach special teams.

Being a starter on offense or defense will not automatically remove a player from special teams consideration.

Kiffin explained that the staff will evaluate the difference between a starter and the next available player. If using the starter provides a significant competitive advantage, LSU is willing to use him.

He specifically discussed the value of an elite gunner in punt coverage and how one player can dramatically change an opponent’s ability to return punts.

That philosophy fits the larger message coming out of LSU camp.

Reputations and traditional roles matter less than production.

If a player can help LSU win, Kiffin intends to find a place to use him.

LSU Is Starting to Take Shape

The first scrimmage did not give Kiffin a finished football team.

It gave him information.

The first team defense performed extremely well. The offense struggled before responding. Berry showed another glimpse of his explosive ability while continuing to develop as a physical runner. Mothershed demonstrated versatility, and LSU’s young defensive linemen continued their accelerated development.

Most importantly, the coaching staff now has roughly 170 scrimmage plays to study.

Kiffin also made it clear that LSU is evaluating players with more than Clemson in mind. The staff must identify players who may not be ready for major roles on opening night but could become important contributors several weeks into the season.

That is especially important with a roster containing so many new pieces.

LSU does not need every freshman and transfer to be completely ready today. It needs the right players ready on September 5 and enough others developing behind them to make the team better as the season progresses.

The early signs from the defense are encouraging. The running back room looks increasingly dangerous. Kiffin clearly trusts Weis and the offensive system being installed around Leavitt.

There are also legitimate concerns. LSU needs more dependable depth, several freshmen may be asked to contribute early and the offense still has work to do after being challenged by the defense in the scrimmage.

That is what fall camp is supposed to reveal.

Kiffin is finding out what he has.

Clemson will find out soon enough.

Sources

LSU Football Report, Lane Kiffin Press Conference Transcript, August 17, 2026
https://lsufootballreport.com/2026/08/17/lane-kiffin-press-conference-transcript-august-17-2026/

LSU Football, Lane Kiffin Press Conference video, August 17, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/live/0cKYENKL21c

LSU Athletics
https://lsusports.net/

LSU Football Report
https://lsufootballreport.com/