LSU entered the 2026 season with one of the most aggressive transfer portal rebuilds in college football. After one game, the early returns look almost unfair.
The Tigers did not merely defeat Clemson in Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut. They overwhelmed the visitors 51–10 with 644 yards, 38 first downs and a defense that allowed only 145 yards. Transfers led LSU in passing, rushing, receiving, blocking and defensive disruption.
Three newcomers earned SEC weekly honors. LSU’s five highest PFF grades among transfers who played at least 20 snaps ranged from a strong 78.8 to an elite 94.4.
Now No. 8 LSU must prove that its new stars can bring the same intensity against Louisiana Tech tonight in Tiger Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.
Louisiana Tech arrives with confidence after crushing Northwestern State 80–6. The Bulldogs are 1–0, dangerous and capable of scoring quickly. LSU cannot afford to treat this as a victory lap.
Fortunately for the Tigers, their transfer class has already shown it can take control of a game.
Jordan Ross Announced His Arrival
Jordan Ross did not wait long to introduce himself to Tiger Stadium.
The Tennessee transfer intercepted Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina and returned the ball 30 yards for LSU’s first touchdown. Ross later added a sack, finishing with four tackles and two tackles for loss.
PFF awarded him a 94.4 grade, the highest among LSU’s transfers and one of the best grades earned by an edge defender nationally in Week 1. He also received SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors.
Ross produced three additional quarterback hurries despite rushing the passer on only 13 snaps. His combination of speed, length and athletic ability created a problem Clemson never solved.
The former five-star prospect arrived from Tennessee with 26 career tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His LSU debut suggested that his previous production represented only a small portion of what he can become in Blake Baker’s defense.
Louisiana Tech quarterback Blake Baker threw three touchdown passes in his return from a major knee injury. Ross will be one of the players responsible for making sure the quarterback never settles comfortably into the pocket tonight.
Sam Leavitt Gives LSU a Different Dimension
Sam Leavitt entered the season carrying the pressure that comes with becoming LSU’s starting quarterback. He responded by accounting for 343 yards and three touchdowns in fewer than three full quarters.
Leavitt completed 16 of 28 passes for 230 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was even more dangerous on the ground, rushing 12 times for 113 yards and two scores.
His 91.1 PFF grade placed him among the country’s highest-graded quarterbacks. PFF gave him a 90.0 rushing grade and a 76.9 passing grade. Three of his incompletions were charged as receiver drops.
The performance earned Leavitt SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
His success should not have surprised anyone familiar with his résumé. At Arizona State, Leavitt was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and second-team All-Big 12 after leading the Sun Devils to an 11–3 record, a conference championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. He produced 3,328 yards of total offense that season.
Tonight offers Leavitt an opportunity to sharpen LSU’s vertical passing game. Louisiana Tech’s three-man front and five-defensive-back alignment may attempt to limit deep throws while forcing LSU to remain patient.
Leavitt does not need to force the spectacular play. If he makes sound decisions, takes the available completions and uses his legs when the defense loses discipline, LSU should move the football consistently.
Princewill Umanmielen Was Relentless
While Ross produced the most memorable defensive play, Princewill Umanmielen created pressure throughout the night.
The Ole Miss transfer led LSU with six tackles and recorded two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry. PFF gave him an 83.2 overall grade and an outstanding 90.0 pass-rush grade.
Umanmielen arrived with a proven record. He earned third-team All-SEC recognition in 2025 after recording 45 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks for Ole Miss. He was also a second-team Freshman All-American at Nebraska in 2023 and entered this season on the Bednarik Award watch list.
LSU’s ability to attack from both edges changes the defense. An offense cannot slide protection toward Umanmielen without creating opportunities for Ross. If it keeps extra blockers inside, either defender can isolate a tackle in space.
That is not an appealing choice for Louisiana Tech.
TJ Dottery Brought Experience and Control
TJ Dottery’s LSU debut was less dramatic than Ross’ pick-six, but it was just as important to the structure of the defense.
The Ole Miss transfer recorded five tackles and helped LSU hold Clemson to eight first downs and one conversion on 13 third-down attempts. His published PFF grade was 88.2, including an 82.2 coverage grade.
Dottery entered the season on the Butkus Award watch list after leading the SEC with 98 tackles in 2025. He brought 177 career tackles to Baton Rouge and immediately gave LSU another experienced communicator beside Whit Weeks.
There is also an interesting connection to the opener. Dottery originally signed with Clemson before transferring to Ole Miss and eventually LSU. His first appearance in purple and gold came against the program where his college career began.
Against Louisiana Tech, Dottery will be responsible for keeping the defense organized against an offense that scored 11 touchdowns in Week 1. His work may not always generate highlights, but it will help determine whether the Bulldogs can produce sustained drives.
Jordan Seaton Locked Down the Blind Side
Quarterbacks cannot display their talent without protection. Jordan Seaton gave Leavitt plenty of it.
The Colorado transfer played 38 pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack, hit, hurry or pressure. He was not penalized. PFF awarded him an 88.2 pass-blocking grade and a 78.8 overall mark.
Seaton’s performance earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
He was already one of the most decorated members of LSU’s portal class. Seaton earned Freshman All-America recognition at Colorado in 2024 and second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. He started 22 games at left tackle before transferring to LSU.
The offensive line must still become more consistent inside, but Seaton gives the Tigers an elite building block at one of the sport’s most important positions. His ability to protect Leavitt without constant help allows Kiffin to send more receivers into routes and expand the playbook.
Winston Watkins Jr. Became LSU’s Leading Receiver
Winston Watkins Jr. entered the Clemson game with 373 career receiving yards from his 2025 season at Ole Miss. He gained nearly one-third of that total in his LSU debut.
Watkins caught seven passes for a career-high 110 yards and scored on a 32-yard pass from Leavitt. PFF gave him a 73.7 grade.
The chemistry between Leavitt and Watkins was one of the most encouraging offensive developments of Week 1. Watkins worked through traffic, found openings and gave LSU a reliable target when the offense needed a completion.
Louisiana Tech’s five-defensive-back structure will test the patience of LSU’s receivers. Watkins may not find as much open space downfield, but his ability to separate underneath could make him one of Leavitt’s busiest targets again.
Dilin Jones Gave LSU a New Workhorse
Dilin Jones did not receive an SEC weekly award, but his performance was one of LSU’s biggest developments.
The Wisconsin transfer carried the ball 23 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns. His longest run covered only 15 yards, meaning his final total was built through repeated physical carries rather than one statistical explosion.
Jones averaged 4.3 yards after contact and received a 77.6 PFF pass-blocking grade. He showed that he could run between the tackles, protect the quarterback and remain effective as his workload increased.
With Caden Durham and Harlem Berry playing limited roles against Clemson, Jones seized the opportunity to become LSU’s leading back. Tonight will reveal whether that workload continues or Kiffin uses the matchup to expand the rotation.
Either way, Louisiana Tech must account for a running back who just gained 113 yards against a much larger Clemson defense.
Ty Benefield Strengthened the Secondary
Boise State transfer Ty Benefield also deserves recognition after earning a 76.9 PFF grade in his LSU debut.
Benefield entered the season as a preseason second-team All-SEC selection and gave LSU another experienced defender in the secondary. Clemson managed only 105 passing yards against LSU, with its starting quarterback throwing for just 83.
Louisiana Tech will challenge that secondary more aggressively after quarterback Blake Baker passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns in the opener. Benefield’s positioning and open-field tackling will be important if the Bulldogs attempt to create explosive plays.
LSU’s Portal Class Has Already Changed the Ceiling
The most impressive part of LSU’s opening victory was not that one transfer played well. It was that newcomers controlled nearly every area of the game.
Leavitt directed the offense. Jones powered the running game. Watkins led the receivers. Seaton protected the quarterback. Ross, Umanmielen and Dottery helped smother Clemson’s offense.
Kiffin challenged LSU to prepare for Louisiana Tech with the same focus it brought against Clemson.
“Everything’s got to be the same,” Kiffin said. “Don’t let the opponent dictate how you’re preparing.”
That is the test tonight.
LSU has already shown how talented its rebuilt roster can be. Now the Tigers must demonstrate maturity, consistency and the ability to dominate a game they are expected to win.
If the transfer class delivers another performance like the first one, Louisiana Tech will not be facing a team suffering from a Clemson hangover.
It will be facing an LSU roster that is only beginning to understand how dangerous it can become.
Sources
- LSU Athletics. “Football Returns to Death Valley for Matchup with Louisiana Tech.” September 11, 2026.
https://lsusports.net/news/2026/09/11/football-returns-to-death-valley-for-matchup-with-louisiana-tech - Louisiana Sports. “LSU Transfers Dominate PFF Grades in Rout of Clemson.” September 6, 2026.
https://www.louisianasports.net/2026/09/06/lsu-transfers-dominate-pff-grades-in-rout-of-clemson/lsu-sports/ - ESPN and Associated Press. “Lane Kiffin Challenges His No. 8 LSU Tigers to Approach Louisiana Tech the Same Way They Did Clemson.” September 10, 2026.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/preview/_/gameId/401867796 - Pro Football Focus. “College Football: Week 1 Quarterback Grades.” September 2026.
https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-julian-sayin-and-arch-manning-open-2026-with-elite-week-1-grades - LSU Athletics. “Sam Leavitt.”
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/sam-leavitt - LSU Athletics. “Jordan Ross.”
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/jordan-ross - LSU Athletics. “Jordan Seaton.”
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/jordan-seaton - LSU Athletics. “Princewill Umanmielen.”
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/princewill-umanmielen - LSU Athletics. “TJ Dottery.”
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/tj-dottery - Louisiana Tech Athletics. “Preview: LA Tech at No. 8 LSU.” September 11, 2026.
https://latechsports.com/news/2026/9/11/football-preview-la-tech-at-no-8-lsu
LSU Football Report 