The LSU Tigers welcome Clemson to Baton Rouge on Saturday in one of the marquee Week 1 matchups of the college football season, and the A to Z Sports staff is unanimous in picking Lane Kiffin’s squad to come out on top.

With new LSU head coach Kiffin navigating a volatile offseason and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney still attempting to find the right approach to the transfer portal, both teams enter the contest with plenty of questions to answer.

LSU leaned heavily on the transfer portal this offseason, headlined by the addition of former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt. The Tigers have undeniable talent on paper, but significant roster turnover and scrutiny surrounding recent roster acquisitions from players who did not make NFL rosters have created an uneasy backdrop heading into the opener.

Kiffin has proven he can win with offensive talent, and weapons like tight end Trey’Dez Green give Leavitt a strong supporting cast. Whether the drama-filled offseason creates a bunker-like mentality that brings the team together or causes them to implode remains to be seen.

Clemson, on the other hand, is almost flying under the radar.

The Tigers from Death Valley are overhauling the offensive side of the football, including the offensive line and the quarterback position. They do, however, boast a defense that could be better than many are projecting. Linebacker Sammy Brown returns as a star defender, and edge rusher Will Heldt gives Clemson two big-time playmakers in the front seven.

Wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr., if healthy, has the chance to be a first-round pick.

Staff predictions

I predicted a final score of LSU 24, Clemson 17. I see this one being closer than most expect, with Clemson keeping it ugly for a while thanks to its defensive talent. LSU’s offense, though, makes the explosive plays at the biggest moments that Clemson cannot counter. It will be a defensive struggle for much of the game, but Kiffin’s group pulls away late.

A to Z Sports Alabama’s Rob Gregson predicts LSU 28, Clemson 22. Gregson believes this is the first real test of what LSU looks like under Kiffin and noted that he would not be shocked to see Leavitt have a breakout run similar to what Jaxson Dart did under Kiffin at Ole Miss. On the Clemson side, Gregson singled out Wesco as a player who will give LSU problems, citing conversations this offseason and watching him in person at the wide receiver workshop in Miami.

A to Z Sports Oklahoma’s Justin Churchill predicts LSU 21, Clemson 10. Churchill acknowledged the microscope over LSU right now but said Kiffin is simply a good football coach. LSU should have the better team on both sides of the ball, and Leavitt’s debut against decent competition will be worth watching.

A to Z Sports Florida’s Tyler Forness also predicts LSU 21, Clemson 10. Forness is referring to the matchup as the “Battle of Death Valley,” since both schools claim their home stadiums under that name. What intrigues him most is how Leavitt will acclimate to Kiffin’s offense and whether the quarterback can restore the magic he had in 2024 at Arizona State. While Clemson feels like a tougher matchup on paper, the Tigers do not feel close to what they have been in years past after losing top-tier talent last offseason.

A to Z Sports Miami’s Craig Smith predicts a dominant 27 to 10 victory for LSU. He writes, “the marquee game of the 2026 college football opening weekend finally turns out attention back to the football field between two programs who have been in the national headlines for program drama this offseason. And it’s pivotal seasons for both programs for different reasons. The shine on Clemson after an ACC title in 2024 is gone after a 7-6 stinker in 2025. Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin’s recent antics just jacked up the pressure to 11 to win quickly.

“The line is 10, and this feels like a bit of a trap line at first glance, but I think LSU has something to prove right now. A retooled defense led by Princely Umanmielen, Whit Weeks, and DJ Pickett stonewalls Clemson with new starting QB Christopher Vizzina under center, and a steady game from Sam Leavitt pulls the (purple and gold) Tigers away early in the fourth quarter.”

What to watch on Saturday

The consensus among the staff is clear: LSU wins, but the margin varies. I see a one-score game, while Churchill, Smith, and Forness expect a more comfortable victory.

All four analysts agree that Leavitt’s debut in Kiffin’s system and Clemson’s defensive front seven are the two storylines that will define the outcome. If Brown and Heldt can disrupt Leavitt early, Clemson has a chance to hang around. If LSU’s offensive talent takes over, it could be a long night for Swinney’s squad in Baton Rouge.