The Lane Kiffin era at LSU could not have started much better for quarterback Sam Leavitt.

Making his first start in an LSU uniform, Leavitt helped lead the Tigers to a dominant 51-10 victory over Clemson Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, immediately showing why so much excitement surrounded his arrival in Baton Rouge.

Leavitt finished the night with 230 passing yards and 113 rushing yards while accounting for three total touchdowns. Two of those scores came on the ground, with Leavitt rushing for touchdowns of eight and 13 yards in the second quarter.

His ability to make plays with his legs became one of the biggest problems Clemson had to deal with throughout the game.

The quarterback’s performance was especially important because LSU’s offense did not rely solely on the passing game. The Tigers finished with 309 rushing yards, and Leavitt’s mobility helped create another dimension for an offense operating under new head coach Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.

Leavitt also connected with Winston Watkins Jr. on a 32-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, giving LSU a 38-3 advantage and continuing what had already become a runaway game.

There were certainly imperfections, including an early interception, but Leavitt responded by settling into the game and helping LSU score 51 points.

For a player entering a new program with enormous expectations, the Clemson game was more than just a successful debut. It was an early statement that Leavitt can be the type of dual-threat quarterback LSU needs to compete at the highest level.

One game does not define a season, but after Saturday night, Leavitt has given LSU fans plenty of reason to believe the quarterback position could be a strength in 2026.