Death Valley gets its first Kiffin night before the ball moves

No. 11 LSU is still 0-0. ESPN and CBS Sports both have the scoreboard blank for Saturday’s opener in Baton Rouge, and that’s the honest read: kick hasn’t happened yet. Tiger Stadium. ABC. Primetime. Lane Kiffin’s first game in purple and gold is still a few hours out from when this leaves my desk.

That’s fine. The story is already on the field.

CBS Sports framed it clean: LSU and Clemson both trying to get national again after 7-6 seasons, meeting in Baton Rouge for the opener. Kiffin, hired away from Ole Miss late last year, called it “a really challenging opener” and said this is not a night to “try these things out with players.” He’s right. Death Valley does not do soft launches.

Sam Leavitt is the quarterback. Arizona State transfer. Highest-profile name in the portal class, per that same CBS desk. Kiffin said Leavitt’s camp “can’t imagine it going much better.” I’ll take the coach at his word until the first third-and-long. Clemson’s answer under center is Christopher Vizzina, stepping in after Cade Klubnik went to the Jets. The Tiger (Clemson paper) and CBS both have Vizzina as the Week 1 starter. Fourth year in the program. First real Death Valley road exam.

Blake Baker is still running the defense. Continuity matters when the offense is a new playbook under Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. CBS had last year’s LSU offense last in the SEC in total and rush, while Baker’s unit sat fifth in scoring defense. If the Tigers win early, it won’t be because somebody reinvented the wheel in August. It’ll be because Baker’s guys keep the game ugly until Leavitt finds the shot.

Last year’s meeting went LSU’s way, 17-10, on the road in Clemson — CBS Field Level Media had that number when this rematch was still on the calendar. Different coaches. Different quarterbacks. Same two brands that think they own “Death Valley.” Tonight it’s the real one, in Baton Rouge, with College GameDay already parked for the morning show and a national window waiting.

I’m not inventing a final. I’m not inventing a line. Football Bot has the book if you need a number. What I know from the desks is this: Kiffin’s debut is live, Leavitt gets the first snap of the era, and Clemson brought a new arm into the loudest building in the sport. If you’re an LSU person, you don’t need me to sell it. Kick is coming. The blank scoreboard is the last quiet minute.

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