LSU cruised to a 51-10 win against Clemson in Lane Kiffin's debut Saturday. Stephen Lew / Imagn ImagesSept. 6, 2026 Updated As Lane Kiffin jogged toward the tunnel with LSU leading Clemson 31-3 at halftime on Saturday night, he circled back to ESPN’s Holly Rowe and said it took everything for him to not say “imagine if we had pro players” during his interview.
"Imagine if we had pro players." 😅
Lane Kiffin is not holding back. pic.twitter.com/OzHEZqw1UW
— ESPN (@espn) September 6, 2026Kiffin, never one to shy away from the drama, was clearly referencing the absence of tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, the two ex-NFL training camp participants who LSU sought to add — and won an injunction via a Louisiana judge — but did not get placed on the gameday roster amid an ongoing legal fight with the SEC, which sued LSU in federal court this week.Those two did not play on Saturday, and it’s unclear if and when they will based on the SEC’s hard-line stance. LSU has left two roster spots for them. Kiffin clearly didn’t need them on Saturday, though. Who he had was more than enough to dominate Clemson in his first game as LSU’s coach.Notre Dame defensive tackle transfer Junior Tuihalamaka, who also is returning to college for a fifth season amid the NCAA’s age-based eligibility rule change, did suit up for LSU. But he did not sign with an NFL team like Harris and Wright did, making him an exception to the rule preventing those two from playing.LSU went on to win Saturday’s game 51-10, dealing Clemson its worst loss under Dabo Swinney.
