LSU-Clemson won’t kick off on time as weather moves over Tiger Stadium. Here’s the latest. - NOLA.com
The LSU football season opener against Clemson was delayed by nearly two hours due to severe weather and lightning near Tiger Stadium. The game marks the debut of new LSU head coach Lane Kiffin.
Why it matters
This event highlights the logistical challenges of major collegiate sporting events and the high-profile debut of a prominent coach.
Excited for the Lane Kiffin era to officially begin at LSU?
You’ll have to wait just a little while longer.
LSU announced that its season opener against Clemson won’t kick off until 8:40 p.m., so long as another lightning strike isn’t detected in the game’s 90-minute window for warm-ups. That began at 7:10 p.m.
The Tigers were minutes away from taking the field for the first time in 2026 at around 5 p.m. Saturday evening. Then menacing clouds formed overhead, rain started falling, and lightning struck nearby, forcing Tiger Stadium officials to reset the Countdown to Kickoff clock on the scoreboard back to 90 minutes.
Tiger Stadium emptied out, but the students largely stayed put, waving towels in the air and singing along to the rain-themed songs that LSU was playing over the loudspeakers.
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