LSU, Clemson lineup decisions take shape a week before opener

With seven days to go before the Sept. 5 kickoff in Baton Rouge, both programs are nearing starting decisions neither has made public.

The Pate State Wire DeskVerified reporting · full source list below · monitored by an editor

● Confirmed
AUG 29, 2026

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LSU and Clemson are seven days from kicking off the season against each other, and On3 reported starting decisions for both teams are “becoming clear” — though neither program has identified who will take the first snap Sept. 5 in Baton Rouge.

“Two teams coming in with different expectations, starting decisions becoming clear and much more as we reach the seven day mark to the opener,” On3 reported.

The different expectations show up in the polls, not the records. LSU and Clemson both went 7-6 last season — LSU 3-5 in SEC play, Clemson 4-4 in the ACC — yet LSU opens ranked No. 11 in the AP poll and No. 13 in the coaches poll, while Clemson sits at No. 23.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET. LSU turns around to host Louisiana Tech on Sept. 12.

Sourcing & standards: Reporting via On3. Produced by the Pate State Wire Desk under the site's verification rules, monitored by an editor. Corrections are timestamped, never silent.

LSU, Clemson lineup decisions take shape a week before opener

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