3 reasons LSU just proved it can win College Football Playoff with 41-point Clemson destruction in Lane Kiffin’s debut

The LSU football team bulldozed Clemson on Saturday, to open the Lane Kiffin era. Kiffin’s Tigers put together a masterful performance on both offense and defense. LSU did it despite the fact that former NFL players, who have joined the Tigers this summer, weren’t on the roster Saturday.

Kiffin has proven that this LSU team is a force to be reckoned with this season. Here are three reasons why LSU can not only reach the College Football Playoff, but win it all.

LSU handed Clemson the worst margin of defeat in Dabo Swinney’s career

LSU put together a game for the record books on Saturday. The Tigers rolled up 644 total yards of offense, while scoring 51 points. This win didn’t come against a group of 6 program, or even an FCS school. It came against Clemson, one of the most successful football programs in the ACC.

Clemson is led by Dabo Swinney, who is a national championship-winning coach. Saturday night’s result was the largest margin of defeat in Swinney’s long career. That is truly astonishing.

Kiffin was even astounded by how effective his team was. His LSU Tigers allowed just 10 total points in the game.

“I didn’t expect their offense to be that dysfunctional,” Kiffin said after the game, per ESPN. “Our [scout] team scored more than they did against us.”

Clearly, posting this kind of victory against a quality opponent shows how dangerous this LSU team can be.

LSU has a star at quarterback

For a team to reach the CFP, it is vital that they have a strong starting quarterback. LSU has one this season. The team is led by transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt. Leavitt already has reached the CFP, when he was the starter at Arizona State.

Against Clemson on Saturday, the new Tigers play caller was brilliant. He led LSU in both passing yards and rushing yards. He finished his night with 230 passing yards, 113 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.

LSU didn’t even need Leavitt to finish the game. The Tigers showed they are quite capable of moving the football this season, especially after posting all those yards of offense.

Leavitt is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football. He is also one of the few who has already started a CFP game. That is a dangerous formula that will absolutely help LSU as the season rolls along.

There’s one final reason why LSU can win a national championship.

LSU’s Lane Kiffin is coaching with a chip on his shoulder

There has been much criticism launched at LSU head coach Lane Kiffin this summer. First, it was because Kiffin chose to leave his old school Ole Miss before last season’s CFP.

The second wave of criticism came after the Tigers head coach decided to add former NFL players to his roster. While those players didn’t suit up for the team on Saturday, they didn’t need to obviously. LSU gave Clemson a thumping.

Kiffin showed on Saturday night why he is such a great college football coach. In just his first game as coach, his LSU team absolutely whipped a power 4 opponent. Kiffin’s defense allowed just 40 total rushing yards to Clemson.

Kiffin appears to be coaching with a chip on his shoulder. He has certainly listened to all those critics, and he is taking his frustrations out on the football field. At least right now, it looks like the LSU head coach is inspired and laser-focused on winning.

LSU next plays Louisiana Tech on Saturday. Time will tell if these Tigers are able to make it into this year’s CFP field.

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