SEC Opens 2026 Season With Statement Wins — and LSU Faces an Unprecedented Fight

The Southeastern Conference opened the 2026 college football season with plenty of fireworks, as several of the nation’s top teams rolled to impressive victories while Auburn survived a thriller and LSU dominated Clemson amid an increasingly heated battle with the conference.

No. 11 LSU made perhaps the biggest statement of the weekend, overwhelming No. 14 Clemson, 51-10, in Baton Rouge. New Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt accounted for three touchdowns, while he and Dilin Jones each rushed for 113 yards. LSU piled up 644 total yards and a school-record 38 first downs, while holding Clemson to just 145 yards. The victory was also the largest loss of Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s 19-year tenure.

No. 3 Georgia also flexed its muscle, defeating Tennessee State 63-3, while No. 5 Texas cruised past Texas State 59-7. No. 8 Texas A&M shut out Missouri State 50-0, and No. 10 Oklahoma blanked UTEP 51-0.

Alabama, ranked No. 13, opened with a 48-10 victory over East Carolina. South Carolina shut out Kent State 57-0, while Kentucky defeated Youngstown State 45-13. No. 20 Tennessee routed Furman 56-9 behind an impressive debut from freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, who accounted for five touchdowns.

Florida also put up big numbers, defeating Florida Atlantic 66-21, while Mississippi State blasted Louisiana-Monroe 62-13. Arkansas defeated North Alabama 31-14, and Vanderbilt overcame Austin Peay 28-9.

The weekend’s closest SEC game came in Auburn, where the Tigers held off Baylor 17-16. Auburn’s defense made the decisive play at the goal line, stopping Baylor’s two-point attempt to preserve the victory.

Ole Miss closed the weekend Sunday night with a 41-38 victory over No. 24 Louisville, giving the Rebels a dramatic start to the season.

Meanwhile, LSU is making headlines off the field. The SEC has filed a federal lawsuit against LSU over the school’s efforts to use former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. A Louisiana judge issued an injunction allowing the players to pursue eligibility, while the SEC maintains that its rules prohibit players with NFL experience from returning to college football.

The dispute has escalated quickly. SEC leaders are scheduled to meet Thursday to consider whether LSU should be removed from the conference. Such a move would require a two-thirds vote of the league’s presidents and chancellors. LSU is a founding SEC member, making the possibility of expulsion unprecedented.

For now, LSU remains an SEC member — and after its 51-10 statement win, the Tigers have certainly made their presence known on the field as well as off it.