Lane Kiffin vs Dabo Swinney, Tom Allen vs Blake Baker, Sammy Brown vs Whit Weeks. Those are just a few of the head-to-head matchups going into Clemson vs LSU. This is going to be an ongoing series until gameday that breaks down two totally different tactical giants and says which team is better at the position at hand. Last time, we compared quarterbacks, and Sam Leavitt took the upper hand due to his experience over Vizzina. Next up are the running backs. Will the Tigers pull even?
Clemson bets on Gideon Davidson’s breakout.
Adam Randall’s departure for the NFL leaves Clemson without its leading rusher from last season. The keys now belong to sophomore Gideon Davidson, one of the most exciting young players on the roster.
Davidson arrived at Clemson after producing video game-like numbers
at Liberty Christian Academy. He finished his high school career with 7,438 rushing yards, 118 rushing touchdowns, and an average of more than 10 yards per carry.
His freshman season was more of an appetizer than the main dish as he recorded 260 yards on 60 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt. He did not score a touchdown, but 201 of his 260 yards came during Clemson’s final five games. As the season slipped away, Davidson began showing flashes of the player Clemson recruited.
Davidson continued flashing his potential during the offseason, rushing for 80 yards on nine carries in Clemson’s spring game.
Davidson is patient behind his blockers, possesses quick feet, and can turn a small crease into a major gain. The question is whether he can consistently create when Clemson’s offensive line fails to provide a clean runway. Four starters departed from a unit that already struggled to establish the run last season.
Newest #Clemson 4-Star RB commit Gideon Davidson- one of the best playmakers I’ve seen on film in the ‘25 class. Super dynamic talent.
— Johnny Falduto (@johnnyfalduto) June 14, 2023
Next-level patience + vision as a runner. Tremendous speed. Good hands. Elusive after the catch.
Some ridiculous stuff on film. Check it out⬇️ pic.twitter.com/PGPPiIWqeH
Clemson has another ace in the hole this year, however.
SMU transfer Chris Johnson Jr. provides All-Star track speed and decent experience in Chad Morris’ offense. He rushed for 479 yards and four touchdowns last season, including 59 yards and a score against Clemson. Johnson also caught four passes for 40 yards in that game.
Here was SMU transfer RB Chris Johnson Jr.'s day versus Clemson in October: https://t.co/FiKcF1K3dC pic.twitter.com/hAHIfC632g
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) January 10, 2026
David Eziomume, Jay Haynes, and Jarvis Green give C.J. Spiller top off the several additional options, but Clemson still needs someone to separate from the pack. Davidson appears capable of becoming that player. Capability and proof, however, are two different currencies.
LSU’s backfield runs deep.
LSU’s running back competition took an unexpected turn this offseason. Caden Durham and Harlem Berry returned after combining for 996 rushing yards last season, but Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones has pushed his way to the front of the line, and Stacy Gage has cemented himself a name in the hat.
Jones spent his first two college seasons with the Badgers. After redshirting in 2024, he started Wisconsin’s first seven games last season and recorded 300 yards and two touchdowns on 76 carries. His best performances included 73 yards against Miami (Ohio), 69 against Iowa, and 63 with a touchdown against Michigan. Turf toe ended his season after seven starts.
Jones began receiving first-team opportunities during LSU’s spring practices and continued handling the opening reps in fall camp. Lane Kiffin has praised his vision, footwork, and pass protection. Although LSU has not officially named a starter, Jones appears positioned to receive the first carry against Clemson.
Dillin Jones | RB (Wisconsin)
— ALL THINGS GEAUX (@AllGeaux) January 13, 2026
6’0” | 210 lb
3 years of eligibility
• Physical downhill runner
• Started the '25 season as RB1 for the Badgers
• Former 4-star & Top-15 RB prospect pic.twitter.com/wxWNW7Nvjb
Berry emerged during the second half of his freshman season, finishing with 491 yards and two touchdowns on 104 carries. He started LSU’s final six games and led the Tigers in rushing four times during that stretch. Berry never produced a 100-yard performance, but he recorded 59 yards and a touchdown against Texas A&M, 66 yards against Alabama, and 52 against Arkansas. His acceleration and ability to make defenders miss give LSU a more explosive option alongside Jones.
Good luck if you’re trying to tackle Harlem Berry 1-on-1 in the open field 😮💨 @HarlemBerry25
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) July 26, 2024
The LSU commit is the top RB in the ESPN 300 for a reason. Speed, explosion, and a threat to score everytime he touches the ball 🔥
(Game film via @Hudl) pic.twitter.com/wtYTbmlDgo
Stacy Gage has been the surprise challenger of the bunch. The UCF transfer arrived in Baton Rouge with only 13 collegiate carries. He produced 63 yards and one touchdown last season, with 30 of those yards coming against North Carolina A&T. That limited résumé did not stop him from climbing LSU’s rotation.
Gage received second-team work during portions of fall camp and was reportedly 2nd in the running back order in drills last week. At 5-foot-10 and 206 pounds, he provides a more physical running style without sacrificing the burst needed to create larger gains. Whether that camp momentum produces a significant week one role remains uncertain, but Gage has forced himself into the main conversation with the top dogs.
#LSU RB order in drills today:
— Preston Guy (@PGuy77) August 21, 2026
1 Dilin Jones
2 Stacy Gage
3 Harlem Berry
4 Caden Durham pic.twitter.com/AcaRf6cTyF
Then there is Durham, who has the strongest résumé of the three yet falls the lowest as of recent reports.
The junior enters 2026 with 1,258 career rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He earned Freshman All-SEC honors after running for 753 yards and six scores in 2024 before adding 505 yards during an injury-affected sophomore campaign. Clemson has already received a firsthand demonstration: Durham carried the ball 17 times for 74 yards and scored LSU’s only rushing touchdown in last season’s 17-10 victory in Death Valley.
Durham spent portions of fall camp behind Jones, Berry, and Stacy Gage in the rotation. He reportedly broke two runs of at least 70 yards in LSU’s final full-contact scrimmage while also working with the first-team offense. That performance pushed him firmly back into the conversation before this week one matchup.
Who has the edge?
Davidson has the talent to become Clemson’s next great running back, while Johnson provides the speed and receiving ability to change the pace. There is legitimate upside in the room, especially if Morris can revive a rushing attack that averaged only 3.7 yards per carry last season.
LSU still owns the stronger backfield entering week one.
Davidson and Johnson combined for 739 rushing yards last season, although Johnson’s 479 came at SMU. LSU’s three of Jones, Berry, and Gage combined for 1,296 yards despite Jones and Durham dealing with injuries. That does not even include Gage, who has climbed the rotation after transferring from UCF.
Clemson may have a future star in Davidson. LSU has four different stars if its first option struggles.
Clemson defensive tackle apologizes to Clemson after arrest
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) August 27, 2026
📸 Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co https://t.co/C5zn65dtni pic.twitter.com/8zHRnGhl0k
The Bayou Bengals draw second blood and take a 2-0 lead in the series. Clemson will need to find its first point elsewhere.
Running back advantage: LSUSeries score: LSU 2, Clemson 0
Contact us at @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Road to Week One: Clemson vs. LSU running back matchup
