LSU fans have more chances this season to tailgate. Here’s how to prep
It’s a lineup that seems custom made for tailgaters. A generous helping of home games—seven this year—means the Tiger Nation has more chances to roll out its special brand of pageantry, starting with a season opener in Death Valley for the first time since 2020. Armed with a provocative new head coach and a need for redemption, LSU has three home games in September, followed by high-octane meetings in October and November in Baton Rouge.
Veteran tailgaters are approaching this season with their usual planning, pacing and keen awareness of crowd size and weather, says Zach Rau, whose DVA Tailgating group has set up near the LSU Campus Mounds since 2012.
“This season is pretty front loaded,” Rau says. “The Clemson game is going to create a huge atmosphere with [College] GameDay in town, and the heat is going to be something to really keep in mind.”
Rau says his September menus will feature classic dishes that aren’t too heavy, like jambalaya and pastalaya, along with plenty of water and electrolyte mix.
Three September home games will feel like an endurance test, but this year’s schedule offers convenient “peaks and valleys,” Rau says. Big games are followed by away games or more relaxed rivalries, which will give habitual tailgaters some breathing room, he says.
Along with the season opener against Clemson, Rau says he’s especially excited about the Bama game.
“We could conceivably head into that game undefeated,” he says. “So that game will include everything that comes along with that.”
Sept. 5
Clemson University
The scene: It’s big. At home for the first time since 2020, the season opener is Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut and the campus will host ESPN’s College GameDay. The humidity will be as thick as the hype, so pace yourself and hydrate.
The dish: Mammoth crowds will have tailgaters bringing their best, high-volume work, including dishes like cast-iron-pot jambalaya and those workhorses of the outdoor grill, burgers and dogs. Invited to a tailgate? Bring fruit salad and extra water.
Sept.12
Louisiana Tech
The scene: A home game on the second weekend of the season keeps the good vibes going, but the atmosphere will be less intense. Fans are asked to wear purple.
The dish: The heat is still an issue, so throw something low maintenance on the
grill, like boudin and smoked sausage from the Capital Region’s abundance of local
meat markets.
Sept. 26
Texas A&M
The scene: September’s trio of home games culminates with a chance at redemption against A&M. Tiger fans are still stung by last year’s trouncing in College Station, a watershed event that led to then-head coach Brian Kelly’s firing. Wear gold.
The dish: Bring on the brisket. Texas’ favorite barbecue protein is also Louisiana’s. Whether or not Tiger fans will share their handiwork with Aggies remains to be seen.
Oct. 3
McNeese State University
The scene: The weekend following the A&M game is another chance to enjoy a home tailgate as the Cowboys from Lake Charles come to town. Enjoy the start of fall.
The dish: Reasonable crowds prompt some tailgaters to roll out labor-intensive dishes, like fried catfish and shrimp, or banh mi sandwiches stuffed with smoked chicken thighs or pork belly.
Oct. 17
Mississippi State University
The scene: The two teams haven’t played since the Tigers traveled to Starkville in 2023. Mid-October usually brings spectacular weather for fans to enjoy.
The dish: Riffing on Mississippi’s love for barbecue pork, roll out baby back ribs and pulled pork sliders. Pair them with layered salads and loaded dips.
Nov. 7
University of Alabama
The scene: Nick Saban might not be around to fuel Tiger fans’ ire for the Tide, but the rivalry still stands. A three-week break away from the gravitational pull of Death Valley will have fans clamoring to cheer on the Bayou Bengals.
The dish: Expect to see edible “elephants” fashioned from pork chops posing as ears joined by pork loin trunks. Crowd size will inspire tailgates to prepare big-volume dishes like roast suckling pig and pots of gumbo.
Nov. 14
University of Texas
The scene: Tigers will be eager to ruin QB1 Arch Manning’s day as they host the Longhorns in a regular season game that should have been played back in September 2020 but was canceled due to the pandemic.
The dish: The final home game of the season is a fine chance to break out street tacos made with grilled skirt steak and accompanied by fresh avocado, pickled red onion and cotija cheese.
This article was originally published in 225 Magazine’s 2026 Tiger Pride edition.
