It is a Thursday afternoon in Baton Rouge. If you are an LSU fan, you aren't just checking your email; you are refreshing Twitter and YouTube every thirty seconds. You’re waiting for the drop. When that lsu football hype video finally hits the timeline, the world stops for about two minutes. Honestly, it’s not just a video. It’s a cultural event.
There is something different about the way LSU handles its media. While other schools are out here putting together basic highlight reels with some generic trap beat, LSU is busy making actual cinema. We are talking about Hollywood-level production value that has literally changed the game for how college sports programs market themselves.
The Secret Sauce of the LSU Football Hype Video
You can’t talk about these videos without talking about the people behind the lens. For years, guys like Matt Tornquist and Matt Karin set a standard that most NFL teams can't even touch. They didn't just film a football game; they captured the soul of South Louisiana.
They use a mix of high-end gear—think Sony A7iii setups and Ronin stabilizers—to get that buttery smooth slow-motion footage of the team walking down the hill. But the gear is only half the story. The storytelling is what really gets you. They lean heavily on sound bites. You’ll hear the muffled roar of the crowd, the clack of pads, and then a sudden, jarring silence right before the beat drops. It’s a psychological rollercoaster.
Celebrity Power and Narrators
One thing LSU does better than anyone is the "Big Voice." Remember the 2020 National Championship? They got The Rock to narrate the hype video.
"I remember rock bottom... that's why I know where I'm going."
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It wasn't just some random celebrity endorsement. Dwayne Johnson coached under Ed Orgeron back at Miami. There was a connection. They’ve done the same with Anthony Mackie (a New Orleans native) and Tim McGraw. These aren't just voiceovers; they are statements of intent. When Emeril Lagasse is narrating a video about the 2020 NFL Draft class to the tune of Coldplay, you know you’re watching something special.
More Than Just Hype: It’s a Recruiting Weapon
If you think these videos are just for the fans, you’re missing the point. These are elite recruiting tools. A high-school kid in Texas or Florida sees a video of Jayden Daniels or Joe Burrow looking like a superhero in Death Valley, and they want in.
Brandon Berrio, who has managed the creative team under Brian Kelly, knows this better than anyone. The social media accounts for LSU football have over 3.5 million followers. That is the second-most in all of college football. In 2020, they even beat out the MLB and the XFL for the "Best in Sports Social Media" award from the Sports Business Journal.
Think about that. A college team outpaced professional leagues.
The Evolution of the Game Day Trailer
LSU basically invented the "Game Day Trailer" format that everyone else copies now. It used to be that you’d get one big video at the start of the season. Now? We get one every week.
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- The Atmosphere: They focus on the smell of tailgates, the sunset over the Mississippi River, and the gold helmets glowing under the lights.
- The Emotion: It’s not just about winning; it’s about the "struggle." They show the sweat in the locker room and the losses just as much as the wins.
- The Music: They don't just use what's trending. They use what fits. Sometimes it's a local bounce track; sometimes it's a cinematic orchestral score.
Basically, they treat every game like a blockbuster movie premiere.
The New Era: Lane Kiffin and NIL
As we move into 2026, the landscape is shifting again. With the arrival of Lane Kiffin in Baton Rouge, the hype machine has gone into overdrive. Kiffin is a social media savant himself, and his brand of "Portal King" energy meshes perfectly with the creative department's "Best in Class" output.
We are seeing a new style of lsu football hype video that focuses on the "New Era." It’s flashy, it’s fast, and it leans heavily into the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era. Fans are seeing more behind-the-scenes content than ever before. You aren't just seeing the game; you're seeing the "business" of being a Tiger.
Why It Still Matters
In a world where college football is changing every five minutes—new conferences, new playoff formats, players moving every year—tradition is the anchor. These videos remind fans why they care. They bridge the gap between the legends of the past (like JaMarcus Russell and Billy Cannon) and the stars of today.
When you see a video highlighting the 100th anniversary of Tiger Stadium, it doesn't matter if you're a student or an alum from 1970. You feel the same goosebumps.
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How to Experience the Best of LSU Creative
If you want to see what all the fuss is about, you can't just look at a grainy repost on TikTok. You have to go to the source.
- The Official YouTube Channel: This is where the 4K versions live. Search for "LSU Sports" and look for the "Game Trailers" playlist.
- Instagram and X (formerly Twitter): This is where the "short-form" hype lives. They drop 30-second clips that are designed to be shared and played on loop.
- The "Night Games" Collection: LSU’s creative team has a specific obsession with night games in Death Valley. These are widely considered the gold standard of the genre.
What to Look For Next
Keep an eye out for the 2026 Spring Game trailers. This is usually when the creative team tries out new visual styles or editing techniques before the main season starts. It’s like a pilot episode for a new TV show.
LSU has set a bar so high that other programs are literally hiring away their staff. USC famously poached Will Stout, the former assistant director of video production at LSU, because they wanted that "Baton Rouge Magic" in Los Angeles. But as any Tiger fan will tell you, it’s not just the editor. It’s the place. You can’t fake the energy of Saturday night in the SEC.
To get the most out of the LSU media experience, start by following the official creative leads on social media. Look for Brandon Berrio and Cody Worsham. They often share the "how-to" behind the videos, including the specific cameras and lenses used to get those iconic shots of the Tiger walk. If you’re a fan of the sport, or even just a fan of good filmmaking, watching how this team operates is a masterclass in modern branding.
Actionable Insights:
- Subscribe to the "LSU Sports" YouTube channel and hit the bell icon. Most hype videos drop between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM CST on Thursdays during the season.
- Check out the "2020 National Championship Hype Video" narrated by The Rock if you want to see the pinnacle of the craft.
- Follow the "LSU Football" account on X for real-time reactions and "mic'd up" segments that often serve as B-roll for the larger hype productions.
- Watch the "The Climb" docuseries if you want to see how the same creative team handles long-form storytelling for the gymnastics program—it's equally impressive.