No. 9 LSU stormed away with a 17–10 win over No. 4 Clemson in Death Valley, marking their first season-opening victory since 2019. It was a game defined by defense, poise, and a touchdown pass that rewrote the narrative late.
Game That Told the Story
- Slow to ignite: Clemson drew first blood with a 42-yard field goal by Nolan Hauser in Q1, then leaned on a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped by Adam Randall’s 1-yard TD run to carry a 10–3 lead into halftime.
- LSU strikes back: Caden Durham tied the game with a 2-yard rushing TD in the third quarter. Then, in Q4, Garrett Nussmeier threaded an 8-yard TD pass to Trey’Dez Green, vaulting LSU into their first lead.
- Defense, the unsung hero: Clemson’s final push fizzled with a crucial defensive stand—an incompletion on fourth-and-4 under pressure officially sealed the road win for LSU.
What This Means
- Momentum reset: LSU not only survives but sends a statement with a rare season-opening W.
- Coaching validation: Brian Kelly captures his first opener as LSU head coach—by outlasting a loaded Clemson squad.
- Pulse check for Clemson: The Tigers suffer their third straight opener loss—leaving early questions for Dabo Swinney’s dominant squad.
Clutch Crunch Take
This was more than a win—it was a rally where timing and execution met opportunism. Nussmeier’s composure under pressure, Durham’s run, and the fierce stop on Clemson–all added up to an opening-week statement. LSU may still be building, but last night, they proved they belong.