This game arguably sets the tone for how the rest of the Tigers’ season will go. Two Tigers, that is.
LSU football came in with hopes of bringing home a Week One statement win for the first time under fourth-year head coach Brian Kelly. Most players on the roster haven’t won a season opener in their entire college career – the team has started every season 0-1 since 2019.
Clemson, in comparison, had its eyes set on avenging its 2019 national championship loss to LSU. Vendettas aside, Dabo Swinney’s team also returned key players from last season’s College Football Playoffs appearance who want to find their way back and make a deeper run.
With the Death Valley debate adding fuel to the fire, this game had a lot on the line in more ways than one. Only one Tiger goes home happy, though.
This time around, LSU can add a tally to the win column. In their traditional white uniforms with gold helmets, the Tigers defeated Clemson 17-10, bringing home both the win and iconic stadium nickname for Baton Rouge.
But it was a slow start for the Tigers on both sides.
Many were concerned about LSU football’s fresh-faced offensive line, and rightfully so. The new group struggled early on to create running lanes and protect Garrett Nussmeier. This put the pressure on the fifth-year quarterback, including a sack from Clemson junior defensive end Will Heldt. These early woes led to LSU being down by seven after the first half.
Despite this, Nussmeier rebounded and showcased improved decision-making skills to go 28/38 with one touchdown. Ahead of kickoff, Kelly’s final comment to the media addressed what Nussmeier needed to do to put LSU in a good position.
“You got to play with composure,” Kelly said. “All he needs to do is be Garrett Nussmeier, nobody else.”
Fans are used to seeing Nussmeier crack under pressure; he threw 12 interceptions last season and often tried to make hard plays instead of going with what the defense was giving him. In his first showing of the season, the veteran leader for LSU finished with 230 passing yards and didn’t let the opposing pass rush scare him.
This was made possible because of receiving options in Aaron Anderson and Trey’Dez Green. Anderson finished with 99 yards on six receptions while Green provided a mismatch on the outside for LSU to take advantage of.
Nussmeier found Green twice for 17 yards and one touchdown. Green also drew two pass interference penalties against Clemson’s secondary to give LSU crucial first downs.
Another key factor in LSU’s win was the improved rushing attack. Sophomore running back Caden Durham led the way with 74 yards and one touchdown off of 17 carries, along with senior wide receiver Zavion Thomas, who finished with 26 yards on three carries.
READ MORE: How Caden Durham’s upbringing developed ‘superhuman’ talent on and off the football field
Durham and Thomas were the main contributors toward LSU’s 108 rushing yards on 31 attempts. That in comparison to Clemson, which ran 31 yards on 20 attempts, is case and point enough that LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan met expectations and improved LSU’s run game.
“Any quarterback that doesn’t have a running game, it becomes predictable,” Kelly said.
In surprising fashion, Cade Klubnik didn’t have the night Clemson expected. Like Nussmeier, the senior also finished with 230 passing yards, but only 19 of his 38 passes were caught. He also threw an interception to LSU senior cornerback Mansoor Delane, who was awarded the game ball.
The offensive production tonight from Clemson isn’t reflective of what the team is capable of, Swinney said. They were without the go-to receiver in junior Antonio Williams, but still managed to gain 230 receiving yards thanks to a balanced effort from sophomore Bryant Wesco and the rest of the receiving corps.
In recent years, the Tigers in Baton Rouge have either been riddled with offensive struggles or defensive setbacks. After four years, Kelly feels like this team has the best depth chart it’s ever had, and it showed in the season-opening win.
“We’ve had offenses here the last few years that could move the football,” Kelly said. “We needed to complement it with a defense that could stand a test. You go on the road and play a top-five team, you better bring a defense. We knew we were going to be that defense that needed to step up and step up big.”
The Week One win is just one step of the long journey ahead for Kelly and his Tigers. This statement win on Clemson’s home turf might be the motivating factor this team needs to fight for a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
“Our guys believed that they were going to win the game,” Kelly said. “We had some mistakes early on, but our guys composed themselves at halftime and played with great composure.”
