TJ Parker claps back at Brian Kelly's 'Death Valley Junior' claim: 'We're gonna handle all that on August 30'

Clemson and LSU each refer to their stadiums as “Death Valley.” Naturally, the awkward overlap has led to the two programs developing an unusual rivalry over the years, both claiming that they’re the true Death Valley.

Earlier this week, LSU head coach Brian Kelly only stirred the pot more when he referred to Clemson’s Memorial Stadium as “Death Valley Junior.” At the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff on Thursday, Clemson’s TJ Parker fired back at Kelly.

“They can have their opinion. We’re gonna handle all that on August 30,” Parker said. “At the end of the day, we can do all the talking, we still got to play. So, we gonna see, you know what I’m saying? They’re hyping up everybody across the board, all these transfers they got — we’ll see.”

On Aug. 30, LSU will travel to Clemson for its season opener. The game will take place at 7:30 p.m. ET and air live on ABC. Both teams are expected to be ranked in the AP Top 25 for the highly anticipated Week 1 showdown.

LSU and Clemson have only met four times previously. The two programs last met in 2019, when LSU dominated Clemson 42-25 to win the National Championship. Now, Clemson will look to exact revenge on the SEC foe.

Former Presbyterian College head coach Lonnie McMillian was the first to call Clemson’s Memorial Stadium Death Valley when he told sportswriters in 1948 that he had “to take his team up to Clemson and play in Death Valley.” In comparison, LSU’s Tiger Stadium was first referred to as Death Valley in 1959.

Ironically, LSU began calling its stadium Death Valley after defeating Clemson 7-0 in the 1959 Sugar Bowl. Tiger Stadium had previously been colloquially known as “Deaf Valley” due to how loud it was.

LSU can expect to face a rowdy crowd on Aug. 30. Clemson is hungry for success this fall after losing to Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoffs last season.

Clemson has more than enough talent to reach great heights this year. The team is returning 16 starters from last season, including All-ACC quarterback Cade Klubnik.

Alas, LSU won’t be an easy team to topple. LSU is also returning its star QB, Garrett Nussmeier. Additionally, LSU reeled in the No. 2 class in On3’s 2025 Team Transfer Portal Rankings, highlighted safety AJ Haulcy and defensive lineman Bernard Gooden.