LSU beats Clemson: The LIVE Blog, Stats, Highlights and More
No. 9 LSU faced off against No. 5 Clemson on Saturday night in South Carolina as one of a trio of Top 10 matchups in Week 1 of the college football season.
The time for talk and speculation had ended, and after 60 minutes of football, it was the LSU Tigers who stood standing as the winner of the Week 1 matchup.
With two programs holding hopes of making the College Football Playoff in December and competing for an appearance in January’s National Championship, the path for LSU through the SEC is tougher than the path Clemson will take through the ACC – which made this feel like a must-win spot for LSU.
The task was tall: blending a wave of transfers and first-time starters together in Week 1 of the season against one of college football’s Top 5 teams and a program picked by many to make this year’s CFB Playoff.
Top 10
- 1New
Eli Drinkwitz comes clean
Knew rule was broken
- 2
Deion Sanders
Fires back at media
- 3Hot
Big 12 punishes ref crew
Costly mistake in Kansas-Mizzou
- 4Trending
CFP Top 25
Predicting Top 25 after Week 2
- 5
National Title odds
Numbers shift after Week 2
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Now, LSU has officially joined the national conversation relative to which team could not just make the playoffs, but win a title.
On a day when Lee Corso’s final ESPN College GameDay brought with it his prediction for LSU to beat Clemson and win the National Championship, the Tigers took care of business on Saturday night on the road with the 7-point win to start the season 1-0 ahead of a non-conference matchup with Louisiana Tech in Death Valley next Saturday.
The Bengal Tiger‘s LIVE Blog has all the news to know from the win, including live updates, stats, highlights, and much more.
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LSU takes the field for warmups in new shirts…
08/30/2025 05:52:47 PMOne of the biggest themes of the offseason has been winning in Week 1 – something LSU has not done since the 2019 National Championship season. Brian Kelly and the staff plastered the message all across the team’s football facilities in Baton Rouge, and LSU arrived at Clemson for warmups in “1-0” shirts.
LSU radio’s Gordy Rush reveals Haulcy’s replacement
08/30/2025 05:56:05 PMIn a wild 48 hours leading up to kickoff, LSU was informed starting safety and Houston transfer A.J. Haulcy could not play the first half as a result of being ejected from his final game in 2024. It was originally ruled unsportsmanlike conduct, which doesn’t carry over to missed time in the next game. After the game ended, Big 12 officials upgraded the foul to fighting, which does carry a first half suspension in the player’s game – and LSU was never made aware of the ruling until two days before kickoff. With Haulcy sidelined, LSU radio’s Gordy Rush reported Jardin Gilbert would start the game at safety opposite NC State transfer Tamarcus Cooley. Gilbert started at safety a year ago for LSU, so he’s got experience, but it’s a surprise decision given how little first-team and even second-team reps he saw in fall camp.
3-man battle at left guard reveals a starter for LSU
08/30/2025 06:34:29 PMIt was set to be one of three LSU offensive lineman to start at left guard: Paul Mubenga, Coen Echols, and DJ Chester, who started at center for the Tigers a year ago. During pre-game warmups, the first-team reps with the other four offensive line starters – whose jobs have been locked in – went to Mubenga. That said, Kelly mentioned this week he feels good about rotating multiple guards in across the game to get a feel for who handles a talented Clemson defensive line the best.
Oklahoma transfer WR is a full-go in warmups
08/30/2025 06:36:30 PMOne season ago, Oklahoma’s entire wide receiver room fell victim to injuries. That included Nic Anderson, who was a breakout star for the Sooners the year prior when he averaged a head-turning21 yards per catch on 38 receptions. It was a double-digit touchdown year for Anderson, and now he has the green light to take the field vs. Clemson in Week 1.
LSU’s highest-ranked commit makes the trip to see Week 1
08/30/2025 06:44:03 PMBaton Rouge 5-star Lamar Brown, who is ranked by Rivals as the No. 2 overall high school recruit in the country, made the trip to South Carolina to see LSU’s season opener against Clemson. It’s well-documented LSU fans will travel to see a Week 1 game, whether it’s Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or Green Bay. Lamar Brown, an LSU fan before becoming the program’s highest-ranked commit in the current 2026 recruiting class, is in that group.
LSU pops a big run on Play No. 1, but third-down call stalls drive
08/30/2025 07:02:34 PMOne of the biggest questions of the offseason was whether LSU could find a running game behind a new-look offensive line. On the first snap of the season, the hole on the left side might not have been there, but sophomore Caden Durham proved to be talented enough to switch directions, maintain his balance, and break a 24-yard to put the ball near midfield. LSU got into Clemson territory, but the drive ended on third-and-long when the Tigers called a run up the middle, which was stuffed and forced a punt.
Baker dials up the third down blitz to stop Clemson’s first drive
08/30/2025 07:05:22 PMLSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker talked all offseason about being more aggressive on defense, and after forcing Clemson’s offense into a third down on the third snap for Cade Klubnik and Co., Baker sent sophomore cornerback PJ Woodland on a cornerback blitz. It resulted in a sack on Klubnik and a three-and-out punt for Clemson’s offense. LSU fair caught the ball with return man Zavion Thomas, giving Garrett Nussmeier and the offense the ball at LSU’s 37-yard line after both sides traded punts across the first 5 minutes of the game.
LSU turns the ball over after (nearly) setting up 3rd-and-short
08/30/2025 07:13:21 PMNussmeier’s pass on second down went to OU transfer tight end Bauer Sharpe, who was hit just short of the first down marker. The bad news: a hit forced the fumble just before Sharp’s knee hit the ground. Instead of 3rd-and-1 for LSU’s offense, Clemson was the beneficiary of the game’s first big swing in momentum given the scoop and return – with the tackle made by Sharpe – gave Klubnik and the offense the ball at LSU’s 24-yard line with the score tied at 0-0 with just under 10 minutes left in the first quarter.
Crisis (somewhat) averted for LSU thanks to the defense
08/30/2025 07:16:04 PMOnce gain, Blake Baker’s defense delivered with a three-and-out for the second time in two Clemson drives. Clemson took a 3-0 lead on a field goal, but given the fumble by LSU’s offense gave Klubnik the ball deep into LSU territory, allowing zero yards on three plays is as much as you can ask for. After two drives, it’s been nearly perfect for the defense. Drive No. 1 was three plays for -10 yards and a forced punt. Drive No. 2, which Clemson started deep in LSU territory, went for no yards on three plays.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Clemson 3, LSU 0
08/30/2025 07:38:06 PMIf you had the under total points in LSU’s season opener, you are probably feeling good. If you’re also an LSU fan, there are questions. LSU’s offense had more yards (77 to 36) than Clemson in the first quarter, and the defense looked great on all three drives against quarterback Cade Klubnik and Co. The results: two forced punt and a field goal given up on a drive when LSU’s defense allowed zero yards on three plays following a fumble by LSU tight end Bauer Sharp. LSU has the ball to start the second quarter with 1st-and-10 from the 27-yard line following Clemson’s punt.
LSU’s offense finds balance in the first quarter
08/30/2025 07:46:07 PMThere might not have been any points on the scoreboard, and some calls LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan will want back were out there, but the Tigers did find a balance in the pass and run game – which was one of the biggest question marks of the offseason after LSU couldn’t run the ball consistently a year ago. The first quarter stats on three drives for both teams: Clemson offense – 15 plays, 31 yards, 3 points … LSU offense – 13 plays, 81 yards, 0 points.
Ramos ties the game with a 50+ yard field goal for LSU
08/30/2025 07:49:42 PMLSU started Drive No. 4 with 52 yards on the first 5 plays, and while a sack forced LSU to settle for a long field goal, kicker Damian Ramos delivered by drilling the 53-yard kick down the middle with room to spare. Less than five minutes into the second quarter, the game was tied 3-3.
Halftime: Clemson takes 10-3 lead after TD, LSU stumble
08/30/2025 08:26:32 PMThe LSU defense had forced two punts and held Clemson to zero yards on three plays following a fumble that led to the first points of the game by way of a Clemson field goal. Ramos tied the game 3-3 in the second quarter, but Drive No. 4 for Klubnik brought with it a touchdown, with the key moment coming on when Clemson kept the drive alive on a fourth down attempt that brought it it a questionable no-call on what appeared to be a block in the back, which would have negated the first down. Clemson went for it again on fourth down from the goal line, and after LSU’s defense initially stuffed the run, Clemson’s Adam Randall found a second effort to get into the end zone. The LSU offense answered quickly with a first down pass to receiver Barion Brown followed by a first down run by Durham. A trick play with receiver Zavion Thomas throwing a pass to receiver Aaron Anderson put LSU in the red zone, but the Tigers ultimately came away with zero points after passing on a field goal and passing on 4th-and-2 from 12-yard line. The pass to Chris Hilton on the edge was behind the sticks, and his attempt to dive for the first down marker resulted in a fumble recovered by Clemson. From there, Klubnik kneeled it out as the teams went to the locker room with Clemson up 10-3.
LSU gets a stop, Clemson misses FG to open second half
08/30/2025 08:56:21 PMLSU’s defensive line was talked up during camp as one of the strengths of the team, and USF transfer defensive lineman Bernard Gooden’s pressure on Klubnik on third down in LSU territory forced Clemson into a field goal, which was missed from 48 yards out to keep the score at 10-3.
LSU cruises down the field for 1st-and-Goal, get the 10-10 tie
08/30/2025 09:06:47 PMNussmeier and the LSU offense went to the bread-and-butter option in crunch time from a year ago in receiver Aaron Anderson. The result: back-to-back catch-and-runs for 39 yards and 14 yards. With the ball inside the Clemson 30-yard line, Durham rushed for five yards on first down before receiver Kyle Parker caught the ball and picked up 16 yards to put the Tigers at the 5-yard line. After coming up with no points in the lone other red zone trip for LSU so far, LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan dialed up a run play to Durham on second down that tied the game at 10-10 with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter.
The momentum swings … and swings again
08/30/2025 09:20:13 PMWith the game tied at 10-10, LSU’s defense – which had shined vs. a talented Clemson offense all night – got after Klubnik in the first half and didn’t let up in the third quarter. A pressure from defensive lineman Bernard Gooden resulted in Klubnik throwing an interception by veteran transfer Mansoor Delane. LSU’s offense marched right down the field again, and Nussmeier hit Kentucky transfer Barion Brown on a deep ball down the sideline that saw Brown make a one-handed grab that was ruled a catch at the 1-yard. LSU was on the verge of punching it in from a yard out and going up 17-10 late in the third quarter, but the officials reviewed the play and overturned it. All the while, ESPN’s booth official maintained his ruling would have not only been a catch, but he would have given Brown the touchdown. Instead, LSU was forced into a long field goal that Ramos missed – and seemed like 7 points and the lead turned into zero points and the teams still tied on the scoreboard.
LSU’s offense puts together another impressive TD drive
08/30/2025 09:35:29 PMThe LSU offense finished multiple drives in the first half with much to still be desired, but the second half saw Sloan’s play calls turn into execution far more often than not for an LSU offense that found a spark. First came the drive to tie the game at 10-10, then the long drive that resulted in a missed field goal after a questionable reversed call by the officials. The drive that followed those came after LSU’s defense continued to shine bright with another three-and-out forced. From there, LSU popped off some runs by Durham before a pass interference call on Clemson got the ball to midfield. Once again, Aaron Anderson stepped up in the clutch moment with a 13-yard catch on 2nd-and-11. It came with a roughing the passer call on Clemson’s defense, which gave the ball to LSU’s offense at the 21-yard line. The first play: a quick strike to tight end Trey’Dez Green that set up 2nd-and-1 from just outside the 10-yard line. Durham’s run on second down was stopped behind the line to put LSU in a key 3rd-and-short situation, and Sloan dialed up a quarterback sneak that saw Nussmeier get across the line easily for the first down. With a 1st-and-goal just two minutes into the fourth quarter, LSU’s offense went back to the bowl game recipe: throw it up to the 6-foot-7 Green. And, after two bowl game touchdowns, Green got on the board with a touchdown catch from Nussmeier to take the 17-10 lead with 12:18 remaining in the game.
FINAL: LSU 17, Clemson 10 as defense buckles in to get the win
08/30/2025 10:18:47 PMOn a night when LSU fell behind early on the road to a Top 5 team, the defense – the program’s biggest question mark in the Brian Kelly tenure – buckled in for arguably the best performance in recent memory. After a solid first half, LSU’s defense came out of halftime and held Clemson to zero points on drives that resulted in a missed field goa, interception, punt, turnover on downs, punt, and a game-sealing turnover on downs in the final minute as Clemson drove down the field with hopes of tying the game. Instead, LSU held on for the 17-10 win on a night the Tigers had more rushing yards and passing yards than Clemson, gave up just one sack with five new starters on the offensive line matched up against an elite defensive line, and showed enough grit to buckle in and rally from a deficit on the road before putting the game away. After five seasons of losing the season opener, No. 9 LSU snapped the streak in 2025 with a win over No. 4 Clemson.
