The upset was already complete. LSU had just shocked No. 4 Clemson 17-10 in Death Valley, ending years of season-opener heartbreak for Brian Kelly. But it was what happened next on social media that perfectly captured the moment – Kim Mulkey dropping her trademark blend of praise and playful jabs that reminded everyone why LSU’s championship culture runs deeper than any single sport.
Why Did Kim Mulkey’s Post Steal the Show After the Historic Win?
Mulkey took to X hours after LSU’s victory with her signature flair, delivering a message that celebrated both the team’s performance and Kelly’s passionate sideline presence. Her post read: “So proud of @LSUfootball win tonight, but just as proud of the charge @CoachBrianKelly took for the team on the sideline…great form😉! See you in Death Valley next weekend! #GeauxTigers 💜💛🤍”
So proud of @LSUfootball win tonight, but just as proud of the charge @CoachBrianKelly took for the team on the sideline…great form😉! See you in Death Valley next weekend! #GeauxTigers 💜💛🤍 https://t.co/d3Q23Ya0CG
— Kim Mulkey (@KimMulkey) August 31, 2025
The “charge” Mulkey referenced was Kelly’s passionate sideline presence that TV cameras caught throughout the night. Anyone who watched the game saw Kelly getting fired up, yelling at refs, and living every play with his team. It’s become his calling card at LSU during crucial moments, and Saturday night showed exactly why that energy matters.
The context made Mulkey’s praise even sweeter. During a summer speech, Kelly had called Clemson’s stadium “Death Valley, Junior,” trash talk that didn’t sit well with the Tigers. Clemson defensive end TJ Parker responded by saying they’d “handle all that on August 30.” Instead, LSU handled them on their home turf.
How Did This Win Change Brian Kelly’s LSU Story?
This wasn’t just another victory for Kelly. He’d lost all three previous season openers at LSU, continuing a program-wide drought that stretched back five straight years since 2020. The pressure had been building for him to finally break through against elite competition, and Saturday night in enemy territory against a top-five team, everything clicked.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier orchestrated the comeback from a 10-3 halftime deficit, finding tight end Trey’Dez Green for the game-winner with 12:18 remaining. It was the kind of clutch drive that had been missing from LSU’s recent season openers, executed when the lights were brightest.
NUSSMEIER GIVES LSU A 17-10 LEAD IN THE 4TH ‼️
Watch the finish of LSU-Clemson on ABC and the ESPN App: https://t.co/Nz7AG4DFyf pic.twitter.com/9Mm76i8bIv
— ESPN (@espn) August 31, 2025
Beyond the offense, LSU’s defense delivered when it mattered most. Transfer cornerback Mansoor Delane grabbed a crucial third-quarter interception that shifted the game’s momentum completely. Harold Perkins Jr. was everywhere with five tackles and a sack, while the entire unit held Clemson’s running attack to just 32 yards on 19 carries against such talented competition.
Mulkey’s congratulations carry extra weight because of who she is within LSU’s championship culture. She’s not offering polite pleasantries from the sidelines. Mulkey delivered the university’s first women’s basketball national title in 2023, just two years after arriving from Baylor. She understands what championship-level success looks like and what it takes to achieve it.
Her coaching style mirrors what Kelly has been building with his football program: demanding, authentic, and relentlessly focused on winning the biggest games. When she tells Kelly “great form” about his sideline energy, she’s speaking from experience about the passion required to win elite matchups.
The message also shows Mulkey recognizes this wasn’t simply about beating Clemson. This was Kelly finally earning his breakthrough victory against top-tier competition, the kind of statement win that can define a program’s trajectory. Now the question becomes whether Saturday night was the beginning of something special or just a memorable one-time performance.