CLEMSON, S.C. \u2014 Brian Kelly put everything into this game. He embraced the pressure for LSU to win an opener for the first time in six years. He did it despite the risk, despite how hard it would be to end that streak Saturday with a win at No. 4 Clemson.<\/p>\n
And then, despite seeming multiple mistakes, and a halftime deficit, No. 9 LSU pulled it off, beating Clemson 17-10. The streak is over, and Kelly has a validating win, one of the biggest of his four-year LSU tenure.<\/p>\n
This offseason, Kelly had Clemson paw prints put all over the LSU facility, from the weight room to hallways. This after LSU lost every season opener since 2020, culminating in last year\u2019s frustrated postgame news conference where Kelly pounded the table after losing to Southern California.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve made it a specific goal,\u201d Kelly said in July during SEC media days. \u201cI think it was important to have a tangible, specific goal for us to start the season. And I think it\u2019s important our kids want that. They can taste it.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a while, though, it looked like the streak would be extended. Clemson scored first and took a 10-3 lead into halftime, after Kelly made the dubious decision to go for it on fourth down from the 13 with 15 seconds left. It failed, but LSU took over in the third quarter: Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier got hot, leading two touchdown drives, while the LSU defense kept making big stops.<\/p>\n
Battle of Heisman contending QBs<\/p>\n
After Arch Manning and No. 1 Texas lost earlier in the day, the two players with the next-best Heisman odds \u2014 LSU\u2019s Nussmeier and Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik \u2014 went head to head a few hours later.<\/p>\n
The quarterback duel never materialized, though. Instead, the defenses dominated. Neither quarterback threw a first-half touchdown pass. Klubnik finished 19-of-38 for 230 yards and an interception. Nussmeier went 28-of-38 for 230 yards and one touchdown.<\/p>\n
The two experienced, talented passers will have at least 11 more opportunities to state their cases this season, but in Nussmeier\u2019s case, coming away with the win gives him the inside track to the trophy even after an average performance against Clemson\u2019s elite defense line. His numbers won\u2019t offer him much value, but a road win against a top-10 opponent and possible future College Football Playoff team and conference champion will.<\/p>\n
Nussmeier helped fuel LSU\u2019s second-half comeback, and even with the modest numbers, he\u2019s the likely new favorite for the Heisman Trophy after Week 1. \u2014 David Ubben<\/p>\n
The rise of the LSU defense?<\/p>\n
Fixing the LSU defense has been a multi-year focus for Kelly. It took small steps forward last year. This game showed another, possibly more tangible, improvement.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, LSU had one of the worst defenses at the power-conference level, wasting Jayden Daniels\u2019 Heisman season, and leading Kelly to change defensive coordinators. In Blake Baker\u2019s first year, there was modest improvement, up to 14th in the SEC in scoring defense and yards-per-play allowed.<\/p>\n
This season started on an even better note: Two straight three-and-outs, with Clemson attaining minus-10 yards. One of those came after the offense fumbled the ball just outside the red zone; LSU\u2019s defense stood.<\/p>\n
Clemson finished the first half with 110 yards. LSU\u2019s offense wasn\u2019t getting many results, but its defense kept the offense in the game long enough.<\/p>\n
The run defense stifled Clemson. The pass rush kept Klubnik uncomfortable, leading to his interception in the third quarter. Harold Perkins Jr., back healthy after missing most of last year, had a sack playing out of his edge role. And LSU held on fourth-and-4 on Clemson\u2019s final drive with a chance to tie the score. LSU has always had talent, it was confounding why it couldn\u2019t have a better defense. The Tigers may finally be getting there.<\/p>\n
The Tigers made a concerted effort to improve their defensive personnel with several additions along the defensive front and in the secondary. Transfer corner Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech) came up with a clutch pass break up on a critical fourth-down attempt by Clemson midway in the fourth quarter. Defensive line transfers Bernard Gooden (USF), Jack Pyburn (Florida) and Patrick Payton (Florida State) have elevated the talent level for LSU with that unit, and it looked considerably improved. \u2014 Antonio Morales and Seth Emerson<\/p>\n
Controversial call?<\/p>\n
LSU had what looked to be an apparent touchdown called off by officials on replay, on a consequential play in the second half with the score tied.<\/p>\n
Nussmeier threw a deep pass down the sideline that was caught by receiver Barion Brown and ruled out at the 1-yard line. Replay showed that Brown crossed the goal line, but he lost the ball after hitting the ground, following one or two steps.<\/p>\n
Officials ruled he didn\u2019t maintain possession of the ball, a play reminiscent of Dez Bryant for the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 or Calvin Johnson with the Detroit Lions in 2010.<\/p>\n
ESPN\u2019s rules analyst Bill Lemonnier, a former Big Ten official, said he would\u2019ve ruled LSU\u2019s play possession before Brown hit the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got firm control. He\u2019s got a foot down inbounds. He\u2019s making a football move, and he\u2019s even hit the pylon,\u201d Lemonnier said on the ABC broadcast. \u201cThey\u2019re saying when he hit the ground with the ball movement, that created the incomplete pass. In my view, I would\u2019ve (already) had a touchdown.\u201d <\/p>\n
Still, LSU went on to take the lead early in the fourth quarter and held on for the win. \u2014 Chris Vannni<\/p>\n
Real Death Valley?<\/p>\n
Clemson\u2019s mascot \u2014 he doesn\u2019t have a name and is known only as The Tiger \u2014 tapped a black sign he was holding in the first quarter as the crowd roared for an LSU third down.<\/p>\n
\u201cWelcome to the real Death Valley,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n