Keys to Victory: Clemson vs. No. 11 LSU

The Match-Up:

Clemson (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at No. 11 LSU (0-0, 0-0 SEC)

• Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Radio: Clemson Athletic Network (Don Munson, Tim Bourret)
• Venue: Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, La.)

The Stakes:

The national perception of Clemson, and especially Dabo Swinney, feels like it’s under the microscope. After a 7-6 season, people are questioning whether Swinney can get Clemson back among college football’s elite.

When you’ve won as much as he has, there are plenty of people eager to declare the run over. Clemson doesn’t necessarily have to win in Baton Rouge, but another poor showing on a national stage will only make those questions louder.

On the flip side, Saturday night offers Swinney’s program an immediate opportunity to change the conversation.

Series History:

• Overall: LSU leads 4-1
• Last Meeting: LSU 17, Clemson 10 — Aug. 30, 2025
• Current Streak: LSU, 2

Though the game will be the sixth all-time meeting between Clemson and LSU and the third game in the series in the state of Louisiana, Saturday's contest will mark Clemson's first visit to Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Clemson will attempt to become the first team to earn a victory in its first visit to Baton Rouge since UAB upset Nick Saban’s Tigers, 13-10, on Sept. 23, 2000.

With a victory, Clemson would join UAB and 13 other programs to win their first all-time game at Tiger Stadium since the facility opened in 1924, including Tulane (1924), Alabama (1925), Tennessee (1926), Oregon (1932), Georgia Tech (1944), Kentucky (1949), Maryland (1951), Baylor (1960), Colorado (1971), USC (1979), Florida State (1979), Miami (Ohio) (1986) and Arkansas (1993).

Tim Bourret’s Perspective:

“College football is a sport in which there’s more to it than just wins and losses, because at the end of the year, whether you make the playoff is an opinion of the committee,” Bourret said. “And you’re going to set a baseline opinion about your team on Saturday night.”

That’s why Bourret believes even the manner in which Clemson wins or loses could matter.

“If we’re going to lose, it’s important to lose close,” Bourret said. “You can’t go down there and lose 34-10 because you have an awful lot to come back from.”

The Number That Matters:

189. Clemson has 189 takeaways since 2018, the most in the FBS. Under Swinney, the Tigers are 43-7 when finishing plus-one in turnover margin, 38-1 at plus-two and 24-0 at plus-three or better.

Fun Fact:

Clemson hasn't opened a season on the road against an SEC opponent since 2016, when the Tigers escaped Auburn with a 19-13 victory before eventually winning the national championship.

Swanny's Rant & Reality Check:

“I think the biggest question in this game is pretty simple: we really don’t know what Christopher Vizzina is going to look like. He could go out there and be spectacular, and Clemson could win this game by seven to 10 points. But if I’m being fair, that would surprise me right now.

We don’t know everything about LSU either, but we saw these two teams a year ago, and LSU looked more physical. They were the better team that night.

For Clemson, I think this game is about establishing an identity. Even if they lose, you want to come out of Baton Rouge feeling like this team showed you something that can carry through what I think is a very manageable schedule.

I’d love nothing more than to pick Clemson 27-24, but I just can’t do it. I’ve said this before: I don’t know when the last time Clemson brought their own guts was. If they bring their own guts Saturday night, they can win this game. I’m just not sure they packed them on the airplane.”

Three Things That Decide It:

1. How Does Christopher Vizzina Handle the Moment?

Vizzina's second career start will be his first on the road, and there may not be a tougher environment than a Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

© Susan Lloyd/Clemson Sports Talk

Christopher Vizzina will get his second start, and first road start of his career at LSU.

Morris said one of the traits that separated Vizzina during the quarterback competition was his ability to move on from a bad play. Clemson doesn't need him to be spectacular. It needs him to be steady and make sure one mistake doesn't become two.

The good news is that CV has one of the best wideout rooms in the country with T.J. Moore, Bryant Wesco, and Tyler Brown expected to lead the way. Those three plus the talent behind them should create opportunities to attack downfield if the offensive line can give him time.

2. Can Clemson Turn Defense Into Points?

Win the turnover battle, and Clemson may win the game.

That puts some attention on Ashton Hampton and Clemson's secondary. A takeaway, short field, or defensive score could take pressure off Vizzina and completely change the atmosphere in Baton Rouge.

Swinney has stated that the secondary couldn’t be worse than it was a year ago, and the changes there seem to put the entire room in a much better position. For Tom Allen’s defense, tonight’s game is a big chance to show they’ve taken a huge step forward in year two.

3. Will Clemson Stick With the Run?

Clemson rushed for only 31 yards against LSU last year. That can't happen again.

Sticking with the run doesn't mean forcing it into a loaded box. Morris wants Clemson to take what the defense gives it. If LSU loads up, Vizzina has to take the available throws. If the numbers favor Clemson, hand it off.

Most importantly, Clemson can't abandon the run simply because it doesn't produce immediately. Morris will use motion to learn about the LSU defense, and in those moments, the right call can make all the difference in the world. 

What Worries Me:

It’s the unknowns on both sides, along with my feeling that Lane Kiffin has done a better job of using the transfer portal to make LSU even better than the team Clemson faced a year ago.

That team was already good enough to come into Death Valley last year and win. That’s a concern. Even with huge changes, it still feels like LSU’s roster is ahead of Clemson. Adding the talent they have, like Sam Leavitt at quarterback and Jordan Seaton at OT, gives me more concerns about their offense than we saw last season.

Maybe all those new pieces don't come together immediately. But until Clemson proves otherwise, I have a hard time assuming the Tigers have closed that gap.

Prediction:

I think Clemson makes this a football game. I’ve seen Morris’ offense work well, and its pieces have continued to thrive at Virginia under Tony Elliott. Turn on a Cavalier game, and you can’t help but see some similarities to what Morris brought to Tiger Town in 2011 and left behind in 2014. 

Clemson’s defense will be improved on the back end and should be good enough to keep LSU from running away with it. If the Tigers can impact the line of scrimmage and force Leavitt to make some bad decisions, the odds that the underdogs bring home a win increase significantly.

Lastly, Morris’ goal will be to help Vizzina settle into the game by using the balance he wants to utilize, keeping him focused on three things rather than the surrounding environment. If Clemson can run the football and steal a possession or two, an upset is on the table.

I just can't pick it yet.

Clemson hangs around and covers, but LSU makes one or two more plays in the fourth quarter.

The Pick: LSU 27, Clemson 21

Season Record: 0-0

Swanny's Predictions:

✅ = Correct Prediction