For the first time since Joe Burrow’s magical 2019 national championship run, LSU opened a season with a victory. And it came in dramatic comeback fashion.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Trey’Dez Green in the fourth quarter, and No. 9 LSU rallied past fourth-ranked Clemson 17-10 on Saturday night in a bruising season opener at Memorial Stadium.
Nussmeier, who surpassed 4,000 yards passing in his first year as a starter in 2024 after patiently waiting behind Jayden Daniels, shook off a slow first half to take control late. He threw for 134 of his 230 yards in the second half, leading two touchdown drives that flipped the game in LSU’s favor.
Freshman running back Caden Durham added 74 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Tigers, who possessed the ball for all but nine minutes after halftime and wore down Clemson’s defense with long, grinding drives.
“We wanted to show our mental and physical toughness, and I thought we did that,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “Our defense set the tone, and Garrett settled in and made plays when we needed them.”
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, a preseason Associated Press All-American and Heisman hopeful, never found a rhythm against LSU’s revamped defense. The junior finished 19-of-38 for 230 yards and an interception. Though sacked only twice, he was pressured constantly and forced into hurried throws.
LSU’s defense, bolstered by transfer additions that allowed Kelly to lean on more man-to-man coverage, completely stifled Clemson’s ground game. The Tigers managed just 31 yards on 20 carries.
Clemson’s lone touchdown came on a gutsy fourth-down run from Adam Randall in the first half, part of a 10-3 halftime advantage. But after kicker Nolan Hauser, last year’s ACC championship hero, missed a 48-yard field goal early in the third quarter, momentum shifted sharply toward LSU.
Late First-Half Missed Opportunity: Clemson forced two fumbles in the first half, including Ronan Hanafin’s strip of Chris Hilton Jr. at the Clemson 13 in the closing seconds, keeping LSU from tying the game before halftime.
Durham’s Spark: LSU’s offense finally broke through with a 7-yard touchdown run from Durham to tie the game in the third quarter.
Nussmeier to Green: With 7:41 left in the game, Nussmeier lofted a perfect pass to Green in the right corner of the end zone for the decisive score.
Clemson had two final chances to tie. The first ended in a quick three-and-out. On the second, Klubnik drove his team to the LSU 15, but on fourth-and-4 he was flushed from the pocket and forced to throw under duress. His pass floated harmlessly to the turf, sealing LSU’s win and sending its sideline into celebration.
Clemson’s offense took a major hit when star receiver Antonio Williams, a preseason second-team AP All-American, left with an injury early in the first quarter and did not return. Head coach Dabo Swinney offered no timetable for his return afterward.
“We’re deep at receiver, but Antonio is special,” Swinney said. “We’ll need some guys to step up.”
Ring of Honor Moment. At halftime, Clemson honored former defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry with induction into its Ring of Honor, adding a celebratory note to an otherwise frustrating night for the home crowd.
The Tigers showcased toughness and balance in a difficult environment, with their run defense stealing the show. Holding Clemson to just 31 rushing yards underscored the strides made on that side of the ball.
The loss of Williams early disrupted the offensive flow, but Klubnik’s inconsistency under pressure and the ineffective ground game proved more damaging. Swinney’s squad will need to find answers quickly.
LSU (1-0) returns home to face Louisiana Tech next Saturday. Clemson (0-1) looks to regroup at home against Troy.
