The LSU vs. Clemson matchup in Week 1 just got a little more interesting. The highly-anticipated game was already appointment television to begin with, but after Dabo Swinney's latest claim, LSU has some additional bulletin board material ahead of the season-opener.
In an article by ESPN's Chris Low, Swinney predicted that his Tigers will smash a college football record en route to a national championship.
"In 2018, we were the first 15-0 team in the history of major college football -- ever. And I think we're going to be the first 16-0 team. It's a race to do that.""Dabo Swinney
LSU fans would love to hand Swinney and Clemson an 0-1 record in front of their home fans
In the first season of the 12-team playoff in 2024, Ohio State suffered two regular season losses before going on a title run to finish the season with an overall record of 14-2. Swinney thinks his Clemson team can be the first to go 16-0.
LSU has a chance to spoil Swinney's undefeated hopes early in 2025. The matchup between the two Tiger teams is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC. Clemson is favored by 3.5 points, but this is a game that can go either way. It should be a battle from start to finish.
Both programs are hungry to start the season on the right foot, as both have College Football Playoff aspirations this season. There is nothing LSU fans would love more than to hand Swinney and Clemson an 0-1 record in front of their home fans.
Clemson and LSU received high praise in the 2025 preseason coaches poll. Both teams earned top-ten recognition, with Clemson coming in at No. 6 and LSU sitting at No. 9.
Clemson was one of the top college football programs for a good portion of the 2010s, but have taken a bit of a step back in recent seasons. The Tigers have gone 19-8 over the last two seasons. Still, Swinney's squad qualified for the College Football Playoff last season, and they are the overwhelming favorite to win the ACC again this season. Clemson fell to Texas by a score of 38-24 in the first round of last year's CFP.