"Big boy football." "Epic battle." Those are the words Dabo Swinney used to describe his expectations for the Clemson vs LSU game on Saturday, Aug. 30. The highly-anticipated matchup kicks off a critical season for both programs.
Joining The Jim Rome Show this week, the Clemson head coach hyped up the top-ten showdown between the two Tiger programs.
"It’s going to be an epic battle. They’re really, really good. We know we have an opportunity to be a good team. They have an opportunity to be a good team. Both big-time quarterbacks that are going to be pros one day. Both teams have a lot of skill, big dudes in the trenches.Dabo Swinney
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Swinney added, "It’s just going to be a classic college football environment right out of the gate." He's not wrong, as Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC is expected to be a raucous environment.
With kick-off slated for 7:30 p.m. ET, the prime time matchup is going to be appointment television. ABC's Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler will be on the call. The stage is set for an instant classic that has College Football Playoff implications right off the bat.
Two vetern quarterbacks headline LSU vs Clemson showdown
The game marks Clemson's first season-opening game at home since 2019. The Tigers have either been on the road or played at a neutral site in their last five season openers. Swinney's teams have gone 2-3 in those games, with wins over Wake Forest in 2020 and Georgia Tech in 2022, and losses to Duke in 2023 and Georgia in 2021 and 2024.
LSU is looking for its first season-opening win since 2019. The Tigers have dropped five straight openers, with the latest defeat coming by a score of 27-20 to USC in Las Vegas last August. After an 8-4 regular season last year, it is imperative that Brian Kelly's squad gets off to a good start this season.
Both Clemson and LSU received high praise in the first AP Top 25 Poll of the season, with Clemson coming in at No. 4 and LSU ranked No. 9. Both teams are led by veteran quarterbacks in Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik. Both gunslingers are firmly in the Heisman conversation, and both have the ability to take over the game. Get your popcorn ready.