LSU finally got over the 1-0 hump with a monster win at No. 4 Clemson on Saturday night. The win gave the Tigers their first 1-0 start since 2019, and propelled LSU from No. 9 to No. 3 in the AP Top 25 Poll.
The defense showed out while Garrett Nussmeier and company were clutch down the stretch, making timely plays in the biggest moments of the game. Before we move on to Week 2 against Louisiana Tech, here are three key stats to know that played a big role in LSU's path to victory against Clemson.
Numbers to know in LSU's win over Clemson
1 - Number of sacks allowed by LSU
Clemson entered the 2025 season with a vaunted pass rush that many believed was the best in the country. Led by potential first-round picks in DT Peter Woods and EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson was expected to give LSU's new-look offensive line problems in Week 1. Brian Kelly's squad had to replace four starters on the O line during the offseason, which left fans wondering how effective the new group would be. Well, we found out very quickly.
Kelly boasted about the potential of LSU's offensive line in August, and the group lived up to the hype of their head coach. Nussmeier attempted 38 passes on Saturday, and was only sacked once. Woods and Parker were held in check, which allowed Nussmeier to stay calm and composed - even when things weren't going right.
7 - Longest rush for Clemson
The LSU defense put on an absolute clinic when it came to stopping the run. Clemson managed just 31 total rushing yards on the night to go along with a microscopic 1.6 yards per carry. Their longest rush totaled just seven yards, which is a nod to LSU's defensive game plan of not allowing Clemson's running backs to get to the second level.
LSU's tackling was on point. The Tigers didn't miss many tackles, with PJ Woodland, West Weeks, and Harold Perkins Jr leading the way with five tackles apiece. Whit Weeks had just two tackles on the night, but the play below is an under-the-radar stop that displays his elite tackling ability.
New: LSU had tons of plays that led to beating Clemson.
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) September 2, 2025
My opinion?
There were 5 plays that put LSU in position to get the Top 5 win.
Here’s my “Top Plays” rankings (including a 1-yard tackle by Whit Weeks that easily gets forgotten):➡️ https://t.co/W3PSid3Wp0
🎥: (ABC/ESPN) pic.twitter.com/It7Fa5sy0K
4 - Players with at least 5 receptions for LSU
Nussmeier always does a good job of spreading the ball around to his receivers. He totaled 4,052 yards through the air last season without having a 1,000-yard receiver. The veteran QB was spreading the wealth once again on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nussmeier completed 28 of his 38 attempts for 232 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Aaron Anderson led the way with six catches for 99 yards, with four pass-catchers collecting at least five receptions.
Anderson (6 catches, 99 yards), Ju'Juan Johnson (5 catches, 31 yards), Barion Brown (5 catches, 25 yards), and Bauer Sharp (5 catches, 18 yards) all hauled in 5+ passes. The Clemson secondary wasn't able to hone in one any specific receiver, which gave Nussmeier plenty of options. After a slow start on offense, Nussmeier did a good job of staying poised and confident en route to completing over 70 percent of his passes. The biggest play of the game came when Nussmeier hit Trey'Dez Green for an eight-yard touchdown in the 4th quarter to give LSU a 17-10 lead.