Saturday's matchup between LSU and Clemson has the potential to deliver an instant classic. Clemson enters the season as the No. 4 team in the country, while LSU is No. 9. The showdown between the two Tiger problems is perhaps the most intriguing of Saturday's slate, as two teams with true National Championship hopes, as well as a pair of Heisman hopeful quarterbacks in Cade Klubnik and Garrett Nussmeier, are set to battle with millions of fans tuned in. Kick-off is just a few days away, and analysts across the country are getting their predictions in.
Notorious college football analyst Paul Finebaum has chimed in, and he is not high on Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers. Not only does Finebaum predict that Clemson will be victorious on Saturday, but that the loss will make Brian Kelly's life "very miserable" early on this season.
.@finebaum is expecting Clemson to beat LSU in Week 1 👀
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 26, 2025
"Life is going to become very miserable quickly for Brian Kelly." pic.twitter.com/1RZMsUoZ4e
Stating concern for LSU's offensive line, Finebaum predicts that Clemson's strong defensive front is going to create problems for Nussmeier and company. LSU has four new starters on the offensive line, while Clemson boasts a vaunted pass rush that includes two potential top-10 picks in DT Peter Woods and EDGE T.J. Parker. Finebaum continues to state that he doesn't think Kelly's job will be in jeopardy, but that the LSU fan base will instantly put a target on his back.
It's true that LSU fans are desperate for a season-opening win in the worst possible way. The Tigers haven't won a season opener since the historic 2019 season, and Kelly is 0-3 in openers in his three seasons in Baton Rouge. After so much build up and anticipation during the offseason, LSU fans have been disappointed in their team's results in season-opening games five years in a row. Kelly won't do himself any favors with another poor performance.
Conversely, if Kelly leads LSU to a massive road win at Clemson, it's off to the races for the 2025 Tigers. A win would not only get the program over the hump in terms of underwhelming in season openers, but it would put the country on notice that LSU is a legitimate National Championship contender. Get your popcorn ready.