Kelly's Tigers deflect 'doubters,' topple Clemson – ESPN

CLEMSON, S.C. — LSU coach Brian Kelly did not must pound the desk after this season’s opener.
LSU ended its five-game shedding streak in openers with a 17-10 victory at No. 4 Clemson on Saturday evening, its first season-opening win since record-setting quarterback Joe Burrow and his high-flying offense went undefeated and captured a CFP nationwide championship in 2019.
In a sport that was anticipated to be a shootout between potential NFL first-round picks Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik, LSU’s much-maligned protection stole the present by shutting out Clemson within the second half and limiting the Tigers to 31 dashing yards.
“You have to have some grit and you have to have character, and these children listened to all of the doubters and mentioned, ‘You recognize what? It would not matter,'” Kelly mentioned.
A 12 months in the past, Kelly was so annoyed after LSU’s 27-20 loss to USC in its opener in Las Vegas that he pounded a desk together with his fist and practically knocked over his water bottle.
“We’re sitting right here once more … we’re sitting right here once more,” Kelly mentioned final 12 months. “Speaking about the identical issues, about not ending when you might have an opponent ready to place ’em away.”
That wasn’t an issue at Clemson on Saturday evening. After LSU lastly took the lead on Nussmeier’s 8-yard landing to tight finish Trey’Dez Inexperienced with 12:18 to play, LSU’s retooled protection stopped Clemson’s offense on fourth down on the LSU 33 and compelled a 3 and out on the subsequent possession.
After Clemson moved to LSU’s 15-yard line with a couple of minute to play, linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. compelled Klubnik to roll out and throw an incomplete move on fourth down.
“We have had offenses right here in the previous couple of years that would transfer the soccer,” Kelly mentioned. “We would have liked to enrich it with a protection that would stand the check. You go on the highway and play a top-five workforce, you higher convey a protection.”
After LSU completed 14th within the SEC in scoring protection in 2024, permitting 24.3 factors per sport, the Tigers invested closely on that facet of the ball within the offseason. Kelly has mentioned LSU spent about $18 million on this 12 months’s roster.
Towards Clemson, newcomers like defensive ends Patrick Payton (Florida State) and Jack Pyburn (Florida), sort out Bernard Gooden (South Florida), cornerback Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech) and safeties Tamarcus Cooley (NC State) and A.J. Haulcy (Houston) had been huge contributors.
LSU had solely two sacks however took away Klubnik’s operating lanes and harassed him on a number of performs. He accomplished 19 of 38 passes for 230 yards with one interception.
Perkins, who tore the ACL in his left knee within the fourth sport of the 2024 season, had 1½ tackles for loss, one sack and two quarterback pressures.
“First sport again, there have been some actually, actually good issues,” LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker mentioned. “Once more, he does issues that numerous people cannot do on this earth. There’s lots to get higher at, and he’ll be the primary one to inform you that. His effort, his depth, the way in which he led on the sideline all sport was particular.”
LSU’s offense was removed from excellent. The Tigers had two expensive fumbles within the first half, together with one at Clemson’s 12-yard line. Nonetheless, LSU had 354 yards of offense and 25 first downs and dominated the second half by controlling the clock with its operating sport.
Nussmeier accomplished 28 of 38 passes for 230 yards with one landing.
“To win a sport like that, you recognize it wasn’t fairly and we scored 17 factors, however popping out right here on the highway and breaking the shedding streak and all of that, it is thrilling for our program,” Nussmeier mentioned. “It is large. It is a momentum booster and a confidence booster.”
LSU will play at residence in its subsequent three video games, in opposition to Louisiana Tech, No. 15 Florida and FCS program Southeast Louisiana, earlier than hitting the highway once more.
“Hear, these wins are huge,” Kelly mentioned. “There is not any doubt. There is a boomerang impact, however they’d confidence coming into this sport. We simply must hold doing what we’re doing.”

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