In a slugfest that felt more like a late-season playoff battle than a Week 1 appetizer, LSU clawed its way back from a halftime deficit to silence a sellout crowd of 81,500 at Memorial Stadium, securing a hard-fought 17-10 victory over Clemson on Saturday night.
The game-winning blow came with 12:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who shook off a shaky start, stood tall in the pocket and delivered a laser to Trey'Dez Green for an 8-yard touchdown. The score capped an impressive 11-play, 73-yard drive and gave LSU a lead they would not relinquish.
The first half was a defensive struggle, with both teams trading field goals before Clemson's Adam Randall punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to give his team a 10-3 lead heading into the locker room. The Clemson defense was swarming, forcing two fumbles and keeping the LSU offense largely in check.
But the second half was a different story. The Bayou Bengals came out with a renewed sense of purpose, dominating the time of possession and methodically wearing down the Clemson defense. The comeback began in the third quarter when Caden Durham plunged into the end zone from 2 yards out to tie the game at 10-10. Durham was a workhorse all night, finishing with 74 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
While LSU found its rhythm, Clemson's offense sputtered. Quarterback Cade Klubnik struggled to find consistency, completing just 19 of his 38 passes for 230 yards and a costly interception in the third quarter that set up an LSU scoring drive. The Clemson rushing attack was virtually non-existent, managing a paltry 31 yards on 20 attempts.
Nussmeier finished the game with a respectable 230 yards and a touchdown on 28-of-38 passing, overcoming an early sack to lead his team to victory. His favorite target was Aaron Anderson, who hauled in 6 catches for 99 yards.
For LSU, this gritty road win against a perennial powerhouse is the perfect start to their season, showcasing their resilience and ability to win ugly. For Clemson, it's back to the drawing board, with serious questions surrounding an offense that was thoroughly outplayed in the game's final 30 minutes.