If you're an LSU fan, you have to be just planting your face in your palm after hearing what Brian Kelly had to say about Clemson ahead of their season opener next month.
The two teams are evenly-matched on paper, and it figures to be one of the best games of the non-conference schedule, but the last thing one side needs to do is give the other any sort of motivation or bulletin board material.
Kelly didn't seem to get that memo.
Speaking candidly at SEC Media Days, Kelly was asked about the Death Valley moniker that both Clemson and LSU use for their home field. He said that LSU is the Death Valley and the Tigers are just letting Clemson use it for now.
"We are THE Death Valley"
— Claire Foley (@clairefoleytv) July 14, 2025
Tiger on Tiger crime, as Head Coach Brian Kelly jokes about who owns the name "death valley" during SEC Media Days. LSU opens its season at Clemson on August 30. @wachfox pic.twitter.com/BtORj6uTD5
It was in somewhat of a joking manner, but there was some truth and honesty behind Kelly's words. He truly believes that LSU is the Death Valley and that Clemson is a knockoff version. Obviously if you asked Dabo Swinney the same question, he'd probably give a similar answer, but that's not how bulletin board material works.
Sure, this seemed harmless, but Peter Woods even took notice of Kelly's words on where the real Death Valley is and reposted the quote.
Who had the nickname first? According to some research that I did, Clemson dubbed their home turf "Death Valley" about a decade before LSU did, and it seemed to stick for both. However, LSU's consistent success this century has led to many college football fans thinking the original Death Valley is in Baton Rouge.
How about the winner of the 2025 season opener gets to keep the moniker?