n a week filled with bulletin board material, ESPN's Holly Rowe just made a huge mistake ahead of No. 4 Clemson hosting No. 9 LSU. In an interview live from the field at Memorial Stadium, the veteran sideline reporter inadvertently handed the Clemson faithful a rallying cry just 24 hours before one of the biggest games of the season.
During a pre-game segment on Saturday, the studio host teed up the age-old debate, asking Rowe about the atmosphere in what many consider one of college football's most intimidating environments.
Rowe's response immediately fanned the flames of the rivalry.
"Well, they are expecting a sold-out crowd of 81,500 people here at the Death Valley in South Carolina," Rowe began, before making a direct and pointed comparison. "But I wanted to point out, the Death Valley in Baton Rouge is over 101,000."
The on-air slight didn't stop there. Rowe proceeded to openly question whether the Clemson crowd could measure up, framing it as a challenge for the home fans.
"So I'm curious how loud can the Clemson fans be to try to... get off-base Garrett Nussmeier, the LSU quarterback?" Rowe asked. "Can they make it loud and feel big in here for these Tigers from the real Baton Rouge Death Valley?"
This was a weird take from Holly Rowe pic.twitter.com/hatNHbGKeu
— Hail Florida Hail (@HailFloridaHail) August 30, 2025
The comments—directly comparing the smaller stadium size, questioning the potential for noise, and referring to LSU's home as "the real... Death Valley"—immediately sent shockwaves through a fan base that prides itself on its gameday atmosphere.
For a Clemson program looking for any extra edge in a top-10 showdown, Rowe's words serve as the ultimate motivation. While likely intended to stir the pot for a national audience, the report has now become part of the game itself. The narrative is set, and the challenge has been issued.
Holly Rowe asked if 81,500 fans in Clemson can "make it loud and feel big." On Sunday night, she is guaranteed to get her answer.