The stage is set for a monumental season opener in Death Valley, where both the Clemson Tigers and the LSU Tigers are desperate to reverse a recent trend of disappointment. But according to a bombshell prediction from CBS Sports, only one team will get its wish: Clemson is projected to defeat LSU in the highly anticipated Week 1 showdown!
CBS Sports college football analyst Brad Crawford, in his breakdown of the 2025 SEC schedule, believes LSU's winless streak in season openers will continue. For LSU, the pressure is immense. The Bayou Bengals have failed to start a season with a victory since 2019, with head coach Brian Kelly sitting at a tough 0-3 in openers since taking the helm (losses to Southern California, and back-to-back defeats to Florida State).
According to Crawford, another "missed opportunity" would be devastating for a program that has been hyping its significant offseason acquisitions. "While the Tigers are one of four SEC teams we've projected to reach the playoff this fall, there's going to be some complaining after the opener," Crawford wrote. He believes how LSU responds to the loss will "ultimately determine how far Garrett Nussmeier and crew go as one of the SEC's top teams -- on paper."
On the other side of the field, Clemson is also looking to rewrite its recent history against the SEC. The Tigers have lost their last three games against SEC opponents, including a brutal 34-3 loss to Georgia in the 2024 season opener. Since the 2020 national championship, Clemson holds a pedestrian 3-7 record against SEC foes. This game is a chance for Dabo Swinney's squad to prove that they are truly back among the elite.
While LSU holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series, Clemson's lone win came in a historic 25-24 upset in the 2012 Peach Bowl, a victory Swinney famously called a "landmark win."
This season opener, set for August 30th at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, is not just about a win or a loss; it's about a statement. For LSU, it's about finally breaking a frustrating streak. For Clemson, it's about reasserting dominance and signaling their national championship aspirations. Brad Crawford's prediction has already set the table for a high-stakes battle that will immediately shape the 2025 college football season.