It was billed as a Top 10 clash that would reveal Clemson’s championship credentials. Instead, Saturday night’s 17-10 home loss to LSU has raised doubts about whether the Tigers are as good as advertised after an offseason of hype.
Few voices carry more weight—or sting—for Clemson fans than ESPN’s Paul Finebaum. Long known as both a critic and reluctant believer in Dabo Swinney’s program, Finebaum wasted little time delivering his verdict.
“I was led to believe by people who had seen Clemson practice that they were something they were not,” Finebaum said on his The Matt Barrie Show. “They’re a good team, but you don’t have to be elite to win that league, where you do in the SEC. And Brian Kelly called his shot. He knew he had to do something different—and he did.”
Finebaum wasn’t alone in his skepticism. He pointed directly to the trenches, where Clemson was expected to dominate. Instead, LSU flipped the script.
“In the end, LSU was so much more physical on the line of scrimmage—that was supposed to be Clemson’s calling card,” he said. “That game against Florida in two weeks doesn’t even feel like a referendum anymore on Brian Kelly. He already proved his point.”
Podcast co-host Matt Barrie took the argument further, suggesting LSU might be the best team in the SEC.
“I’ve been so bullish on LSU in the offseason because I love Garrett Nussmeier as a quarterback,” Barrie said. “I believe in Brian Kelly. They did well in the portal. Blake Baker’s defense in Year 2 looks right with Harold Perkins back. Other than a quarter and a half, it was clear—start to finish—LSU was the better team.”
Barrie even hinted at a reshuffling of the SEC’s hierarchy after Week 1.
“Based on what I saw from Texas, Alabama, and even Georgia against Marshall, LSU looks like the most complete team,” Barrie said. “They left points on the board, but they were still in control. Right now? LSU might be the best team in the SEC.”
For Clemson, the reality is simple: it’s only Week 1, but the margin for error already feels razor thin. The hype was loud. The questions are louder.