When No. 9 LSU walks into Memorial Stadium on Sunday night to face No. 6 Clemson, they won't just be facing a defense with a renewed sense of purpose. They'll be stepping into a cauldron of sound, an environment that All-American defensive tackle Peter Woods believes could make history.
As anticipation for one of the biggest season openers in the country reaches a fever pitch, the focus has turned to the electric atmosphere of Death Valley at night—a weapon the Tigers fully intend to harness.
"I Know Our Fans Are Going to Show Out"
The matchup itself is enough to create a frenzy, but Woods believes the combination of a season opener, a top-10 opponent, and the primetime stage is a recipe for an unprecedented level of noise.
"I definitely do think [breaking the stadium decibel record] is on the table," Woods said Wednesday. "There's a lot of hype around this game... I know our fans are going to show out. I know their fans are going to show out."
The energy has been building all offseason, and for the players, the chance to finally unleash it is a thrill, regardless of the opponent.
"I think if we were playing anybody in the nation right now, first game of the year, we'd probably be super juiced up," Woods admitted. "So you add in those other feelings to the side... it's just excitement."
"You Have to Shout to Hear the Person Five Feet Away"
For fans in the stands, the roar is a wave of emotion. For the players on the field, it's a tactical challenge that requires specific and intense preparation. Woods pulled back the curtain on what it’s truly like to operate inside the deafening storm.
"It's definitely electric," he said. "You definitely have to practice that way sometimes because, especially in the Valley, a night game atmosphere is crazy. A great opponent. It gets loud... You really have to, like, shout to be able to hear the person that's like five feet away from you. It's gotten pretty loud, especially on a big third down or something like that."
"A Chip on Our Shoulder"
That thunderous home crowd will be backing a defensive unit that isn't just excited, but determined. After a 2024 season that didn't meet their own high standards for stopping the run, the Clemson defense is entering this game with a collective edge.
"Obviously, we have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder because of some of our results that we had last year as it pertains to stopping the run," Woods stated. "So that was definitely a big emphasis for us, and something that we've been working on all offseason."
Their renewed confidence comes from new defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who Woods said rebuilt the group's belief by focusing on their strengths.
"Instead of somebody coming into a room and just pointing out all the things that you did bad, he came in and just pointed out the bright spots," Woods explained. "He told you guys, 'You have the talent to be able to do it, you just have to do it better.'"
"Give the Results to God"
Amidst the roaring crowd, the high stakes, and the internal motivation, Woods and his teammates are relying on their preparation to stay grounded. The key to navigating the chaos of a massive opener, he says, is to block out the noise—both literal and figurative—and trust the work.
"Give the results to God," Woods said of his mindset. "You know, we put in the work all offseason. We're confident because of the work and the preparation that we put in... At the end of the day, we're just playing another game."
But he knows, and everyone watching knows, this isn't just another game. It’s a battle of titans in an arena of sound, and the Clemson defense is ready to turn up the volume.