No matter how hot Brian Kelly’s seat is for not being able to bring LSU a Natty under his rule, the head coach chose to stir Clemson’s pot a little. Kelly took a light-hearted yet sharp jab at Clemson over the long-standing “Death Valley” nickname debate. “We still think we are the Death Valley. They can use the name, too. We are letting them borrow it,” said the LSU head coach.
But Dabo Swinney did not allow himself to get carried away in a dirty debate. Instead he said, “I have a lot of respect for LSU and Coach Kelly. I can tell you that.” As the debate over the stadium continues, LSU will be facing off against Clemson on August 30, marking the beginning of their 2025 run. Already fans must be having the 2020 College Football Playoff flashbacks. That’s when two LSU legends came up with a reality check for their alma mater’s present head coach.
On August 13, WAFB Sports Director Jacques Doucet posted a clip of interviews with the two LSU legends. The two-time All-SEC Todd McClure and the four-year letterwinner, who ranked eighth in LSU history in 100-yard games, Justin Vincent. McClure came up with a black and white message for Kelly and his player. “What’s happened for the last two three years in the openers, there’s a little pressure there. To me, if you don’t respond to the b- -l quick, the pressure starts to build a little bit. I think Coach Kelly knows that. His guys know that,” noted the alum. “They need to start first. Going to win that first game can get marquee feedback and can propel this thing with a lot of confidence.”
“There’s a little pressure there.”
“I think Coach Kelly knows that. His guys know that.”@LSUfootball greats Todd McClure and Justin Vincent on No. 9 #LSU season opener at No. 4 @ClemsonFB.
“We have just as many good players as they do.” pic.twitter.com/QfuUzD8ClG
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) August 13, 2025
Kelly’s Tigers have fallen prey to a curse. And what’s that? For the last five years, they have lost in their opening games. In 2024, LSU lost to USC (20-27) in the Vegas Kickoff Classic, to Florida State (45-24) in 2023 and (23-24) in 2022, to UCLA (38-27) in 2021, and to Mississippi State (34-44) in 2020. So, Kelly’s boys got to break free of this trend by gaining a victory during their kickoff against No. 6 Clemson in a marquee week 1 at Memorial Stadium. Just like McClure, Vincent handed Kelly a bitter pill to swallow.
The legend claimed, “You’re gonna play as a good team where preseason five or six All Americans, like it’s not gonna be a cakewalk by any means. I think they are just as good as we are. We have just as many good players as they do. It’s all about Xs and Os we can go there and minimize the mistakes.” Well, Kelly’s squad’s 2024 run was mainly filled with woes on offense, miscue after miscue. The Bayou Bengals averaged a whopping 36.5 points per game during the winning streak, but throughout the last three games, the tables turned.
Kelly’s boys managed only 17.3 points per game over the last three contests against Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida. This was paired with a nagging issue of the lack of rushing attack. The stats? During the losing three-game stretch, LSU ranked 92nd in sacks per dropback (7.1%) and 113th in turnover rate (3.0%). If Kelly had thought that his quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, would drive the wagon on full throttle, turns out that presently he is on first gear.
Garrett Nussmeier’s interception drama sparks sideline talk with Brian Kelly
The road is already bumpy for Kelly’s quarterback. Nussmeier sent shockwaves among the LSU fans after exiting the field with a , knee issue. Even though the head coach refused to keep them in the dark and confirmed Nussmeier’s health status as “fine,” fans lost their chill after seeing the quarterback’s feat in the fall camp. Nussmeier’s play was all shaky. And obviously this did not sit well with Kelly, who thought of having the talk right at that moment.
As Douret tweeted, “During 7 on 7 red zone work during @LSUfootball practice. Garrett Nussmeier threw a high fade towards the corner that was intercepted by Mansoor Delane. Nussmeier wasn’t happy at all about what happened, had [a] long discussion with Brian Kelly and Joe Sloan after [the] play.” Well, with the Nussmeier update and the LSU legends’ harsh reality check, the fans might already find themselves in a sour mood. Here comes some good news to uplift them.
Right now, two young chaps in Kelly’s squad are putting their blood, sweat, and tears into being a bigger threat to the rivals. One is the No.1 cornerback DJ Pickett, who has already passed LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s quality check. “He has done a really good job tackling this fall. He’s put on, I don’t know, 20 pounds or something since he’s been here, so the weight room’s gonna build confidence from that standpoint. But I’ve been really impressed, more impressed with his physicality so far than the coverage skills,” said Baker.
With Brian Kelly concerned about Garrett Nussmeir’s safety net, the head coach will now count on tight end Trey’Dez Green. LSU insider Wilson Alexander tweeted some interesting news: “LSU TE Trey’Dez Green says he had to gain 20 pounds since the start of camp. He’s been eating five meals a day. Lot of fried chicken, red beans and rice.” With Kelly’s newcomers setting the bar high, will the veterans match their championship drive?
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