Season opener won't break the season for Clemson Tigers

The Clemson Tigers have lofty goals in 2025. They have to get through a pretty demanding schedule to reach them, and that begins in Week 1 with a matchup of Death Valley squads. 

They'll see LSU, a team that hasn't won a season opener since 2019. Clemson has lost three of the last four to open the season. After barely squeaking into the playoff last season, can they afford a loss in Week 1, even if it's to a good playoff team?

ESPN's David Hale thinks they can. He believes they're in a tier of legitimate playoff squads behind Ohio State and Texas, and he said a loss to LSU won't tank the season. 

"Something has got to give when the two teams face off in Week 1. Clemson can probably survive a defeat, even if Dabo Swinney's critics will begin the chorus once again that he's past his prime," he said.

On the other hand, LSU needs a win more than Clemson. Their schedule includes Florida, Ole Miss,South Carolina, Texas A&M, Alabama and Oklahoma. "Brian Kelly's head exploding with fire like the red guy in 'Inside Out' should at least provide some entertainment if things go south in Baton Rouge," Hale said. 

So while Clemson obviously wants to win this game, it's not quite as make-or-break as it might be for LSU, who will need all the ranked wins they can get to survive the SEC. Even with a hard schedule, the ACC is much more forgiving for Clemson.