I just realized something. For as much as my interest in LSU football wanes these days, I really want to win the opener against Clemson this year. Not because of anything specifically about Clemson, but because we haven't won an opener in 5 years. It's such a dud to try to muster up excitement for a sport that's rapidly losing me, and then tune in for the opener and lay eggs in embarrassing fashion like we have the past 5 seasons.
Until just checking, I didn’t realize Clemson was ranked so high in the preseason polls, a few even placing the Tigers at the very top. But, yes, they return most everybody of key importance. Obviously Cade Klubnik returns at QB as a Heisman candidate, but also preseason All-American Peter Woods at DT. Alongside Woods, will be edge rusher T.J. Parker who finished top 10 nationally in sacks and tackles for loss.
As for LSU, like their loss to USC to start last year, losing to Clemson right out of the gate puts a damper on the big year LSU is positioned for with QB Garrett Nussmeier returning. However, how does the rest of the offense look? Hasn’t LSU lost production at WR as well as bodies on the OL? Normally I could research the roster myself, but the college football preview I reference is delayed and not released for another month.
And as for the oddity of LSU losing a streak of season openers, Clemson fans have melted down as poorly as LSU’s after consecutive losses in their season openers, calling it the “downfall of the program” after getting blown out by Georgia last season and upset by Duke the year before.
I wish LSU @ Clemson’s Saturday Aug 30 730PM matchup was moved to Sunday or Monday to give either Dabo Swinney or Brian Kelly a dedicated spotlight for their postgame meltdown, a welcome Labor Day weekend tradition at this point:
